• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Olympics

The RunBlogRun Book Review: A Complicated Yet Inspirational Path Lit by Lightning, The Story of Jim Thorpe, by David Maraniss.

Jeff BenjaminbyJeff Benjamin
August 25, 2022
0
The RunBlogRun Book Review: A Complicated Yet Inspirational Path Lit by Lightning, The Story of Jim Thorpe, by David Maraniss.

Path Lit by Lightning, The Life of Jim Thorpe, by David Maraniss

0 0
0
SHARES
138
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RelatedPosts

The Worlds On NBC – Thoughts & Views From TV On Day 2-4

For Shoe Geeks, The Mudroom BackPack Quartable Answers the Needs of Track & Field athletes and coach!

The Most Excellent Adventures of Des Linden

This is the review of Path Lit by Lighting, The story of Jim Thorpe, written by David Maraniss. The review is by Jeff Benjamin, senior writer/ East Coast for RunBlogRun.

A Complicated Yet Inspirational Life – “Path Lit By Lightning” By David Maraniss

Review By Jeff Benjamin 

“Complicated  things CHALLENGE us most,

HURTS us the most, and there we LEARN the most.”

– Bradley B. Dalina

“Fact are stubborn things” – John Adams

Mining through the life of Jim Thorpe has always presented to researchers with unique challenges.

Beginning during his lifetime, Thorpe has been the subject of numerous bios where quite a few authors “fell for” a few exaggerations of the great athlete.

Jim Thorpe, as a football player, courtesy of Simon & Schuster

Robert Wheeler’s thoroughly researched 1970s Thorpe work, consisting of eyewitness accounts from over 200 people, has been the best that others have been measured against.

Review – https://www.runblogrun.com/2016/02/jim-thorpe-worlds-greatest-athlete-by-robert-wheeler-revisted-by-jeff-benjamin.html

Sadly, Thorpe’s story has not resonated with nor been portrayed very much with a new generation of Americans in the 21st century. After all, the only Hollywood movie made on Thorpe was the 1950 picture starring Burt Lancaster.

But now it’s Dave Maraniss’ turn!

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author has turned his sights on to the Sac & Fox Native-American sports giant with his new work entitled “Path Lit By Lightning.”

The result – A sweeping revisit for old and new readers alike who can hope to comprehend Thorpe’s legendary life, with all the ups and downs and how he fought through them.

Jim Thorpe, 1912 Olympic champion, decathlon, and pentathlon, from a newspaper clipping

What is different about Maraniss’ book is that the author successfully draws parallels of American history “running” (pardon the pun!”) alongside the life of Thorpe. Smoothly woven into Thorpe’s life is the existential prejudicial hatred towards Native Americans, from the 1830 period of Chief Black Hawk and Andrew Jackson right up to President Theodore Roosevelt dedicating Mount Rushmore alongside names mentioned and described in chronological order such as Phil Sheridan and beyond going forward.

All these events and personalities would exploit Thorpe and many Native-American youths, culminating in the rise of “Indian Schools,” of which the school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, would justifiably take note. Unlike the Thorpe movie of the 1950s, the Carlisle Indian School was anything but a so-called perfect campus, with its sign “Kill the Indian, save the Man” displayed at its entrance in the quest to transform  the Indian into an “American.”

From left: Gus Welch, Alex Arcasa, Glenn “Pop” Warner, Stancil “Possum” Powell and Jim Thorpe ca. 1912. (Cumberland County Historical Society/Courtesy of Cumberland County Historical Society, Carlisle, PA)

Yet it was here that Thorpe’s athleticism was discovered by Coach “Pop” Warner. Maraniss shows Warner to be not only important to the rise of Thorpe to athletic immortality but as a “Founding Father” of the Football game millions today love.

But Maraniss also shows another side of Warner.

People are complicated, and Warner sure has his downside, from financially exploiting his Native American stars, including Thorpe, then later on hiding behind Thorpe’s “inferior ignorance” when he loses his 1912 Olympic medals for violating the so-called Amateur rules, of which Warner also took advantage.

Avery Brundage, photo courtesy of Wikipedia

This tragic “opportunity” against Thorpe also leads to the rise of Avery Brundage, a figure in the sport against which there is no shortage of harsh criticism against in the 20th century and beyond. What is great about Maraniss’ work is that he attempts to portray the psyche of Thorpe’s 1912 Olympic teammate, who later on runs the USOC & the IOC with an iron fist, which the author shows quite compellingly.

Like with any work, there are issues with the book this writer came upon. The first was the non-inclusion of Thorpe’s performances at the Decathlon/Heptathlon Olympic trials to make the USA team, performances which, according to others, only add to the Legend.

Jim Thorpe, painting by Charles Banks Wilson

Also of dispute is Maraniss’ portrayal of Thorpe as penniless in his last days. Perhaps he may have been down, yet perhaps income was coming in from his appearances as well, and perhaps Thorpe, who, as Maraniss writes,  generous to a fault, sent financial help to those who reached out to him in need (something that the legendary Jesse Owens, who never made the megabucks either, was known to generously do as well!).

Perhaps, as Maraniss writes, Thorpe’s 3rd wife Patsy, a complicated person as well, “managed” the money in her own way as she saw fit. It seems no author has ever successfully “pinned down” Patsy Thorpe even until the end, when her husband’s remains at her behest wound up in an area of Pennsylvania which he never set foot in while alive and became a bitter contentious fight amongst family, supporters pro & con, eventually involving the highest federal courts, whose rulings are bitterly debated about into this day.

However, what Maraniss does show throughout his life is that while Thorpe might have been “down” at times, he was never “out.” Thorpe’s perseverance in all the prejudices and adversities is a quality that probably can never be explained by any author, but is written about by Maraniss as inspirational to the reader nonetheless, which adds to the flow of the book!

In the end, Maraniss successfully echoes Wheeler and all the other Jim Thorpe biographers – Olympics, Major League Baseball, Football, Basketball – even Brundage grudgingly admitted as well- He truly was one of the Greatest Athletes who ever lived!

Jeff Benjamin,  senior writer/East Coast, at Jim Thorpe Monument, photo by Jeff Benjamin

One hopes that the attention given to the book can lure readers towards the new upcoming Jim Thorpe movie that has been in the works and is going forward right now! With the inspiring quality of Jim Thorpe’s perseverance behind them, no doubt the movie can reach successful fruition!

Bell Lap – To purchase a copy of “Path Lit By Lightning,” go to – 

https://davidmaraniss.com

For an excellent excerpt from the book, we suggest this read from the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/08/08/jim-thorpe-book-pop-warner/, by David Maraniss

Author

  • Jeff Benjamin
    Jeff Benjamin

    Jeff Benjamin has written for 30 years for American Track and Field along with RunBlogRun. The Former President of the Staten Island AC & Chair of the Staten Island Running Association was the 5th man scorer for his Susan Wagner High School NYC XC City Championship team. Also a member of the College of Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame for XC, Jeff currently serves as the LDR Chairman for USATF NY. A passionate (or fanatical) follower of the Sport, some of Jeff's subjects have included Sebastian Coe, Emma Coburn, Eamonn Coghlan, Matt Centrowitz, Jim Spivey, Galen Rupp, Joe Newton, Tom Fleming, Ajee’ Wilson, Bill Rodgers, Allan Webb, Abel Kiviat, Jordan Hassay, Marty Liquori, Caster Semenya, Rod Dixon, Carl Lewis and Jim Ryun as well as Book Reviews and articles covering meets and races in the Northeast U.S.

    View all posts

Previous Post

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Eight, Day 4

Next Post

2022 Munich Diary, Recap: Historic Marathon Wins for Lisowska, Ringer At European Athletics Championships

Jeff Benjamin

Jeff Benjamin

Jeff Benjamin has written for 30 years for American Track and Field along with RunBlogRun. The Former President of the Staten Island AC & Chair of the Staten Island Running Association was the 5th man scorer for his Susan Wagner High School NYC XC City Championship team. Also a member of the College of Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame for XC, Jeff currently serves as the LDR Chairman for USATF NY. A passionate (or fanatical) follower of the Sport, some of Jeff's subjects have included Sebastian Coe, Emma Coburn, Eamonn Coghlan, Matt Centrowitz, Jim Spivey, Galen Rupp, Joe Newton, Tom Fleming, Ajee’ Wilson, Bill Rodgers, Allan Webb, Abel Kiviat, Jordan Hassay, Marty Liquori, Caster Semenya, Rod Dixon, Carl Lewis and Jim Ryun as well as Book Reviews and articles covering meets and races in the Northeast U.S.

