The Soul of a Butterfly : Relections on Life's Journey

Rating:
Summary: We can learn a lot from this man
Review: I have always been curious about the man who calls himself Muhammad Ali. Curiousity then turned into fascination when I saw Will Smith's fantastic portrayal of Ali. And then finally, When I saw this book I felt the urge to read it.

The book is nothing short of fantastic. It takes you on a journey through the remarkable learnings of this great man and moves you to tears at some points. It's not a very intense read and as the publisher mentions, its more of a compilation of abstract values Ali has learned and picked up over his life. He talks about these values and peppers them with anectodes and incidents in his life.

Whatever you may think of this man, this books is as close to heart as it gets. I was touched by his honesty and and simple logic to life. It will show you a man who is a giant. A giant with the soul of a butterfly.

No matter who you are or where you are from or what you think of Ali, you can benefit from this book. If only to show you a side of Ali you never saw or (like me) be taken through a powerful journey, this book will be a great read for you.

Rating:
Summary: Intimate Portrayal
Review: THE SOUL OF A BUTTERFLY by Muhammad Ali is a deeply personal look at the man behind the big persona. In it, Ali reminisces over many of the events that help shaped him into the individual who is known and loved around the world. More important than the retelling of specific events, Ali focuses on sharing his spiritual journey, sharing some of the philosophy that has impacted him personally. He shares some of his own poetry, some of which he made famous before his retirement from boxing, and others that are more introspective. In addition, his daughter Hana Ali shares some of her poetry and several moving tributes to her father.

I enjoyed this book overall, but I found that it was choppy and disjointed at times. I also found myself craving more detail after reading many of the passages and as a result, I felt as if I missed many of the messages Ali was trying to share. If you are looking for an in-depth biography that details names, dates and events, then THE SOUL OF A BUTTERFLY is not the book for you. However, if you are interested in getting to know a public figure on a deeper, more intimate level, then pick this one up. (RAW Rating: 3.5)

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers