All In: An Autobiography

In this engrossing memoir, tennis legend King writes that, from a young age, she knew that she loved sports, tennis especially, and she was both puzzled and infuriated by injustices. Why couldn’t girls play sports with boys? Why did racial segregation exist? When she was older, she questioned why men playing tennis earned much more money than women players. King was frustrated by these facts and sought to do something about them by helping to start the women’s professional tennis circuit and by supporting Title IX legislation. Her famous 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs in the so-called Battle of the Sexes not only solidified the relevance and importance of equality in the world of pro tennis, but also stirred people to reevaluate the treatment of women in the workplace. On top of all this, King discusses the difficulties she encountered as a lesbian in a less-than-tolerant society. As amazing as her on-court accomplishments are, her work for social justice is even more remarkable.