Similar Post

WC / Day Eight: Relay Madness:  4×1 Sweep For USA, Mondo’s Perfect Game Strikes Gold
Training Tips

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 3, day 1, Monday is an easy day…

September 25, 2023
2022 Berlin Marathon Diary, Eliud Kipchoge all set for Berlin return

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing, Week 2, Day 7, the long run is on Sunday

September 25, 2023
Conversations with Larry: Shawnti Jackson signs NIL deal with Brooks Running
Convos w LE

Conversations with Larry: Shawnti Jackson signs NIL deal with Brooks Running

September 23, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Berlin Marathon is tomorrow, US Olympic Trials will be well presented, but hotels and Air BnBs are already charging more!
Coffee With Larry

Coffee With Larry, Berlin Marathon is tomorrow, US Olympic Trials will be well presented, but hotels and Air BnBs are already charging more!

September 23, 2023
Will a win -or anything else- matter for Eliud Kipchoge at the 2023 Berlin Marathon?
World Marathon Majors

Will a win -or anything else- matter for Eliud Kipchoge at the 2023 Berlin Marathon?

September 23, 2023
Coffee with Larry, Nike Pre Classic : Best Edition Ever!
Training Tips

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing, Week 2, day 6, a day at the races!

September 23, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

August 27, 2023
An epic pole vault competition

An epic pole vault competition

August 26, 2023
2022 USATF Outdoor Champs: Melissa Jefferson takes the Women’s 100m title in windy 10.69!

The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

February 8, 2023
Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

July 17, 2023
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
2022 Munich Diary, Day Five, a Great Friday Night

2023 European Athletics Indoor Champs, The Women’s 60m, who will win the final tonight?

5
TCS New York City Marathon Broadcast to be Available in More Than 530 Million Homes Around the World on Sunday, November 6

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
WC / Day Eight: Relay Madness:  4×1 Sweep For USA, Mondo’s Perfect Game Strikes Gold

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 3, day 1, Monday is an easy day…

September 25, 2023
2022 Berlin Marathon Diary, Eliud Kipchoge all set for Berlin return

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing, Week 2, Day 7, the long run is on Sunday

September 25, 2023
Conversations with Larry: Shawnti Jackson signs NIL deal with Brooks Running

Conversations with Larry: Shawnti Jackson signs NIL deal with Brooks Running

September 23, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Berlin Marathon is tomorrow, US Olympic Trials will be well presented, but hotels and Air BnBs are already charging more!

Coffee With Larry, Berlin Marathon is tomorrow, US Olympic Trials will be well presented, but hotels and Air BnBs are already charging more!

September 23, 2023

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
WC / Day Eight: Relay Madness:  4×1 Sweep For USA, Mondo’s Perfect Game Strikes Gold
Training Tips

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Program, Week 3, day 1, Monday is an easy day…

September 25, 2023
2022 Berlin Marathon Diary, Eliud Kipchoge all set for Berlin return

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing, Week 2, Day 7, the long run is on Sunday

September 25, 2023
Conversations with Larry: Shawnti Jackson signs NIL deal with Brooks Running
Convos w LE

Conversations with Larry: Shawnti Jackson signs NIL deal with Brooks Running

September 23, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Berlin Marathon is tomorrow, US Olympic Trials will be well presented, but hotels and Air BnBs are already charging more!
Coffee With Larry

Coffee With Larry, Berlin Marathon is tomorrow, US Olympic Trials will be well presented, but hotels and Air BnBs are already charging more!

September 23, 2023

Recent Tweets

Next Post
2022 Munich Diary, Deep thoughts on Day One of the 2022 European Athletics Championships

2022 Munich Diary, Recap: Historic Marathon Wins for Lisowska, Ringer At European Athletics Championships

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist