"A strong, stable core is the foundation of virtually all physical efforts."

Pilates and yoga practitioners as well as dedicated athletes are familiar with the concept of "core stability." They understand its importance in achieving and maintaining superior fitness. A strong and stable core improves athletic performance, increases power and endurance, reduces stress on the body and minimizes the chances of injury. It helps to improve balance and posture, alleviates back pain and minimizes fatigue. Even everyday actions are easier, whether climbing stairs or lifting a box or holding a baby.

The muscles most responsible for core stability run the length of the trunk and torso. They include the famous "six pack" abdominal muscles, the muscles that underlie the spinal column and neck and which help to rotate the back, the oblique muscles, and the muscles of the hips and thighs. Exercises designed specifically to address these muscles are the only way to build a stable core.

"Anatomy of Core Stability" features such exercises. They are designed to work the entire core musculature, from the major muscles in the abdomen, spine, lower back, torso, hips and thighs, which endure the greater effort, to the smaller assisting muscles, which support the larger. Many exercises use inexpensive equipment such as a stability ball, medicine ball, free weights and wobble board.

"American Reference Books Annual" praised this series' first book, "Anatomy of Exercise," as "fascinating" and recommended it to "medium-sized and large public libraries as well as high school and undergraduate collections." This latest addition to the series will prove equally commendable and is an important purchase.

The "Anatomy of..." series has revolutionized how people can approach their fitness needs. The books are ideal references for beginning exercisers and amateur athletes, elite competitors, trainers, physiotherapists, coaches, sport injury clinics, yoga, pilates and fitness instructors, team doctors and specialist professionals.

Get the help you need to achieve a stronger lower body. Lower Body Training is a comprehensive guide containing the most up-to-date, scientifically proven strategies for increasing lower body size, strength, and power. Jason Brown, a program design expert who has worked with CrossFit affiliates and strength and conditioning facilities around the world, shares his innovative programs for a variety of different training goals, ranging from increased lower body size and strength to improved athletic performance. Lower Body Training offers dozens of options for developing all the muscles of the lower body. The exercises are organized by the movement patterns they target-quad dominant, hip dominant, isolation, and plyometric-and feature variations based on the equipment you have available without sacrificing results. You will also find recommendations for selecting a balance of exercises to maximize effectiveness and reduce lower back pain and other potential overuse or acute injuries. Best of all, Lower Body Training includes programs using maximal, submaximal, and dynamic training methods. The programs-categorized by beginner, intermediate, or advanced-target specific goals such as hypertrophy, strength, or athletic performance. Plus, there are variations for making staple exercises even more effective. Whether your goal is increased lower body size and strength or improved athletic performance, Lower Body Training has the tools to help you get there. CE exam available! For certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. Lower Body Training Online CE Exam may be purchased separately or as part of the Lower Body Training With CE Exam package that includes both the book and the exam.

If muscle growth seems nonexistent, but you don't have time to spend more hours in the gym each day, don't give up. There is a better way. Featuring a revolutionary approach to male physique transformation, Elite Physique: The New Science of Building a Better Body offers a fresh approach to body sculpting. Based on scientifically proven strategies for making workouts more effective, Elite Physique features over 100 exercises and 50 exercise videos for men seeking training programs designed to build muscle, burn fat, or target those problem areas that are slower to respond to training. Written by Dr. Chad Waterbury, a physical therapist who understands how bodies change with age, Elite Physique shows you how to make radical physical changes by manipulating sets, reps, and frequency and by deciding when and how to use advanced training methods. You'll start by performing an honest physical assessment to establish a starting point and more accurately gauge your progress. As you move into exercises for the lower body and upper body, you'll find tips on altering exercises to alleviate stress on primary joints like the shoulders, elbows, wrists, lower back, hips, and knees. Video clips offer demonstrations of many of the exercises, highlighting proper technique and common mistakes. You'll learn the finer points of sculpting the midsection and will be able to create programs to target a lagging body part, either as an add-on to full-body training or as a stand-alone high-frequency training plan. Waterbury also includes advice on how to make staple lifts such as squats, deadlifts, and presses more joint friendly for older, more physically battered lifters. He breaks down how training must change as you age-with a program for a 20-year-old looking different than one for a 50-year-old-to safely pursue your goal of a lean, muscular physique. Designed for men looking for the most effective approach to ignite their physique transformation, Elite Physique is a go-to resource. CE exam available! For certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. The Elite Physique Online CE Exam may be purchased separately or as part of the Elite Physique With CE Exam package that includes both the book and the exam. Note: A code for accessing the online video is included with this ebook.

