In clear, fluid prose, Dave Zirin chronicles the life of legendary Cleveland Browns running back, Jim Brown, from his childhood in St. Simons Island, Georgia, raised by three women, through his NFL and Hollywood acting careers, to his cultural impact as a Black Power icon in the 1960s and beyond. Zirin reveals a complicated picture of a man mythologized as a superman of strength and uncanny athleticism, but whose provocative politics and dark history of domestic violence have placed an asterisk beside his social and political contributions.

In an era when sports legends like Muhammad Ali and Bill Russell have been embraced by mainstream culture, Brown remains an outlier, continuing to challenge preconceptions of what it means to be a black athlete and activist fighting social injustice. While his work mediating peace between warring gangs and his condemnation of the death penalty have been universally praised, his subsequent criticism of Colin Kaepernick and other young athletes pushing the boundaries of progressive politics in sports, as well as his decision to endorse President Donald Trump despite widespread accusations of racism, have sparked controversy amongst the sports community and left many to question Brown’s motives.

Perhaps Zirin’s greatest achievement in Jim Brown: Last Man Standing, is that he goes beyond the image of the superman to uncover the complicated man himself, with all of his flaws and contradictions, offering readers a glimpse into a remarkable life that has defied odds (and sometimes physics) to leave a lasting legacy on the game of football and the history of civil rights. If football is indeed the closest thing to an American religion, as Zirin claims it to be, then there might not be a more American story than the story of Jim Brown, or a better writer to tell it. There is value here for more than only sports fans.

This review is generously provided by Brett Finlayson, Busboys and Poets Bookseller. Don’t miss the upcoming event

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For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

PALESTINE WEEK 1920 x 1080 px 2

Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

Pajama Brunch 2014

Pajama Brunch 2014

We’re hosting our annual pajama brunch at all locations. Roll out of bed and show up in your finest jammies!

Busboys and Poets Book Review: The Cooking Gene

Busboys and Poets Book Review: The Cooking Gene

In “The Cooking Gene,” culinary historian Michael Twitty sends his reader on a tantalizing journey starting at the kitchen table, leading his readers all the way to the cotton fields of Virginia and the plantations of North Carolina. He captures his audience by centralizing the topic of southern cuisine which depicts to the reader a … Continued