Shadow Box by George Plimpton

Shadow Box Reviews

• 
  Max

  A now funny, now poignant, now breathtaking book, less about boxing in itself than about boxing as a lens through which to view the world.
  
  Here's the book in Plimpton's own words:
  
  

  "What do you want to know such things for?" [he asked.] "I thought you were writing a book about boxing."
  
  "I am," I replied. "But a lot of other stuff seems to creep in. It's mostly about people taking matters into their own hands—gangsters, mercenaries, jealous lovers, outraged wrtiers. I've developed a near-vigilante, antibureaucratic attitude I don't like at all. Maybe it has to do with how ineffectual we were with Ali when he had his title removed—those feeble efforts we made, as custodians, to press for his rights."
  
  "And what does that have to do with death fancies?" Peter asked.

  
  
  Read for the portraits of Ali and Bundini Brown, and Hemmingway, Marianne Moore. Read also for the shocking cameos of Plimpton's own absurd upper class existence, which he doesn't flaunt so much as... doesn't excuse or apologize for the way a modern writer would. That feels refreshing.
  
  Also, if you're looking for a book with charm—this is the one. Plimpton's a great, wry, cheerful, honest guide, and he brings us on a slow associative journey, rather than a Gripping Narrative Rollercoaster of Journalistic THRILLS! I love it for that unapologetic loping pace, and for the care he's taken. A book to savor before bed.
• 
  LAPL Reads

  From “A Poem on the Annihilation of Ernie Terrell” by Muhammad Ali and Marianne Moore
  

  " . . .
  He is claiming to be the real heavyweight champ
  But when the fight starts he will look like a tramp
  He has been talking too much about me and making me sore
  After I am through with him he will not be able to challenge Mrs. Moore."

  
  George Plimpton’s classic of participatory journalism, Shadow box, has recently come back in print. In the wake of Muhammad Ali’s recent death, Plimpton’s boxing tome takes on an extra poignancy. Plimpton’s foray into boxing begins with a pathetic three-round bout against Archie Moore, the former light heavyweight champion of the world, in a New York boxing gym. Plimpton is pummeled mercilessly by the champ. After the fight, Plimpton decides to spend the rest of his pugilistic journalism career on the other side of the ropes.
  
  Plimpton recounts meetings with two literary boxing aficionados, Ernest Hemingway and Norman Mailer. Recalling a visit to Hemingway in Key West with Tennessee Williams, Plimpton is taken by Hemingway’s notorious belligerence. Plimpton discusses Norman Mailer’s regular two-minute sparring sessions with light heavyweight champion Jose Torres. Both celebrity authors tried to create an aura of machismo with their boxing exploits.
  
  The second half of Shadow box is primarily about the rise of Muhammad Ali on the boxing landscape. Plimpton covered the first fight with Sonny Liston in 1964, when the scrappy, histrionic Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) was given no chance by established sports writers against the stoic, bruiser Liston. Liston quit after six rounds, and Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world. In 1967, Plimpton arranged a meeting with the poet Marianne Moore and Ali at the New York saloon, Toots Shor’s , and the two masters of verbal communication composed a sonnet together. Moore was overwhelmed by the social adeptness of the champ, and they quickly became friends.
  
  In the late 1960s, George Plimpton defended Muhammad Ali against charges of draft dodging, and covered his first comeback fight in 1970 after his boxing suspension was lifted. Ali was later vindicated by the US Supreme Court when his draft refusal conviction was overturned on religious grounds. Plimpton was in New York for the epic Ali-Frazier bout in 1971, a rare loss for “The Greatest of All Time.” Ali beat the odds again in 1974, reclaiming his heavyweight championship against the heavier George Foreman by using the “rope-a-dope” strategy. Plimpton, along with Mailer and Hunter S. Thompson, was in Kinshasa, Zaire for two months covering the fight. Ali was still the heavyweight champion of the world when the book went to press in 1977.
  
  Reviewed by David B., Librarian, InfoNow
• 
  David Jacobson

  A great author on any subject (in the mould of George Orwell), George Plimpton, editor of the Paris Review, takes us into the world of professional boxing. His first foray is an exercise in "participatory journalism", in which he organizes a fight between himself and Archie Moore, then Light Heavyweight champion of the world. For most of the book, however, Plimpton follows Muhammed Ali through some of the most significant events of his career: the defeat of Sonny Liston, the loss of his title over the controversy surrounding refusing to be drafted to fight in Vietnam, and, over many chapters, the "Rumble in the Jungle" fight against George Foreman in Zaire.
  