If you are the girl, the woman who feels like she is never enough, that she will never be as strong, as good, as capable, I am here to tell you that you are enough. I am here to tell you that while it shouldn’t have been your burden, you can write a different story.

Stronger will change what you think you know about strength and, most importantly, empower you to go on your own journey to discover what strength looks like for you.

Now a competitive amateur powerlifter who can lift over twice her own bodyweight, Poorna Bell is perfectly placed to start a crucial conversation about women’s strength and fitness, one that has nothing to do with weight loss. In Stronger she challenges the notions taught to us as girls, and examines how all of us can tap into our reservoir of inner strength to make us our strongest selves mentally and physically. Describing taking up weightlifting after the death of her husband, she shows how discovering her own strength helped her to find the confidence that physical pursuits can amplify – the confidence that has been helping men to succeed for centuries – and that women can find too.

In these pages, Poorna tells not only her own story but those of a range of women, investigating intersections of race, age and social background. Part memoir, part manifesto, Stronger explodes old-fashioned notions and long-held beliefs about getting strong and explores the relationship between mental and physical strength.

Whether you’re into weightlifting, running, swimming, yoga or don’t consider yourself to be sporty at all, Poorna shows how finding strength can work for you, regardless of age, ability or background.

Arnold Schwarzenegger - a bodybuilder-turned-real-estate mogul who turned an undefeated streak at the Mr Olympia contest into an astonishing film career and eight years as the governor of California - is, for many people, the embodiment of the American Dream. From humble beginnings in a small village in Austria, Schwarzenegger has come to symbolise the opportunities that exist for anyone willing to work hard - parlaying success and self-confidence into the influence to shape hearts and minds across the globe. Even today, whether he's campaigning against climate change or fist-bumping fellow strongmen at his self-titled athletic event, he's one of the few men on the planet who's recognisable from his first name alone. Arnold. Fiaz Rafiq uses in-depth interviews with Schwarzenegger's peers to tell the life story of the one-time Governator, featuring exclusive interviews with his personal and close friends, fellow bodybuilders and training partners, Hollywood co-stars, directors, executive producers, political personalities and journalists - all offering first-hand accounts of the man they know. Together, these voices show new dimensions to the Arnold we all think we know - from the driven young man who brought building into the mainstream to the passionate advocate for political change.

From elite bodybuilding competitors to gymnasts, from golfers to fitness gurus, anyone who works out with weights must own this book -- a book that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could write, a book that has earned its reputation as "the bible of bodybuilding."

Inside, Arnold covers the very latest advances in both weight training and bodybuilding competition, with new sections on diet and nutrition, sports psychology, the treatment and prevention of injuries, and methods of training, each illustrated with detailed photos of some of bodybuilding's newest stars.

Plus, all the features that have made this book a classic are here:

• Arnold's tried-and-true tips for sculpting, strengthening, and defining each and every muscle to create the ultimate buff physique

• The most effective methods of strength training to stilt your needs, whether you're an amateur athlete or a pro bodybuilder preparing for a competition

• Comprehensive information on health, nutrition, and dietary supplements to help you build muscle, lose fat, and maintain optimum energy

• Expert advice on the prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries

• Strategies and tactics for competitive bodybuilders from selecting poses to handling publicity

• The fascinating history and growth of' bodybuilding as a sport, with a photographic "Bodybuilding Hall of Fame"

• And, of course, Arnold's individual brand of inspiration and motivation throughout

Covering every level of expertise and experience, The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding will help you achieve your personal best. With his unique perspective as a seven-time winner of the Mr. Olympia title and all international film star, Arnold shares his secrets to dedication, training, and commitment, and shows you how to take control of your body and realize your own potential for greatness.

Eddie 'The Beast' Hall is the first Brit in 24 years to win the World's Strongest Man competition, beating The Mountain from Game of Thrones. Everything about Eddie is huge. Standing at 6'3 he weighs almost 30 stone, and to make it through his hellish four-hour gym sessions he needs to eat a minimum of 10,000 calories a day. He eats a raw steak during weight sessions. His right eyeball once burst out of its socket under the strain. He put it back in. In his remarkable autobiography, Eddie takes you inside the world of the professional strongman - the nutrition, the training and competitions themselves. This is a visceral story of sporting achievement, an athlete pushing himself to the limits, and the personal journey of a man on the path to becoming being the best of the best. Contains strong language.

