Blood Brothers

The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X

By: Randy Roberts, Johnny Smith

Narrated by: David Drummond

An “engrossing and important book" (Wall Street Journal) that brings to life the fateful friendship between Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali

In 1962, boxing writers and fans considered Cassius Clay an obnoxious self-promoter, and few believed that he would become the heavyweight champion of the world. But Malcolm X, the most famous minister in the Nation of Islam, saw the potential in Clay, not just for boxing greatness, but as a means of spreading the Nation’s message. The two became fast friends, keeping their interactions secret from the press for fear of jeopardizing Clay’s career. Clay began living a double life—a patriotic “good negro” in public, and a radical reformer behind the scenes. Soon, however, their friendship would sour, with disastrous and far-reaching consequences.

Based on previously untapped sources, from Malcolm’s personal papers to FBI records, Blood Brothers is the first book to offer an in-depth portrait of this complex bond. An extraordinary narrative of love and deep affection, as well as deceit, betrayal, and violence, this story is a window into the public and private lives of two of our greatest national icons, and the tumultuous period in American history that they helped to shape.

Critic reviews

Winner of the 2017 North American Society for Sport History Book Award

"[An] absorbing and provocative new book... An engrossing and important book."—David Margolick, Wall Street Journal

"A rigorously researched book that gracefully pivots between the world of the ring and the racial politics of the early '60s."
—New York Times Book Review

"Earnest and...smartly constructed."
—Washington Post

"Exhaustively researched and tautly written.... The authors unearth reams of new evidence, shine light on long-overlooked episodes, and hack away at the barnacles of mythology, thereby giving us the finest portrait yet of the doomed relationship that transformed Cassius Clay into Muhammad Ali."—James Rosen, National Review

"Though their individual lives have been explored through previous books and movies, Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X delves into the close kinship these men shared, and the reasons it ultimately fell apart."—Economist

"This book offers a significant contribution to serious studies of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, and the Nation of Islam."
—Library Journal

"The authors give us a thorough examination of the relationship between the two icons in the context of the black experience and the turbulent 1960s.... We're brought back to the champ's early boxing days and see how the brash Ali whom America came to know developed."—New York Post

"The broad outlines of the Ali/Malcolm drama are well known, but Roberts and Smith emphasize how crucial each was to the other's destiny: Ali's as a global figure of black pride and Malcolm's as a martyred black visionary. They provide more exhaustive detail than previously available, aided by newly released FBI files and personal papers. And they infuse the tale with sharp insights and an impending sense of tragedy."—City Journal

"[A] provocative history.... Roberts and Smith map the relationship between the troubled icons in painstaking detail and debunk long-held assumptions about their break.... Roberts and Smith bring a fresh perspective to the story in the civil rights movement, and capture the ferment of the broader era."—Publishers Weekly

"[Roberts and Smith] sharply detail Malcolm's growing disillusionment with Elijah, his heartbreak at the loss of Ali's allegiance, and the ugly dynamic within the Nation that left the defiant minister murdered. A page-turning tale from the 1960s about politics and sports and two proud, extraordinary men whose legacies endure."—Kirkus Reviews

"Thanks to Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith's enthralling narrative we now have a better understanding of how a complex relationship was born, and how it fell apart."
—The Times

Very educational

There were times, when I didn’t love the personification of Malcom X in the book because it’s a bit different than what’s in his autobiography. I know that autobiographies can be biased by their nature, but the Malcom one feels very genuine and powerful. But the more I listened, the more I realized that the stories in this book add to the legacy of Malcom because it conveys a vulnerability that might not always come through in the autobiography.

As a bit of personal input, I don’t think Clay/Ali deserved Malcom, but that’s just my own opinion.

If you’re a fan of either man, I think it’s well worth your time.

Great Insight

Great insight and background it really dug deep inside their complicated relationship. I learned a lot.

Disagree with the author

I have recently begun reading about Malcolm X and i dont think this book portrays Malcolm in a postiive light. The author states that Malcolm wanted to be the leader of the NOI and i dont believe that to be true, another disagreement I have is that in the epilogue the author states that Malcolm wanted to be centerstage. I think the camera looked for Malcolm X, i believe Malcolm was a humble man and wanted the truth to be known.

BORING NARRATOR+NECESSARY STORY=READ IT YOURSELF.

The narrator makes a big difference. This man sounds Caucasian, therefore does not yave the black "twang" that this book needs so bad, he also can not say certain words and I cringe hearing him trying to avoid doing so. He sounds more like he is reading a stale magazine article than an exciting, informative, and passionate book that is vital to drawing out the trie story of the 2 biggest, influential black men of the 20th century. No infliction in his voice, excitement, or natural comfortable candor that this audible book most definitely needs. Amazing, informative, and necessary book, wish I read it myself. That's what I get for being lazy.