33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Wonderful Book From Dave Draper!, March 21, 2006
This review is from: Iron on My Mind (Paperback)
One of the most fascinating aspects of reading through this latest offering from bodybuilding legend Dave Draper is the degree to which he manages to beguile the reader with his ability to use the language so effectively, with his special soft and winsome sense of humor, on the one side, and his unique way of looking at the world on the other. Sixty-something year old Draper's style is almost child-like in its simplicity and enthusiasm, and that can be quite intoxicating while one is covering subjects that one associates with sweat, struggle, and chasing the pump. Dave Draper is the real deal, and in each of the several dozen short articles included here he demonstrates why his instinctual approach to training and to life itself is so appealing.
After all, Dave was one of the original denizens of Muscle Beach, but he is anything but brain-addled from all his forty or fifty years of pounding steel in Herculean workouts that would leave most of us staggering for our breath and a quick exit home. Draper is actually quite sophisticated, clever, and commanding in his artful use of language to convince, persuade, and cajole all of us ordinary knuckleheads as to how to better achieve our physical and other life goals by applying all of the tips and methods he lays out bit by bit as he progressively educates us in the ways of physical culture. Scorning the more complicated workout routines, Draper advises us to simply get proper nutrition, rest well, and work out intensely, regularly, and systematically to achieve our goals.
Indeed, in a time of much more controversial training approaches being advocated by others, Dave clears the air by suggesting we simply concentrate on the basics and let our consistent attention to details as well as our persistence in applying these rules to make significant improvement. As we read his words, we gradually come to understand his deep faith and his enduring conviction that applying his simple rules not only works to build a terrific body, but is also a wonderful approach for facing life without excuses or complaints. Here is a man that has seen both sides of fame, who strode to the victory platform as Mr. Universe while still in his twenties, who also starred in a movie with the late Sharon Tate, and who chose to withdraw to a quiet life of principle, working out every day and building rustic furniture to make a living.
Draper has come far since those days. Unlike the current crop of bodybuilding stars, who pursue the game for fame and fortune, Draper eschewed both long ago, choosing instead to concentrate on a life of physical culture. Ever since, he has become the elder spokesman for bodybuilding, an acknowledged phenomenon who often lectures, trains, and writes based on a lifetime of bodybuilding experience. As a consequence, he is hard not to take seriously. This is his third book, and it demonstrates both his unusual ability to write well, often and in a most engaging fashion about a variety of personal experiences and subjects that he always manages to relate to the overall subject of physical culture and why pursuing it as a lifestyle will change a person's life for the better. For me, this is a great read, and one I can heartily recommend. Enjoy!
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational, January 16, 2006
This review is from: Iron on My Mind (Paperback)
This is the third Dave Draper book following Brother Iron Sister Steel and Body Revival and what an inspirational book it is. Made up from a collection of weekly thought provoking and motivating e mail news letters Mr Draper sends out.
The book is well written, could be read one article at a time day by day or as I did barely putting it down over a long weekend. I would highly recommend it to everyone from the couch potato desiring to "do something" to elite athletes, sports psychologists etc. My personal favourite book of 2005.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
French point of view, March 29, 2007
This review is from: Iron on My Mind (Paperback)
The most important ingredient for success in bodybuilding, is MOTIVATION !
Period. The old saying "It's all in the head" applies here too. Especially as we grow in age, our strenght, flexibility, and recuperative power diminishes, so does our motivation. Dave Draper is now in his sixties, so we are in the same boat. I admire his power to overcome laziness, and the zillion excuses we usually find not to train.
Maybe I am biased because I am no longer a young man, but I think people at any age have a lot to learn from experienced bodybuilders.
If you think you MUST train to keep looking young, but have trouble getting the motivation, give Dave's book a try.
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