This is an exercise and lifestyle book for people who want a definitive and sustainable plan to transform their body and mindset forever, naturally. Your Mind Builds Your Body provides specialized workouts to sculpt your arms, back, chest, delts and legs. Includes nutritional advice and meal-planning guidance to maximize muscle building and fat loss.Roger Snipes shares practical advice on effective biohacking tools to optimize your health and strength, whatever your age. He has shown the bodybuilding world what can be achieved when goals are made with a passion to succeed: and crucially that if the mind isn't on board, the body doesn't follow.

The complete program for building and maintaining a well-conditioned, excellently proportioned body -- for a lifetime of fitness and health.

In Arnold's Bodybuilding for Men, legendary athlete Arnold Schwarzenegger shows you how to achieve the best physical condition of your life. For every man, at every age, Arnold outlines a step-by-step program of excercise, skillfully combining weight training and aerobic conditioning. The result -- total cardiovascular and muscular fitness.

Arnold's program of exercise features stretching, warm-up and warm-down routines, and three series of exercises, each more ambitious than the last, all calculated to help you progress at your own speed. In addition, Arnold contributes important advice about equipment, nutrition and diet, and getting started on your program of exercise.

Special sections of Arnold's Bodybuilding for Men cover training for teenagers, exercises designed to keep you in shape on the road or when you can't get to the gym, and the regimen Arnold followed to win his seven Mr. Olympia titles.

Illustrated with hundreds of photographs of Arnold and other top bodybuilders, Arnold's Bodybuilding for Men will help every man look great and feel terrific.

The need for qualified high school strength and conditioning professionals has never been greater. Whether following the framework for long-term athletic development or teaching weight training as a lifelong fitness activity, you need to offer both the environment and instructional skills to safely develop strong student-athletes. NSCA's Guide to High School Strength and Conditioning will equip you to deliver the highest-quality program in the high school setting-whether you are a strength and conditioning professional, physical education teacher, sport coach, or administrator. Written by a team of contributors within the world-renowned National Strength and Conditioning Association, NSCA's Guide to High School Strength and Conditioning summarizes the primary duties and responsibilities of the various positions and roles that contribute to developing a safe and effective program. It provides insights into the benefits of offering a strength and conditioning program at the high school level and offers advice for the implementation of such a program. Examples are also provided for strength-and-conditioning-related PE curriculums to demonstrate how those types of programs can work and how they connect to the SHAPE America national standards and grade-level outcomes. The text is loaded with information that can be practically applied to any high school program. You will learn the variables to consider when designing a resistance or cardiovascular training program and 13 detailed protocols for conducting assessments so you can objectively evaluate movement and performance. Detailed exercise descriptions include beginning position, movement phases, breathing guidelines, modifications and variations, and coaching tips. The descriptions, along with accompanying photos, teach proper technique for 28 common resistance training exercises, 10 bodyweight exercises, 12 anatomical core exercises, 11 static and dynamic stretching exercises, 12 plyometric exercises, 10 speed and agility drills, and 5 cardio machines. Sample warm-up sequences and exercise sessions for resistance, plyometric, speed and agility, cardiovascular, and circuit training are also provided-all of which follow the programming guidelines and recommendations for high school student-athletes. NSCA's Guide to High School Strength and Conditioning includes the evidence-driven information that will help any high school strength and conditioning professional-including both coaches and teachers-to become the best practitioner possible. This valuable resource is one that you will turn to for many years to come as you build a solid strength and conditioning community for your student-athletes. Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education course and exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately, or as part of a package that includes all the course materials and exam.

Meet your new training partner! If you are a plus-size woman and want to get stronger, but you are intimidated by the gym or don’t have access to a personal trainer, Big & Bold: Strength Training for the Plus-Size Woman is for you. Unlike books that target weight loss as the ultimate goal, this book emphasizes why strength training and movement are important for women of all sizes and how progress is not tied to a number on the scale. Big & Bold: Strength Training for the Plus-Size Woman offers clear and simple instructions on how to safely perform 83 exercises to make them more effective for larger bodies. Master the squat and hinge exercises for the lower body; push and pull exercises for the upper body; and loaded carry, rotation, and anti-rotation exercises for the core. Learn why some movements are more important than others and how to safely progress by manipulating the reps, sets, load, and rest periods. Sample workouts—from beginner level through advanced—enable you to determine your starting point for strength training goals. Choose from a variety of training equipment for many of the exercises or follow the dumbbell- or kettlebell-only workouts if you have limited access to equipment. You’ll also find tips for clothing and equipment needs. And, because she’s “been there, done that,” author Morit Summers explains how to pace yourself with advice on when and how often to work out and what to do if you become overwhelmed on your journey. Big & Bold: Strength Training for the Plus-Size Woman will inspire you to start putting one foot in front of the other to become a stronger, more capable version of yourself.

