The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender To #45472 [Paperback]

Rubin Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1991

On May 26, 1967, the spiraling career of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, then the top contender for the world middleweight boxing crown, came to a shuddering and tragic halt: he and a young fan were found guilty of murder of three white people in a New Jersey bar. The nightmare knew no bounds as Carter traded his superstar status for a prison number and the concrete walls of some of America's most horrific institutions. Originally published as an attempt by Carter to set the record straight and force a new trial, The Sixteenth Round is timeless. It is an eye-opening portrait of growing up black in America, a scathing indictment of the prison system Carter grew up in and out of, and a mesmerizing re-creation of his furious battles in the ring and in the courtroom set against the backdrop of the turbulent sixties. The liveliness of Carter's street language, its power and ironic humor, makes this an eloquent, soul-stirring account of a remarkable life not soon to be forgotten.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

In 1974, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's autobiography, THE 16th ROUND was published by Viking. Written from prison, Carter chronicled the twisted events that took him from world middleweight boxing contender to his life sentence as the accused murderer of three people in a New Jersey bar. Joan Baez, Muhammad Ali and Roberta Flack protested his innocence, and Bob Dylan wrote his classic anthem "Hurricane" about Carter's struggle. But it took the determined efforts of a group of Canadians, including Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton to free Rubin Carter.

Product Details

• Paperback: 339 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Global (May 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140149295
• ISBN-13: 978-0140149296
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #407,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

159 of 164 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 17th round-a review of the 16th round, January 13, 2000

By 

Brian Newhook (St. John's, Newfoundland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sixteenth Round (Hardcover)

I was inspired to read this book when I heard the Bob Dylan song "Hurricane". This amazing book is a moving account of Rubin Carter's life written by Rubin himself while he was in prison. The stories of his life in prison and the battles he fought were great. I couldn't put the book down. The only problem with this book is that it is out of print and very hard to track down. It is defintely one of the best books I have ever read.

66 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hurricane:A political injustice, October 1, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Sixteenth Round (Hardcover)

I heard of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter from the inspirational film "the hurricane" starring Denzel Washington. After seeing the film I became enthralled in the story of a man framed for murders he did not commit and locked away in a cell for 20 years. I decided to get the autobiography of the hurricane entitled the 16th round. The book starts by exposing the life of a child sentenced to a state home for boys from the brutality of the kids and gaurds to the racism and segregation of the prison system in America. Rubin was in prison for most of his early life filling him with hate and rage from the gaurds and other inmates. So he started boxing. His pure power and skill made him an unstoppable talent. That is until he shared his thoughts on the racist Police forces that patrolled the american ghettoes. From then on the police set out to destroy his life. Rubin was pulled over after the murder of 3 white customers of a patterson bar.After 3 witnesses claimed he wasn't the murderer he was released. Five months later He was about to take on Dick Tiger for the middle weight title.But it was not to be and he was arrested and sentenced to three times life after the admitted liars Bello and Bradley said that he was the murderer. And so Rubin entered the familiar walls of Trenton state prison once again for a crime he did not commit. This story of injustice is exellently written. It is an inspirational book that will fill you with love and compassion for the amazing fighter of battles in the ring and battles of political injustice,Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. By Owen Clark.

60 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful...Incredible...Enthralling...Amazing!, August 13, 2000

By 

"yarsk" (Munhall, Pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender To #45472 (Paperback)

The Sixteenth Round was the powerful, emotional document of Rubin Carter's life, ending with a plead to force a new trial to prove his innocence. But, it turned out to be a timeless, eye-opening portrait of prisons in America and the haunting truth of Justice and Fate.

Needless to say, this book is explicit, angry, and takes all prisoners. You can't escape the cruelty of Rubin's life, witnessing the reality, and how he was caught in the center of Hell...and the haunting fact was that it was the truth. The pain he had to go through is, to me, inconceivable.

Rubin Carter has written a terrific book, more than what he wanted it to be...a timeless testament about America, justice, prison, and fate...He may not be the best boxer, but he is one of the best fighters...fighting the dehumanization of his life weaving through prison and out, and fighting the cruelty of "Madame One-Eyed Justice" and "Fate."

This book will not come off of your brain...it is a very honest, angry, stirringly emotional, thriller of a book. I recommend it to the people who saw the movie, and someone who wants a direct and eye-opening portal into the mind of a black man living through the Civil Rights Movement.