Million Dollar Muscle

Intriguing. Engaging. Compelling. All of those words describe Million Dollar Muscle by Adrian James Tan, Ph.D., and Doug Brignole. No, this isn’t another workout manual; it’s a “historical and sociological prespective of the fitness industry,” and if you are a part of that industry and want to discover some of its interesting psychological components, this book is for you.

For example, one of the first chapters is on the overcommercialization of fitness and how that has spawned various scams, from cellulite fat-loss creams to infomercial exercise contraptions.

There’s history in these pages too. The authors discuss old-time strongmen, the evolution of bodybuilding and the Muscle Beach era. That all leads to chapters on “ornamental masculinity” (there’s an interesting title), the benefits of exercise and a social psychology of the iron game.

The book is not all academia oriented though. Brignole provides plenty of personal insights, including why he became a bodybuilder, his foray into the gym business, fitness controversies—such as weightlifting for women and kids, steroids, cellulite—and even tips on burning fat.

This is a book you can read from cover to cover or skip around to various chapters of interest, as most are stand-alone features.

It’s a great book—very interesting and a true contribution to our industry.

Editor’s note: Million Dollar Muscle is available at Amazon: Million Dollar Muscle: A Historical and Sociological Perspective of the Fitness Industry