Customer Reviews

Days Of Grace: A Memoir

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I met this gentleman briefly. We were travelling on "Southern Airlines" between Atlanta and Birmingham. Both the man and the airline are gone. He was gracious, a man of dignity. As his memoir unfolds one can't help but be inspired by his example of courage, discipline and responsibility. Many knew him as a great tennis champion, but the book reveals the man, a father, a husband, a social activist, a religious spiritual being. It is a poignant testament to a beautiful being. He died of aids contracted through a blood transfusion. Most touching is his letter to his daughter, in which he says," Don't be angry with me if I am not there in person, alive and well, when you need me......... whereever I am when you feel sick at heart and weary of ife, or when you stumble and fall and don't know if you can get up again, think of me. I will be watching and smiling and cheering you on." This is a man who mastered his destiny. The book contains beautiful photos shared by his wife, a gifted photographer. The book is a remarkable legacy to his family and to all who recognize greatness. Excellent and enjoyable reading.

`Days of Grace' is possibly the most moving biography, if not book, I have ever read, by a man whose courage, determination and decency towards fellow man have left me in awe.

The book contains moments of humour, of deep sadness and of joy, and throughout there is a vein of truthfulness that is unparalleled in anything I have ever read. The experiences that Ashe had in his life were so many and so varied, from the highs of winning three Grand Slam's to falling ill to heart disease and AIDS. His relationships with his parents, his wife and daughter, tennis players including Connors and McEnroe, and with his peers in segregated Virginia are all explored thoughtfully and with careful reflection.

In short, Ashe's book offers an account of his life, his beliefs and his final thoughts on the world and his life. Ashe triumphed in sport to become wealthy and well known, but suffered from racial prejudice as a child and terrible diseases as an adult. Yet not once did wealth change his outlook or basic lifestyle nor did he give up in the face of racism or death. Instead Ashe took another path, the noble path - he showed deep respect and understanding towards his fellow man, he used his wealth and his disease to help thousands of others and he never lost site of the moral lessons he had learned as child.

`Days of Grace' is a remarkable book from Arthur Ashe, an extraordinary man.

Arthur Ashe was a class act period.the same can be said of his wife as well.the Brother was very Intelligent and well-spoken and a great tennis player by the way.the thing that really stood out in this book to me was the fact when he said that he could deal with AIDS better than Racism.after reading that part in the book you have to wonder has this country come far at all? MR.Ashe was a well off Man and he was still dealing with Racists views and what not.this is a Man of Strength&Courage.he stood for something.he always gave a 100% in everything he did.this book is very uplifting.

It was difficult for me to get over the sadness of this work. I wanted to contact his family to offer my condolences for the loss of a man I didn't really know. He was much more than his stoic public image, as the book indicates. I agonized over the final pages, actually his final days, but was left with a profound sense of peace and hope. I hope his loved ones are well...A stirring, human slice of literature and a glimpse at one man's painful physical, but at the same time spiritual, odyssey. It made me think and changed me. A great work which should be required reading in our schools.

Arthur Ashe wrote what most people should feel. Days of Grace is an excellent book by a very moral and courageous author. His views on race, religion, education, politics, arts, sports and life are very thoughtful and intelligent. Although he writes of so many debated issues such as affirmative action it is hard to disagree wtih a word he writes. I wish there were more books like this and indeed, more people like Arthur Ashe

The title perfectly describes this book. We learn of his life and how he conducted himself as a person -- being a gentleman and a citizen of the world. The book starts out pretty much at the time when the news of Arthur Ashe having contracted AIDS (through a contaminated blood transfusion) broke out. Also, the chapters of him being the Davis Cup captain and having to work with Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe as players on the team are a great read. This is a very touching and inspiring book.

The book was a wonderful read it was deep thought provoking happy and ultimately sad. The title could also have been called A Journey In Courage.I did not know much about Arthur Ashe at the time of his death I like many of my comtemporaries heaped unneccesary praise on the Micheal Jordan's and Jerry Rice's of the world when Arthur Ashe's poster should have been on my wall. Unlike them and (countless others) he was so much more than just an athelete. Just like his book is so much more than just a read it is as though your having a conversation over coffee and your running late for work but you do not care because you are talkin to Arthur, his book has everything in it from sound financial advice to help in choosing the right mate. We lost a true treasure with his passing.

This is a sad yet uplifting memoir from a great man who was taken from us much too soon. Arthur speaks with dignity and intelligence on all the aforementioned topics and more. This is that rare book that makes you feel a better person for having read it.
So why withhold one star? Selfishly, I was a bit disappointed that Arthur didn't tell us more about his own magnificent tennis playing. His win over Connors at Wimbledon in '75, for example, was as shocking and historic an upset as you'll see in sports, but Arthur mentions it only in passing, in connection with other events, with no details or insight into how the match unfolded.
I suppose he knew time was short and he had many more important things to say.
I'm glad he did, and I'm sorry he's gone.

This book is one of the greatest books I have read. The flashbacks of all the important memories of his life reflect that he was a man who wanted to be known as something more than a mere tennis player. I find it amazing that a person can go through so much and could still stand up after it. I recomend this book to those who want to remember the memory of Arthur Ashe, and those who don't even know who the man is. After reading this book I tip my hat in repect to the memory of Arthur Ashe.

This book has taught me many things. Arthur is eloquent, intelligent and sensitive, the book makes you wish you could meet him.

To anyone who is interested in sport or reading about an inspirational and true person, you must have this book. An amazing and uplifting story that goes beyond sport, beyond race and beyond politics.