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Jesse: A Spiritual Autobiography; The Man Who Outran Hitler
Jesse is a self-portrait of Jesse Owens' life. More than merely biographical, it demonstrates the inner workings of a real person. The odds against which he struggled, the friends and family that gave him strength, and the God who answered his prayers all reach out to us, imparting warmth and faith.
This is the moving and nostalgic story of how the world's Olympic immortal found true immortality.
This is the moving and nostalgic story of how the world's Olympic immortal found true immortality.
206 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
2 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Owens
23 books16 followersJames Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump, and as part of the 4x100 meter relay team. He was the most successful athlete at the 1936 Summer Olympics, a victory more poignant and often noted because Adolf Hitler had intended the 1936 games to showcase his Aryan ideals and prowess.
The Jesse Owens Award, USA Track and Field's highest accolade for the year's best track and field athlete, is named after him, in honor of his significant career.
The Jesse Owens Award, USA Track and Field's highest accolade for the year's best track and field athlete, is named after him, in honor of his significant career.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 27, 2018
I loved this book. Started reading and didn’t stop until the last page.
February 3, 2024
The ups and downs of this man’s life blows me away. I pretty much read the book in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. Such a great reminder that you can have everything in the world yet it means nothing.
“My soul had died.
As it must, for me to be . . .
Born again.”
I don’t even feel worthy of writing a review of this book. I will definitely read again.
“My soul had died.
As it must, for me to be . . .
Born again.”
I don’t even feel worthy of writing a review of this book. I will definitely read again.
June 21, 2024
I read a memoir because I am interested in learning about the author's life and experiences. Unfortunately, I do not really know Jesse Owens any better than before I read this book. I don't know about his preparation for the Olympic games or how he, as a Black American, was treated in the host country, Nazi Germany. Did he feel safe? Was he permitted access to the same places and experiences as the white athletes? I don't know how he was treated when he returned to the US - a heroic medal winner but still a Black man in a racist America. I expected more and was disappointed by this book.
January 29, 2015
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME. READ IT!!!
it's actually out of print, which is really sad. I read this for a biography project in my 11th grade English class, and it changed my life. Jesse Owens' story and his friendship with his German rival are truly inspiring. Really, this lame book review that I'm writing doesn't come close to doing this book justice. Read it read it read it!
it's actually out of print, which is really sad. I read this for a biography project in my 11th grade English class, and it changed my life. Jesse Owens' story and his friendship with his German rival are truly inspiring. Really, this lame book review that I'm writing doesn't come close to doing this book justice. Read it read it read it!
March 29, 2018
I found this book very interesting since it was more about Jesse's spiritual journey than athletic journey - the Olympics/sports story was done and over with in the first couple chapters.
The theology was a little bit wishy-washy, but it was fascinating to hear about the trials Jesse experienced after his worldwide fame of the German Olympics. He experienced lots of personal and financial tragedy, which finally drove him to God.
However, the "spiritual reflection" chapter at the end hinted at the possibility of "losing" salvation if you don't hang on to your faith. The theology in this final chapter was the only real problem I had with the book.
The theology was a little bit wishy-washy, but it was fascinating to hear about the trials Jesse experienced after his worldwide fame of the German Olympics. He experienced lots of personal and financial tragedy, which finally drove him to God.
However, the "spiritual reflection" chapter at the end hinted at the possibility of "losing" salvation if you don't hang on to your faith. The theology in this final chapter was the only real problem I had with the book.
July 27, 2018
Jesse Owens deep spirituality is what made a strong impression on me.
He strikes me as someone who was somewhat trusting and didn't necessarily have a lot of tools to navigate life after sports, which I think is a common thing with athletes, especially at a time when professional athletics was not as big as it is now.
He strikes me as someone who was somewhat trusting and didn't necessarily have a lot of tools to navigate life after sports, which I think is a common thing with athletes, especially at a time when professional athletics was not as big as it is now.
January 30, 2020
Un racconto molto emozionante. L'inquietudine di una vita che è stata un percorso a ostacoli più che una corsa. La resilienza di un personaggio che ha trovato la forza in qualcosa che ha chiamato Dio, ma non molto differente da quello che altri chiamano fame di vivere.
February 14, 2020
Oddly, this book has two subtitles.
Outside: the man who outran Hitler
Inside: a spiritual biography
The second of those better describes the general narrative, and this short memoir is hardly comprehensive.