  Along the way we encounter many of the greats of the boxing world of that era. But, in what makes this book truly unique, we also encounter the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Marianne Moore, and Norman Mailer. Shadow Box is literary sportswriting unlike anything else I have ever read.
  
  

  "I thought you were writing a book about boxing?"
  
  "I am," I replied. "But a lot of other stuff seems to creep in."
• 
  Lawrence

  This is probably the epitome of 20th century long reportage style. Plimpton is a charming and somewhat baffled east coast patrician wading into the shady, non-white world of boxing and sending back semi-insightful, semi-befuddled reports in a sardonic, half-grinning style.
  
  It's not going to shake the world, but it is a wonderful look at Plimpton who inserts himself wholly as a character in his storirs in the same way, though in a completely opposite characterization, as Hunter S. Thompson (who makes an extended appearance).
  
  The book primarily follows Muhammad Ali, and there are some great stories showing his greatness, cruelty, humour, and humanity. And there is some great self-depictions of Plimpton as the consummate outsider, completely baffled by Malcom X and gamely trying to wrap his head around this world.
  
  If you want an immersion in the 60s and 70s, a weirdly out of place and much too long meditation on death, and an almost stereotype of the Tom Wolfe reportage, I can think of no better or more entertaining example.
• 
  Steven

  A brilliant book which moves through two succinct parts: the first is yet another Plimpton excursion into the realm of 'participatory journalism', this time training for a few rounds with Archie Moore.
  
  The second part is even more fascinating as its essentially about Muhammad Ali and his being exiled from boxing, thru his stunning defeat of George Foreman in Zaire ('The Rumble in the Jungle') in 1974. Its a great look at Ali's life and profession at that time, and the societal impact he had, particularly on writers (if you look closely at the famous picture of Foreman heading to the canvas after Ali's punch, at ringside you'll see Norman Mailer and Plimpton sitting next to each other, mouths agape).
  
  Dramatic, funny, moving, its Plimpton at his best.
• 
  Ted

  The book feels like an afterthought, and the subject matter is scattered and only vaguely unified. But the work is fantastic, and would've been better served had it been marketed as a collection of essays. The Lyons Press has published a number of GP's books, perhaps in reprint I don't know, but when I see one of them anywhere with their poorly designed covers, I want to stop what I'm doing and sit down and read.
• 
  Itasca Community Library

  Nick says:
  
  This is a treat for boxing fans especially fans of Muhammad Ali. Plimpton offers an inside look into the scenes and pageantry that accompanied Ali and his team. The narrative ranges from Ali’s first world championship in his infamous bout with the menacing Sonny Liston all the way through his anticipated match-up against the even more intimidating George Foreman that took place in Africa.
• 
  Nicolas

  This is a treat for boxing fans especially fans of Muhammad Ali. Plimpton offers an inside look into the scenes and pageantry that accompanied Ali and his team. The narrative ranges from Ali’s first world championship in his infamous bout with the menacing Sonny Liston all the way through his anticipated match-up against the even more intimidating George Foreman that took place in Africa.
• 
  Harriett Milnes

  I like George Plimpton's writing. I thought Bogey Man was one of the funniest books I had ever read. Shadow Box is not as full of hilarious parts, but it does have the added adventure of an up close look at Muhammad Ali and the fight against George Foreman. Ernest Hemingway, Normal Mailer, and Hunter Thompson also appear in this book.
• 
  Casey

  On election night in Zaire, George Plimpton taught Ernest Hemingway how to thumb wrestle. You can't make shit like that up.
• 
  Matt

  Read it while I was in New York. Right book for the right time and place - may have prjeduced my opninion.
• 
  Gene Mayes

  Ah, what a fantastic book. Plimpton's a lovely teller of anecdotes with a keen eye for lore. One of the most pleasurable of recent reads.
• 
  Frederic Pierce

  Another early role model of mine.
• 
  RK Byers

  absolutely splendid. the best thing I’ve read from Plimpton by a landslide.
• 
  David

  I appreciate Plimpton's books more for the digressions and asides than for the participatory journalism.
• 
  Howard

  i read this for the anecdotes of HST. GP is pretty square but fuck it it was ok
• 
  Michael

  better than just 5 stars would indicate.