From free weights and resistance bands to Pilates and yoga, weight-training is an exciting -- and healthy -- trend. The Weight Training Diary For Dummies is the perfect tool for any avid body builder. Filled with expert advice on health, nutrition, equipment, and accessories, it also includes injury prevention exercises and body fat to weight conversion charts to help you keep track of your progress.

Have you ever wanted to add weights into your exercise routine but not known where to start? Or perhaps you already lift weights but want to know how to achieve a different aesthetic result? In Transform Your Body with Weights, Chloe Madeley tells you everything you need to know in order to weight-train correctly and effectively.

She provides three different exercise and nutrition plans to choose from depending on whether you want to lose fat, gain muscle or increase your strength. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced, Chloe will guide you through the appropriate exercises for your level.

With fully illustrated, day-by-day exercise instructions and a comprehensive food bible with recipes, everything you need to know to start your weight-lifting journey is in these pages.

NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments offers strength and conditioning professionals a one-stop resource for the best research-supported fitness and performance measures available. Created by top experts in the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), this comprehensive text offers extensive information on which factors matter and how to evaluate them as accurately and easily as possible. Editor Todd Miller and an authoritative team of contributors have compiled an exceptional reference and valuable tool for practicing professionals and an indispensable educational resource for students. NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments presents the latest research from respected scientists and practitioners in exercise testing and assessment. The text begins with an introduction to testing, data analysis, and formulating conclusions. It then features a by-chapter presentation of tests and assessments for body composition, heart rate and blood pressure, metabolic rate, aerobic power, lactate threshold, muscular strength, muscular endurance, power, speed and agility, mobility, and balance and stability. Using descriptions of multiple test options for each key fitness component, readers will learn to choose from a range of alternatives to meet the needs of their athletes, reach training objectives, choose from available equipment, and work within budgets. Each chapter provides a summary detailing the key testing and assessment information for each fitness component, the equipment needed for performing the tests, step-by-step instructions, normative data for the tests, and multiple test options per conditioning component. Insights into the applications of testing for certain fitness components are also presented: * The value of body composition assessments in determining health and fitness levels for competitive athletes as well as individuals across the life span * How an understanding of 24-hour energy expenditure can be useful in structuring a complete diet and exercise plan for weight loss, gain, or maintenance * How to select a maximal or submaximal aerobic power test that is specific to the demands of a client's or athlete's sport * Discussion of the mechanical and physiological factors shown to influence the expression of muscular strength * An examination of the relevant factors influencing power production and explosive movement capacity * Differences between mobility and flexibility and a discussion of the acute versus chronic effects of static stretching * Theories and concepts of balance and stability, their effects on performance, and categories of testing for balance and stability NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments also includes NSCA-approved testing protocols, extensive references to current research, and applications for the testing of conditioning components. Information is presented in an accessible manner to help explain the findings of both researchers and practitioners so that readers can select the most effective and efficient approach for athlete and client assessments. Properly conducted tests and skillful assessment of data enable fitness professionals to develop individualized training programs based on their clients' or athletes' physiological and functional capacities. Credible,, current, and complete, NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments provides a clear understanding of the test selection process, how to implement appropriate data collection, and how to analyze data to make appropriate training decisions that will help athletes and clients achieve their performance goals. NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments is part of the Science of Strength and Conditioning series. Developed with the expertise of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), this series of texts provides the guidelines for converting scientific research into practical application. The series covers topics such as tests and assessments, program design, and nutrition. Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education course and exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes all the course materials and exam.

