💪Books and Biceps - Issue 216

Ferris Bueller, Method Man, Frederick Douglass and...

Books & Biceps is the only weekly e-mail that combines reading recommendations, exclusive workouts, short biographies of fascinating people, dad highlights & more…

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READING

I love when people take a movie’s plot so seriously they try to figure out if the events could have realistically happened from a time or location standpoint.

A classic version of this is the final scene in Jerry Maguire, when Jerry somehow makes it from a nighttime Arizona Cardinals game in Phoenix (the postgame, no less) to Manhattan Beach, California, in time for the famous “you had me at Hello” speech where a group of women were hanging out at what would realistically have been 4AM or something.

My new favorite is this article by Leigh Giangreco, who set out to recreate all of the events in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in Chicago in one day.

Beginning with 5:55AM Leigh visits Cameron and Sloane’s neighborhoods before shooting off to the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) and then hits all the highlights. If you’re familiar with the movie, this article is a great time… The Sky Deck, the museum, the Cubs game, a parade… It’s all here. Enjoy!

BICEPS

I’ve been working out early in the morning for nearly a decade. Over time, it becomes a lifestyle. You get to bed early to wake up early. You wake up early to lift and sweat and if you don’t…you feel antsy.

Somehow even lifting at 8AM seems late…

If you think being in the garage gym at 6AM is weird or dumb or crazy that’s fine. Lots of people do. Ha! Whatever works for you… But I compiled an eclectic mix of people who live by the “sweat before six” code.

And I promise this is the only thread you’ll read that has Method Man, Jack LaLanne and John Quincy Adams:

Jon Finkel @Jon_Finkel

1/ Method Man Despite the Wu-Tang legend being over 50, the key to his continued success is super early morning workouts: • Meth hits the gym at 4AM. Heavy. • Legs Monday • Shoulders Tuesday • Back Wednesday • Chest Thursday • Arms Friday He came to bring the pain...

Quick Flexes

Did you know that the world famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass lifted weights every day in between meeting with Abraham Lincoln and speaking out against slavery? This was a fascinating piece to write and I learned a ton:

Jon Finkel @Jon_Finkel

You know the legend of Frederick Douglass: Escaped slavery, led the abolitionist movement, brilliant writer, speaker, statesman, thinker & leader... But did you know he was a fitness pioneer in the 1800s? Check out his surprising daily lifting routine, equipment & trainer:

And since it appears that the NBA is about to announce that the Seattle Supersonics are going to get their team back… I’d like to think that my book Hoops Heist had a little bit to do with it.

Here was the announcement video Isaiah Thomas posted on launch day for the book:

Jon Finkel @Jon_Finkel

Another NBA media day. Sonics still not back. Damn. I spent over a year researching & writing Hoops Heist, the story of Seattle, basketball, love & heartbreak. Foreword by @isaiahthomas Interviews w/: Durant, Allen, Payton, Karl, Det, Jet, Jamal & more Perfect day to read:

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Have a great weekend! - Jon