Our wonderful Neil J. Smith’s On the Ropes was presented as a prize gift in the contest, Free Book Friday. The contest was conducted by Friends & Foundation of Albany Public Library. Get more details here. On the Ropes is the story of a resilient, strong, young black fighter. His dream of winning Olympic Gold comes to an end when a series of unfortunate events take place. His hopelessness throws him into darkness, but his resilient nature makes him return to the boxing ring. Grab a copy of this motivational book here. Neil J. Smith is a New York-based author who has lived a very inspirational life. From a tough childhood to being a renowned author, he has also managed to lead a successful career in boxing.