Review by Booklist Review
An avid cyclist, runner, and swimmer, Madden rode more than 4,000 miles per year while editor in chief of Bicycling magazine (2002-08), but when he could no longer do a simple sit-up to pull himself from the couch, he knew he needed a different approach to fitness. He slowly immersed himself in the culture of CrossFit and now offers a painful, sweaty, and exhausting insider's view of this popular exercise regimen. He details his failures and successes completing CrossFit's WODs (Workout of the Day), the advantages of the Paleo and zone diets, and his relationships with his fellow CrossFitters. There are some poignant and humorous moments as Madden realizes that CrossFit is more than a workout; it embraces a no-quit attitude, emphasizes camaraderie over competition, and challenges the mind as much as the body. His willingness to test his limits and do more than he thought possible helped him become a better person, husband, and father. The numerous workout anecdotes will entertain the CrossFit faithful, but Madden's well-written personal narrative may appeal to a more general fitness audience.--Clark, Craig Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
No matter what the leisure or exercise activity, there are always people who want to push it to extremes. For fitness fans, this is a program called CrossFit, which makes the Ironman triathlon look like a walk in the park. CrossFit is where drill instructors who are deemed too mean for the marines find their niche. It's the only leisure-time activity this reviewer has encountered that has a cute mascot for vomiting. Madden, once a "fat kid" and former editor of Bicycling magazine, considered himself no good because he wasn't athletic. He came to this sport in middle age and through sheer force of will mastered a series of extreme weight and cardio workouts, "embracing the suck" for one year. The exercises are not easily understood as described here. All that is clear is that too much is not enough. This title will appeal to hard-core athletes and students of psychology but may leave average readers feeling as though CrossFit practitioners have gone mad. VERDICT Limited appeal but provides exciting insight into a highly unusual lifestyle.-Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
