Customer Reviews

Muscle, Smoke, & Mirrors: Volume I

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3 star:		(1)
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Randy has written a masterpiece on the history that covers the dawning of physical culture right through to bodybuilding in the 1960's. He has meticulously covered so many subjects that interconnect so well from the scientific nutritionists who stumble across tribes and cultures of people who have the keys to health, strength and longevity to fitness magazine owners, writers and articles who saw the dollars to promote fake foods that make a lot of money. Entangled within such well written work are some amazing and interesting characters who had differing motives and agendas that enlighten us to why and how we got where we are today within the arena of nutrition, bodybuilding, sports, strength and health.

I can't put down this amazing book, very interesting facts about medical and nutrition industry.
It makes you question the "untouchable domineering position of western medicine" and what we're putting through our body everyday.
I salute visiually impaired but intellectually outstanding writer of this eye opener...

As someone involved in the our beloved "Iron Game" for decades, I can vouch for the veracity of Mr. Roach's "Muscle, Smoke, and Mirrors". Long before Arnold became a household word and force of nature, young men around America contracted iron fever. The malady was characterized by an overwhelming desire for strength and muscle, far beyond, as the Superman prologue intoned, "those of mortal men". While most of our pals were slugging baseballs over outfield fences, we were slugging down hellacious protein concoctions to feed our pumped-up bodies. Rather than retreading urban muscle myths, Randy has spent five years interviewing the principals, and those that knew the champions most closely to write his magnum opus for bodybuilding fans. Thanx, Randy. A job well done.

What a crazy informative book. Absolute reading for almost anyone interested in history of exercise culture, bodybuilding, raw milk/processed milk, why we have the medical establishment we do and a number of other little ditties. My only complaint: Where is Volume 2?

I loved this book! I have always been fascinated with bodybuilders/bodybuilding, ever since I picked up a Muscle & Fitness when I was about 12. After seeing Pumping Iron and Arnold I was hooked. This is the 1st volume in what is supposed to become a 3 volume work. I'm eagerly awaiting the 2nd volume's release. IF you love the world of health/fitness/bodybuilding you will love this book!

Bodybuilding and powerlifting has been a hobby of mine for several years. I will never become a proffesional athlete but ive become a student of the sport nonetheless.

Reading up on training and nutrition on the world wide web only takes you so far.

Muscle, smoke and mirrors really gives you and indepth understanding of the history of physical culture. Everything from the people that have made physical culture what it is today, to diet- and training theories.

I highly recommend this book!

Randy Roach spent several years researching materials for this book, and it shows. There is much material here not easily found elsewhere, and some which I doubt can be found at all, elsewhere. Many of the "iron game" books on the market today are little other than a rehash of a few old magazines, with perhaps a personal account or two thrown in. 510 pages of text here, plus 17 pages of references as to where the information came from. The book is indexed as well. Roach pulls no punches on some subjects, such as anabolic steroids, which many books seem to have been afraid to mention in the past. The author has considerable interest not only in physical culture, but also in what has happened to our food supply, via regulation and government intervention. He addresses what has gone on in the food supplement industry, and how commercialization has often affected what is available to the public, and what both athletes and the public have been led to believe. On a couple of points, I might question exactly where his information came from. Not to say it is incorrect, but in these cases, he has made statements unfamiliar to me. This book is different than any other I have read on related subjects. Many bodybuilding/weightlifting/nutrition books are just about "the good old days", and how much Papa Bob or Uncle Joe did for everyone. This one takes a very different approach. I am looking forward to Vol. 2, which despite delays, I understand is still in progress.

To say this book is a must have if you enjoy powerlifting, olympic lifting, bodybuilding, supplementation and nutritional eucation, would be an understatement. Randy Roach has created a history that I couldn't put together by reading 100 books and magazines on early physical culture. If you have any love of these sports this book is a must have. I got tired of reading the common magazines and wanted some meat to chew on, this book gives it to you. While it may be pricey (the book is large), the book was well worth it. The only question I have is, "when is the next installment coming out?"

If you want to know what transpired behind the scenes in the sport of bodybuilding.. this is the book to read. Everything you want to know and what you didn't want to know is in this book. it is about the legal and the illegal activities that occured during the advent and growth of this activity. The reaseach that went into the development of this book is extensive and complete. Nothing of importance was left out, All of the underhanded manipulations of the various organizations and characters related to thse organizations are exposed. This is worth while reading for those of us who were on the perifery of this "sport" ... if you want to call it that.
Ed Wallace

What a great book,if you have ever wonder how we came to were we are in strength training now then this is the book for you.An indepth look at the evolution of strength training.The supplement and nutrition evolution is also quite interesting.