I love reading books. I'm mainly reading fantasy and sci fi at the moment but I have read my fair share of fitness related books: workout books, nutrition books, wellness books... They following five books are some that I found captivating. They stood out with a clearer message than the rest and a more engaging writing style (except one).
Workout book 1: The New Encyclopedia Of Modern Bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Anyone who wants to learn anything about shaping their body a certain way should read this book. It covers everything. You will get a detailed list of exercise guides, workout plans, scientific explanation, nutrition concepts and so much more.
This is considered the bible of body building for a reason.
I personally loved the explanations behind training certain muscle groups differently than others. For example, you don't train you calfs the same way as your quads. Even though muscles follow the SAID principle (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand), there are better demands to place on certain muscles.
Workout book 2: Born to run by Christopher McDougall
A story about a man who overcomes running injuries by adopting the running style of a Native Mexican tribe. He goes on to find this tribe to study how they can seamlessly run insane distances (100 miles and more).
The book takes a solid stance on one of the hotly contested debate in the running world about minimalist vs ultra padded shoes. It supports the minimalist view which claims that running injuries increased with the invention of modern running shoes.
I personally took all the claims with a grain of salt. For example, it's true that running injuries increased with the popularity of modern running shoes. It's also true that more and more people were running for leisure because of the new shoes. So more people running = increased overall injuries.
The author never makes aggressive claims though, he never tries to push his opinions down your throat. I though he did a good job at demonstrating why he believed something and how that influenced his decision.
The anecdotes in the book are fun to read, the story itself is compelling, and over all it's enjoyable read for anyone who wants to dive a little further in the world of running.
Workout book 3: Endure by Alex Hutchinson
Wether you are an endurance or strength athlete, this is a must read.
The author drives home a point that I strongly believe in: human performance is largely driven by mental factors.
The book talks exclusively about endurance sports because that's where mental toughness plays a huge role. The lessons can be carried over the gym though. Anyone who has done heavy squats or deadlifts will know how crucial a strong mental state is.
Again, this book has anecdotes and scientific studies in it. It has less of a story feel than Born To Run but is captivating nonetheless.
Workout book 4: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Not a workout book per se but this book stands out for me as another to help shape your mental state.
This is a fictional story about an architect that refuses to conform to current standards and stays true to his beliefs. The book also has deeper messages, like individualism vs collectivism.
What stood out for me was the notion of staying true to your beliefs. I found it helpful when it came to believing in what I was doing, not letting others influence my decisions.
The world of fitness can be polarizing at time, with people claiming this and that. Going to the gym can also be intimidating, especially when you go to a new one where you don't know anyone. It's important to have a strong belief system to be confident in our endeavours.
Being skilled at what we do is also essential to that confidence, another point driven home in this story.
I have to warn you though, this book can get dryer than the Sahara. It was a little painful to get through it at times.
Workout book 5: Thrive Energy Cookbook by Brendan Brazier
Brendan Brazier started the company Vega in the little town of Burnaby, right beside Vancouver. Maybe I'm being a little biased on this one because I grew up in Vancouver.
This is a vegan cookbook and no I am not vegan. I did find that these recipes where the best tasting vegan ones I've had. My favourite home made chocolate cake is from this book, and there are tons of other delicious ideas.
The author is a triathlete and the recipes are geared towards athletic performance. I love the snacks section and the majority of the recipes are easy to follow. Apart the chocolate cake one, which is insanely hard but so worth it.
Let me know what you think of these! And send any book recommendations my way, I always love reading a good book.
Clem
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