Best books on Jack Johnson?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by reznick, Dec 11, 2019.



  1. young griffo

    young griffo Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I read for entertainment and enjoyment and this book provided both for me. Not a huge Johnson fan per se but I find his life fascinating (his fighting less so).
     
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  2. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker Full Member

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    Pollack's books are their own thing ,, you will nt get a more unbaised coverage and the degree of detail is insane .. Papa Jack always impressed me more then Unforgivable Blackness which was part of the doc and just seemed not to be done by boxing experts .. Roberts was detailed ..
     
  3. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Agree 100%. Ward is a great writer, which is sort of rare for boxing. In Unforgivable Blackness, he pulls no punches. With Johnson, I find there is a political agenda of sorts where writers sometimes omit the less than flattering. Not with Ward, its all part of the story.
     
  4. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Ward does not list the sources for his conclusions, Pollack always does,nobody is more even handed than Adam Pollack!
     
  5. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Which less than flattering things about Johnson do you claim Pollack omitted? Have you read his 2 volumes on Johnson?
    Yes?
    Or
    No?
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2019
  6. Chuck1052

    Chuck1052 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Adam Pollack did far more research on Jack Johnson than Randy Roberts or Geoffrey Ward. Moreover, Pollack's two massive books on Johnson contain a tremendous amount of information.

    - Chuck Johnston
     
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  7. kolchak65

    kolchak65 New Member Full Member

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    Ward's book is excellent. It is written by an historian and a very good writer. But Ward is no Conservative - it's a surprise to me that Mendoza likes the book. It is honest. But the book is NOT anti-Johnson.

    Interestingly enough, there have been 3 (4) excellent books written on Johnson - the Ward book, the Pollack book(s) and the old Roberts book. Each are excellent for different reasons and I recommend that boxing fans read all of them. No need to fight about which one is best.

    john
     
  8. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Pollocks books are unquestionably the best for his career details.

    But I wonder what the best source is for his personal life.
     
  9. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I think there is plenty of info and detail about his life in them.
     
  10. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Have not read Pollock books on Johnson but his Fitz book was excellent, nay outstanding. Both the Roberts and Ward books are good but have some minor mistakes/omissions if I recall correctly. However, both are top class.
     
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  11. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I have the 2 Johnson volumes,the Jeffries book, and the Fizsimmons one,all are top notch!
     
  12. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    I'm 150 pages in, and have seen little to nothing about his childhood and upbringing.
    It does well to document his entry into the boxing world.

    I'm hoping that as I make it further into the book I'll see more details about his life. But it doesn't seem likely.
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2019
  13. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Love the orange, can you stick with it?
     
  14. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Did Pollack mention Johnson beat his wife within an inch of her life?

    Johnson had trouble with women all over the world.

    Did he talk about his night club in chicago, which doubled as a ***** house?

    Did he mention he assaulted a 120 pound sickly man?

    At what page in the book?

    I have posted context form his books here before, but to answer your question no, I have not read his from cover to cover books. I have heard him speak on the radio on this topic, he's an activist type.
     
  15. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    I like it because he's the best writer and he's honest. He explores Johnson's dark side. Some mean things Johnson did had nothing to do with being an African America of the times. .The was guy a jerk, an ego manic, a sell-out to his people according to the other fighters of the time, and a predator " me too " type of guy who physically attacked and beat on the weak.

    Ward goes into detail on how Johnson quit vs. Klondike He was hurt and lay on the floor like a dog not trying to get up, or something close to that if memory serves. Anyone who has the book handy can quote that passage. Roberts simply says Johnson quit. Pollack says Johnson was clinching too much and indicates that is the reason he lost. When I asked Pollack where he can up with it, he showed four-fight reports, none of which said the same thing, so it's really an interpretation. People can post what he says here, I think he choose the ending to make Johnson look better than he did.