These reasonably comprehensive volumes explore the title athletes’ childhoods, early careers, and rise within sports. Admirable attention is paid to the societal and political constraints facing the men and women, in addition to their own social activism. A good selection of photographs are included.

These highly detailed works go beyond merely discussing the accomplishments of the athletes profiled—they also explore the social and political influences the figures had on society as a whole. In addition, they introduce historical events in the context of the subjects’ lives. For example, a sidebar in Ashe discusses the importance of the 13th Amendment while talking about the racism the tennis player faced as a child. There is an emphasis on race relations in these books, as well as on how the first respected female athletes paved the way for their successors. This series is teeming with information and is a must-purchase for sports fans and readers interested in social activism.