Outside: the man who outran Hitler
Inside: a spiritual biography
The second of those better describes the general narrative, and this short memoir is hardly comprehensive.
May 23, 2024
Owing 114,000 in taxes today is crazy. But can you imagine in the 1930s 🤦🏾
The men who put him in that position are cowards. And to go win 4 Olympic gold medals then come back home and have to race horses and be a playground janitor is just embarrassing for the USA. Treating him that way
The men who put him in that position are cowards. And to go win 4 Olympic gold medals then come back home and have to race horses and be a playground janitor is just embarrassing for the USA. Treating him that way
July 19, 2024
This book was ... interesting. It was interesting to read Jesse Owens' story--I knew little about him except that he won the Olympics in Berlin.
It was ... "interesting* ... in that some of the ways he expressed himself, especially in the last few chapters, seemed a bit over the top.
It was ... "interesting* ... in that some of the ways he expressed himself, especially in the last few chapters, seemed a bit over the top.
July 10, 2021
C-. nonfiction, autobiography, spiritual growth, from stash, discard.
October 14, 2020
Fabulous! While one’s strengths or accomplishments are important to document, it is one’s inner life- spiritual life - thoughts and feelings that are unknown to others until described that is telling. Jesse Owens felt the need to be in motion.
Dedication:
Two unmatchable teammates:
My wife of almost 50 years, Ruth,
And the Nazi
Who fought Hitler with me,
Luz Long;
Three unique leaders:
My father,
My mother,
And Charles Riley.
But, most, and most humbly,
To The Great Referee.
“I do know that everything we do sets invisible forces into motion, which come back to bless or haunt us at the strangest times.” page 146
Excelsior by Longfellow
First and Second Stanza
The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, ‘mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!
–
His brow was sad; his eye beneath,
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,
And like a silver clarion rung
The accents of that unknown tongue,
Excelsior!
Third Stanza
In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above, the spectral glaciers shone,
Excelsior!
“Try not the Pass!” the old man said;
“Dark lowers the tempest overhead,
The roaring torrent is deep and wide!”
And loud that clarion voice replied,
Excelsior!
Fourth and Fifth Stanza
“Oh stay,” the maiden said, “and rest
Thy weary head upon this breast!”
A tear stood in his bright blue eye,
But still he answered, with a sigh,
Excelsior!
–
“Beware the pine-tree’s withered branch!
Beware the awful avalanche!”
This was the peasant’s last Good-night,
A voice replied, far up the height,
Excelsior!
Sixth, Seventh and Eight Stanza
At break of day, as heavenward
The pious monks of Saint Bernard
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,
A voice cried through the startled air,
Excelsior!
–
A traveller, by the faithful hound,
Half-buried in the snow was found,
Still grasping in his hand of ice
That banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!
–
There in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell like a falling star,
Excelsior!
https://poemanalysis.com/henry-wadswo...
LongfellowExcelsior by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Excelsior, the Latin phrase for “ever higher” (or a similar equivalent) is the focus of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem with the same title. The idea of seeking greatness, of trying to move higher in the world is a common one in contemporary times, and this would have been true in Longfellow’s time as well. Throughout Excelsior, Longfellow discusses the idea that there is such as thing as aiming too high, and warns his readers not to lose sight of the world around them.
They were like fine, hand painted ties, being pulled tighter and tighter around your neck. Page 84
Daughters:
Gloria-oldest
Beverly
Marlene -youngest
Dedication:
Two unmatchable teammates:
My wife of almost 50 years, Ruth,
And the Nazi
Who fought Hitler with me,
Luz Long;
Three unique leaders:
My father,
My mother,
And Charles Riley.
But, most, and most humbly,
To The Great Referee.
“I do know that everything we do sets invisible forces into motion, which come back to bless or haunt us at the strangest times.” page 146
Excelsior by Longfellow
First and Second Stanza
The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, ‘mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!
–
His brow was sad; his eye beneath,
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,
And like a silver clarion rung
The accents of that unknown tongue,
Excelsior!
Third Stanza
In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above, the spectral glaciers shone,
Excelsior!
“Try not the Pass!” the old man said;
“Dark lowers the tempest overhead,
The roaring torrent is deep and wide!”
And loud that clarion voice replied,
Excelsior!
