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zimnotutaj's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this. I loved how it made me think and question everything. I feel like my mind and my understanding has expanded. Philosophy in action? I'm in! And off to my yoga mat.
danapr's review against another edition
2.0
A philosophical look at what motivates people to engage in exercise, the author looks at several aspects and examples of topics such as reverie, pain and sacrifice amongst others.
I’m not sure what I was expecting from this book but most of it seemed kind of disjointed and actually just boring. I guess if a reader is looking for philosophical musings, the book would fit the bill. I did like the author’s connection with certain exercises such as walking with helping one’s thinking process and the chapter on yoga and meditation was more of what I was hoping for. But the bulk of the book (fortunately short) just wasn’t interesting to me. In the conclusion, the author states “Chad (a bulked up personal trainer described at the beginning of the book) might not have read this far into the book. Not that he did badly at school, or scorns popular nonfiction, but because he does not value intellectual adventure and ethical growth. More specifically, he does not value himself for these things.” I’m no “Chad” but I would argue that 1) this book is not “popular” and 2) Chad might have gotten too bored or impatient with the philosophical meandering. In other words, some readers who are intelligent and ethical just may find that this book isn’t their “cup of tea”.
I’m not sure what I was expecting from this book but most of it seemed kind of disjointed and actually just boring. I guess if a reader is looking for philosophical musings, the book would fit the bill. I did like the author’s connection with certain exercises such as walking with helping one’s thinking process and the chapter on yoga and meditation was more of what I was hoping for. But the bulk of the book (fortunately short) just wasn’t interesting to me. In the conclusion, the author states “Chad (a bulked up personal trainer described at the beginning of the book) might not have read this far into the book. Not that he did badly at school, or scorns popular nonfiction, but because he does not value intellectual adventure and ethical growth. More specifically, he does not value himself for these things.” I’m no “Chad” but I would argue that 1) this book is not “popular” and 2) Chad might have gotten too bored or impatient with the philosophical meandering. In other words, some readers who are intelligent and ethical just may find that this book isn’t their “cup of tea”.
legriffi's review against another edition
3.0
Would definitely consider rereading certain chapters: the introduction, reverie, pain, consistency, and the sublime.
isheekagoswami's review
3.0
Lots of interesting ideas about how to think of exercise as a crucial part of life - about what it has to offer in terms of values and quality of life.
I found the structure a bit frustrating. Each chapter focuses on a concept (e.g. pain) and uses a sport as an example (e.g. martial arts). I enjoyed the chapters on reverie, consistency and oneness but that’s because they were about types of exercise that I happen to enjoy (walking, running and yoga, respectively). The other chapters were a slog, comparatively. I think the book generally would have been more engaging if each chapter had referenced several other sports, so that readers can more easily see how each concept can apply to exercise more generally. Otherwise it’s a little hard to see how a person can achieve oneness from ball sports or experience the sublime while walking, and so on.
I found the structure a bit frustrating. Each chapter focuses on a concept (e.g. pain) and uses a sport as an example (e.g. martial arts). I enjoyed the chapters on reverie, consistency and oneness but that’s because they were about types of exercise that I happen to enjoy (walking, running and yoga, respectively). The other chapters were a slog, comparatively. I think the book generally would have been more engaging if each chapter had referenced several other sports, so that readers can more easily see how each concept can apply to exercise more generally. Otherwise it’s a little hard to see how a person can achieve oneness from ball sports or experience the sublime while walking, and so on.
lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
3.0
The philosophical why we do what we do when we exercise. Chapters are based on virtues and characteristics : Reverie, Pride, Sacrifice, Beauty, Humility, Pain, Consistency, Sublime, and Oneness.
Since exercise and movement are my career, the concept of this really appealed to me. There were portions of the book that really resonated (Reverie, Humility, Consistency, and Oneness) and others that I didn't like much at all, because they brought to mind the narcissism, the egoism, and ugly sides of the modern fitness industry.
Overall, complete navel gazing about exercise... If you like to work out and also like philosophy, this will appeal to you, as it did me.
Since exercise and movement are my career, the concept of this really appealed to me. There were portions of the book that really resonated (Reverie, Humility, Consistency, and Oneness) and others that I didn't like much at all, because they brought to mind the narcissism, the egoism, and ugly sides of the modern fitness industry.
Overall, complete navel gazing about exercise... If you like to work out and also like philosophy, this will appeal to you, as it did me.
suitcaselife's review against another edition
3.0
I stumbled upon this book via goodreads and some of its good reviews on here. To be honest, the first half of the book felt a bit dry and than the second half of the book felt a bit like reading in an echo chamber as I already knew a lot of the things Young is talking about in this book.
The bottom line of the book is that exercising is not only good for your body but also for your mind. I was hoping to get a bit more out of it. Maybe it made me a tiny bit more curious about the theory behind Yoga and Meditation but that will be a topic for another book.
If you never tackled this whole topic yourself before residing this I assume it can be quite an interesting and good book for you.
The bottom line of the book is that exercising is not only good for your body but also for your mind. I was hoping to get a bit more out of it. Maybe it made me a tiny bit more curious about the theory behind Yoga and Meditation but that will be a topic for another book.
If you never tackled this whole topic yourself before residing this I assume it can be quite an interesting and good book for you.
jules_cr's review
3.0
I loved the intro and some of the early chapters, but sadly the book was a little uneven. It's a great little read showing a multifaceted approach to exercise but there will be moments (chapters?) you'll want to skip ahead. (For me it was the "Sublime" chapter that I just kept hoping would get better...)
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