Fantastic book about bodybuilding

[Adam]

I highly recommend 'Muscle' by Jon Hotten. Hotten is a British journalist who had previously written two books about boxing. I get the impression that he initially set out to write a sort of expose' of the more sensational aspects of bodybuilding, but instead ended up a fan of the sport. To give you an idea of the scope of the book, he begins with Andreas Munzer's death, ends with Ronnie's complete dominance of the 2003 Olympia, and covers the Arnold era and Dorian's reign in between.

It's a great 'warts and all' account by a highly intelligent writer, who knew nothing about the sport initially but who developed great insight and respect for it. Here's an excerpt to which I think we can all relate;

"Muscle grew through failiure. Sressed to exhaustion, it responded by becoming larger. But muscle was contrary and had a mind of it's own. If you stressed it too often, it would shrink. If you stressed it too little, it would shrink. If you failed to nourish it, it would shrink. If you failed to rest it, it would shrink. If you over-nourished it, it would hide. If you left it alone for too long, it would atrophy. If it didn't get what it wanted, when it wanted it, muscle would not do very much at all."

[Bad Bob]

Can't argue with that!

[p.s.]

Looks like an updated version of the old Pumping Iron book (the one with Corney on the cover with his arms raised), and if it's half the book that pumping iron was then it'll be worth the read.