Fourth and Fifth Stanza
“Oh stay,” the maiden said, “and rest
Thy weary head upon this breast!”
A tear stood in his bright blue eye,
But still he answered, with a sigh,
Excelsior!
–
“Beware the pine-tree’s withered branch!
Beware the awful avalanche!”
This was the peasant’s last Good-night,
A voice replied, far up the height,
Excelsior!
Sixth, Seventh and Eight Stanza
At break of day, as heavenward
The pious monks of Saint Bernard
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,
A voice cried through the startled air,
Excelsior!
–
A traveller, by the faithful hound,
Half-buried in the snow was found,
Still grasping in his hand of ice
That banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!
–
There in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell like a falling star,
Excelsior!
https://poemanalysis.com/henry-wadswo...
LongfellowExcelsior by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Excelsior, the Latin phrase for “ever higher” (or a similar equivalent) is the focus of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem with the same title. The idea of seeking greatness, of trying to move higher in the world is a common one in contemporary times, and this would have been true in Longfellow’s time as well. Throughout Excelsior, Longfellow discusses the idea that there is such as thing as aiming too high, and warns his readers not to lose sight of the world around them.
They were like fine, hand painted ties, being pulled tighter and tighter around your neck. Page 84
Daughters:
Gloria-oldest
Beverly
Marlene -youngest
February 10, 2019
" 'What has taken your goat, Jazze Owenz?' [Luz Long] asked" (page 83).
I loved the first half of this autobiography, which chronicled Owens' incredible story of growing up as a sharecropper, moving north with his family (as part of the Great Migration*), and pursuing athletic success. Owens shared beautiful reflections on drawing from unknown inner strength in competition to push oneself yet further, to be better than one's best. For me, the best part of the book was Owens' own retelling of his groundbreaking 1936 Olympic victories in Berlin and the birth of his unlikely friendship with German competitor Luz Long.
Owens' journey following the Olympics was surprising and interesting, as he struggled to even find work. However, I was less enthralled as the book continued, detailing financial woes and spiritual crises.
This autobiography was a quick read and overall intriguing.
*If you are interested in this topic of twentieth-century black Americans moving north and west, away from Jim Crow persecution, I highly recommend Isabel Wilkerson's masterpiece book, "The Warmth of Other Suns."
I loved the first half of this autobiography, which chronicled Owens' incredible story of growing up as a sharecropper, moving north with his family (as part of the Great Migration*), and pursuing athletic success. Owens shared beautiful reflections on drawing from unknown inner strength in competition to push oneself yet further, to be better than one's best. For me, the best part of the book was Owens' own retelling of his groundbreaking 1936 Olympic victories in Berlin and the birth of his unlikely friendship with German competitor Luz Long.
Owens' journey following the Olympics was surprising and interesting, as he struggled to even find work. However, I was less enthralled as the book continued, detailing financial woes and spiritual crises.
This autobiography was a quick read and overall intriguing.
*If you are interested in this topic of twentieth-century black Americans moving north and west, away from Jim Crow persecution, I highly recommend Isabel Wilkerson's masterpiece book, "The Warmth of Other Suns."
Read
January 31, 2013This book was amazingly touching; Acorrding to the reveiws I have recently read. I haven't actually read the book yet, but I am really anticipated. It seems very intresting and I have put it on hold in my public library so that I can complete my History Project. I suggest that you do too, (PUT IT ON HOLD, I MEAN.) Hey, you might even learn something you hardly ever knew about!
February 14, 2013
I needed to read this book right now. I'm inspired by Owen's spiritual journey and its paramount position in his life (notwithstanding his inspiring list of accomplishments) and the place God should have in all of our lives.
March 23, 2013
Very good , inspirational and I must say something i almost never say as i watch very few movies but after reading this yesterday I remembered i had an old VHS movie of this , so watched last night and it was even better than the book
March 1, 2014
Light on factual detail, heavy on spirituality. Hardly an autobiography. The tithe is a misnomer, as his Olympic victory is barely mentioned at the tail end of a chapter in the first third of the book. Good read for religious people, but didn't really resonate with me.
February 13, 2016
This is not only a biography of a great man but also a a glimpse into the racial divide faced by sharecroppers and their children.
November 13, 2020
A very quick read. I didn't have a lot of background knowledge on the life story of Jesse Owens. The majority of this is about his spiritual journey.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews