Home Books All In: An Autobiography

All In: An Autobiography

All In: An Autobiography

by Billie Jean King

Knopf ·2021 ·487 pages ·Sports
Top of the Pile
Top of the Pile
I Index
85/99
Top of the Pile

85/99

Critics

Top of the Pile

85/99

Readers

n/a

Scholars

93/99

Rating

77/99

Volume

88/99

Rating

82/99

Volume

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About This Book

An inspiring and intimate self-portrait of a champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice. Billie Jean King was only seven years old when she told her mother, I'm going to do something great with my life someday. But the world she wanted did not exist yet, so she set out to create it. In this spirited account, King details her life's journey to find her true self. She recounts her groundbreaking tennis successes that came at a breathtaking pace--six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, twenty Wimbledon championships, thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous Battle of the Sexes. King poignantly recalls the cultural backdrop of her career and the profound impact on her worldview from the women's movement, the assassinations and anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement. King describes the myriad challenges she hurdled, including entrenched sexism, an eating disorder, near financial ruin after being outed, and accepting her sexual identity. It was not until the age of 51 that she began to publicly and unequivocally acknowledge, I am gay. Today, King's life remains one of indefatigable service. She offers insights and advice on leadership, business, activism, sports, politics, marriage equality, parenting, sexuality and love. She shows how living honestly and openly has had a transformative effect on her relationships and happiness. Hers is the story of a pathbreaking feminist, world-class athlete, and an indomitable spirit whose impact has transcended her achievements in sports.


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Reviews

"King's instincts to shape seismic events in culture have set the table for (and in some cases, created) conversations about race, gender identity, sexuality and equity that are especially resonant now, and it's hard not to read this book as a call to arms...But it's also plenty personal ..."

Caitlin Thompson· The New York Times Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"the best sports book of the year, leaving readers anticipating what King will serve up next."

Olive Fellows· The Christian Science Monitor Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"The build-up to the famous 'Battle of the Sexes' match, in which she played against Bobby Riggs, and the circus that surrounded it, is terrifically told ..."

Fiona Sturges· The Guardian Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Tennis fans will devour the detailed backstories to her historic run ..."

Brenda Barrera· Booklist Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"As amazing as her on-court accomplishments are, her work for social justice is even more remarkable ..."

Brian Renvall· Library Journal Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"The result is a lively and inspiring portrait of pressure-cooker play and political upheaval in tennis, from one of its most fascinating figures."

Publishers Weekly Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

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