Reviews

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice: The Untold Story of 18 African Americans Who Defied Jim Crow and Adolf Hitler to Compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympic by Deborah Riley Draper, Travis Thrasher, Blair Underwood

jbraith's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

addison_reads's review against another edition

4.0

Excellent book.

While I don't know much about track and field, or even the Olympics, I devoured this book. Seeing the discrimination these individuals went through, and yet they never gave up, was inspiring. At the end of each chapter is a mini-history lesson detailing Hitler's rise to power and foreshadowing his ultimate end.

Great read for history buffs or just casual readers who want something a little different.

revslick's review against another edition

3.0

It is truly inspiring and beyond serendipity the way these athletes coalesced to dominate the 1936 Olympics. The authors piece together a plethora of trivia about these athletes and even though Jesse Owen is among them they wisely focus primarily on the others. I was particularly captivated by the female track and field athletes, which seldom get the accolades they deserve. My major criticism with the book is it appears to be slapped together like a last-minute book report. In today’s publishing world the editor should have thrown it on the floor and said polish, polish, polish.

Recommended for athletes and coaches.

**This was a review copy supplied by NetGalley for an honest review**