Submitted by: Submitted by boylet
Views: 11
Words: 1014
Pages: 5
Category: English Composition
Date Submitted: 10/29/2015 12:13 PM
Tanna Boyle
5 October 2013
The Olympics and Social Change
Truimph by: Jeremy Schaap Book Review
The Olympics are a very important event and have been around for a long time, and many different books have documented it. Truimph captures one of the greatest athlete’s lives very well. I really enjoyed reading Triumph. Jeremy Schaap wrote Jesses Owens’ inspiring story using all the right words. He made it very exciting and educational at the same time. Schaap wasn’t just telling Owens’ story, it was like Schaap was digging into Jesse Owens’ brain, accessing all his thoughts on different events, and documenting Jesse Owens’ life. Schaap captured conversations that Owens was having with coaches, Owens’ thoughts before he started many of his races, and many other important thoughts. He captures Jesse Owens’ inspirational life achievements.
Schaap constructed the book very well, and he kept it flowing. The book was a timeline following the order of Owen’s life. He focused on the important things in Owens’ life, but also the little things that other people might have missed. Schaap went behind the scenes of Jesse Owens’ amazing running career and his life in general. Readers learn so much about the 1936 Olympics when reading Truimph. Schaap doesn’t just capture Owens at the Berlin Olympics, he also captures other athletes’ victories and disappointments too.
Triumph shows Jesse Owens’ achievements, but also his struggles. He had many different struggles, including his trouble with the AAU throughout the book. He was also disappointed when Franklin D. Roosevelt, the president at the time didn’t send him a telegram, and never acknowledged his accomplishments. The president was just thinking about himself in the next election.
Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Olympics and set three world records, and wasn’t admired for it as much as he should have been. He came back to the United States and was discriminated against just because his skin color was...