I had previously read another book by George Kimball’s, “Four Kings”. That was a great read and so was this book, “Manly Art.” Kimball is definitely an expert on boxing. I enjoyed all of this book, especially his chapters about Howard Cosell and Ali, Frazier, Foreman, and Norton. ( )

Mr. Kimball definitely knows his boxing! I enjoyed the book for the most part but felt it was full of depth for the boxing novice with little knowledge of the subject. I did enjoy the essay format and think it played well for the structure of the book! ( )

Boxing books aren’t going to make the bestseller lists these days. The sport has been dying a slow death in the United States amidst a myriad of alphabet soup boxing organizations, the lack of a good American heavyweight boxer(s) and the encroachment of MMA. But George Kimball’s book, Manly Art: They Can Run – But They Can’t Hide, is worth a read even if to remind you that, like reading an old flame’s love letters, there was a reason you cared about it at one time.

Kimball’s book, with one exception, is a series of essays he’s written for newspapers and websites on boxing events in the past 10 years. My favorites were the section on boxing history and the section on boxing deaths. Kimball shines in putting events in perspective.

But the book’s best part is a large essay at the end of the book on the four great heavyweights that dominated boxing in the 1970s: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Ken Norton. The four figured in 10 epic battles in a six-year time span. Kimball goes through the rise to prominence of each boxer then details their battles. For someone who grew up during this time frame, it was a great reminder of what boxing was. ( )

I received this book as part of early reviewers March batch - It took me ahwile to get into this book as some of the first articles didn't really catch my interest - in general, the texts contained in this book are hit or miss, with most of them being a hit - it was interesting to hear some of things going on behind the scenes of some classic fights that I only had a chance to view as a spectator - getting the sports writers' perspective on press conferences, training camps, and the fights themselves is always very interesting - My favourite part was the last one, where he discusses the last great heavyweight rivalries between Ali, Frazier, Norton and Foreman - ( )

George Kimball is the encyclopeia of boxing personified. The articles in this collection are full of wonderful information. That being said, I felt that his writing style is difficult for the reader. Even for a boxing fan such as myself, his long sentences (and I mean, they seem to go on forever) lost me often. At times I could not remember how the paragraph started as I was ending it.

It was increasingly boring as it progressed. I was happy to have finished it only because it meant I would have to read no more. If you want to read about boxing, and be entertained as well as educated in its rich history, On Boxing by Joyce Carol Oates, The Sweet Science by AJ Lieling, Cinderella Man by Michael DeLisa and The Fight by Norman Mailer will do a better job. They would also be more of interest to the general reader. The Manly Art is a challenge for the avid fan and is sure to put a general reader to sleep.

There was no pattern to the collection of articles. Certainly there was no timeline followed in this writing. However, in Kimball's defence, it is, as I stated, a collection of articles, not a thoroughly thought-out historical account. I give it 3 stars (The third, becasue I love the sport). ( )