💪 Books and Biceps Issue 231
Free Swag Giveaway, Thor Arctic Swim, Steve Rushin and...
Books & Biceps is the only weekly e-mail that combines reading recommendations, exclusive workouts, fascinating stories & more…
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FIRST, THANK YOU
Books & Biceps is the greatest group of educated meatheads on the planet. If you’re reading this, you’re a jacked genius in my book.
As a quick thanks, I printed up 50 sweet individual glossy stickers with our Books & Biceps logo on it. They’re the perfect style upgrade for a laptop (mine, below), a squat rack, a desk or, hell, put it right on your refrigerator and show the world who you are.
If you want one, simply reply to this e-mail with your address and I’ll send it off on Monday. That’s it. A small thanks from me to you. First come, first serve. Get’em while they’re hot!
BOOKS
The Pint Man: A Novel by Steve Rushin
I don’t know what to call the genre of award-winning sportswriters’ first novels, but I’ve been on a streak the last few weeks revisiting and rereading my favorites. Last week I shared The Professional by W.C. Heinz, and it made me remember how much I enjoyed The Pint Man written by Steve Rushin.
If you don’t know Rushin, he wrote (in my opinion) the greatest column in Sports Illustrated called Air & Space. The column ran for 19 years and was a clinic in wordsmithing, clever turns of phrase, brilliant sentence execution and overall writing mastery.
I mean, who else could write an entertaining, memorable article about Wednesday? Yeah, the day of the week. Here it is.
But back to Pint Man. The main character of the book, Rodney Poole, is based loosely on Rushin himself; a guy who likes words, sports, history, trivia, and his favorite Irish pub. In the midst of a mid-30s crisis (unemployed but smart, not in a relationship but wanting to be) he meets a woman who gives him a glimpse of big boy life. Then comedy and great puns and sports nerd references ensue. If I had you at ‘Rushin’, then you’ll enjoy this book.
BICEPS
I haven’t recommended a show in a long time here on Books & Biceps, and I’m surprised this is the one I’m breaking my streak on.
But the Disney+ show, Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, is right in our wheelhouse. Specifically, the second episode, Shock.
Let me begin by saying I had no intention of watching this show. In fact, my wife started watching it without me largely because “Hemsworth is gorgeous”.
But then I saw what he was doing. And that serious scientists like Peter Attia were involved. And that the show wasn’t lame or self-serving crap.
It was interesting. And you’ll come away impressed with Hemsworth’s toughness. Yes, you read that right.
This episode is about the science behind using extreme cold and heat to extend life span, boost your immunity and improve mental well being.
To learn these things, Hemsworth travels to the upper tip of Norway and tries to build up a tolerance to freezing temps to reach his goal of swimming 250 yards in the Arctic waters. He treads water in the 37 degree ocean for 5 minutes (no wetsuit). He goes surfing for almost an hour among glaciers. Plays soccer in shorts and a t-shirt with his brothers in sub-zero conditions.
Then, he attempts a 250 yard swim in the open ocean, no wetsuit, in 36 degree water while it’s sleeting and blowing icy winds. And along the way we learn the science of the benefits of exposing our bodies to extreme temps. See? Awesome.
QUICK FLEXES
While doing book research I found this amazing photo of a teenaged Randy Savage lifting weights with his father in his backyard waaaaaayyyy before his Macho Man days. Love it:
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Have a great weekend! - Jon