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve Reeves, or Charles Atlas, there was Eugen Sandow, a muscular vaudeville strongman who used his good looks, intelligence, and business savvy to forge a fitness empire. The German-born Sandow (1867-1925) established a worldwide string of gyms, published a popular magazine, sold exercise equipment, and pioneered the use of food supplements. He even marketed a patented health corset for his female followers. Among the colorful figures who played a part in Sandow's life are Bernarr Macfadden, Florenz Ziegfeld, Lillian Russell, and others in sports and the theater. Sandow the Magnificent is the story of this first showman to emphasize physique display rather than lifting prowess. Sandow's is also the story of the earliest days of the fitness movement, and Chapman explains the popularity of physical culture in terms of its wider social implications. Sandow was a proponent of exercise to alleviate physical ailments, anticipating the field of physical therapy. By making exercise fashionable, he encouraged the fitness craze that still endures. As the first superstar in his field, Sandow also pried open some surprising cracks in the Victorian wall of prudery. His nude photographs, a kind of soft-core pornography, were anxiously sought by both male and female admirers, and after many of his major public events he gave private "receptions" wearing little more than a G-string.

The physical demands of tactical professions such as military, law enforcement, and fire and rescue require those workers to be in top physical condition to perform their jobs well and decrease the risk of injury. NSCA's Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning contains scientific information to assist in implementing or restructuring strength and conditioning programs at commercial or government fitness centers that work with these tactical athletes to achieve those goals. Designed primarily as a preparatory resource for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) certification, the text is also useful as a manual for government agencies or a daily reference for strength and conditioning professionals. Editors Brent A. Alvar, Katie Sell, and Patricia A. Deuster have extensive experience as scholars and practitioners in their respective fields. They have assembled a team of distinguished contributors who bring to light current trends in strength and conditioning through their combined experiences as professionals in the fields of academia, athletic training, firefighting, law enforcement, military, nutrition, physical therapy, and strength and conditioning. The contributors not only provide foundational knowledge of exercise physiology and biomechanical movement patterns, but they also comprehensively review all of the components necessary for TSAC Facilitators to design and operate successful training programs for tactical athletes. Separate chapters focus on the specific physiological issues related to military, law enforcement, and fire and rescue personnel, including how a strength and conditioning program should directly correlate to their critical job tasks and the specific environmental, occupational, and exposure concerns for each population. Topics such as nutrition, supplements, injury treatment and rehabilitation, wellness interventions, and assessments and evaluations are discussed for professionals who work with tactical populations. Additionally, exercises, drills, and techniques targeting the specific needs of tactical athletes in areas such as flexibility, mobility, speed, agility, power, and aerobic endurance are described in great detail and accompanied by full-color photos. Each chapter of NSCA's Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning begins with learning objectives and incorporates key terms, diagrams, detailed photographs, and key points throughout the text to help guide readers and facilitate comprehension of concepts. Sidebars and sample programs are included in some chapters to help readers apply theoretical concepts in their professional practice. Additionally, for instructors using the book, or the TSAC-F exam prep symposia, a presentation package plus image bank with more than 300 photos and illustrations is available, making preparation easier with the use of predeveloped materials that correspond with the book's content. Ultimately, the goal of NSCA's Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning is to help prepare those seeking TSAC-F certification and to serve as a resource for professionals so that they can implement an optimal strength and conditioning program targeted for tactical athletes that will decrease their risk of injury and optimize performance.

Phil Burt and Martin Evans have worked with the world's best cyclists, including the Great Britain Cycling Team, devising and implementing highly effective off the bike training plans. Now, in Strength and Conditioning for Cyclists you can benefit from their wealth of knowledge and experience and apply it to make you a stronger, faster and more robust cyclist.

Use the self-assessment, inspired by the Functional Movement Screening used by the Great Britain Cycling Team, to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Discover the mobility and strengthening movements that are most applicable to your needs, maximising effectiveness and avoiding wasted time.

Learn how to devise your own personalised and progressive off the bike training plan, how to schedule it into your year and combine it most effectively with your cycling.

HOW A PLANT-BASED DIET IMPROVES PERFORMANCE - AND HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF 'A fantastic resource for any plant-based athlete looking to get stronger or fitter' James Wilks, winner of The Ultimate Fighter and producer of The Game Changers 'Well-written, well-researched, highly recommended!' Gene Stone, co-author of How Not to Die 'Whether you're looking to kickstart a healthier lifestyle or take your training to the next level, this book has you covered' Plant-Based Health Professionals UK The scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that a plant-based diet is one of the most effective ways to improve both long-term health and to see immediate results in terms of energy, recovery and performance. But what can you do to ensure your diet boosts your performance in your sport or training? In The Plant-Based Power Plan, registered elite sports nutritionist TJ Waterfall uses the cutting-edge research he applies with his clients - ranging from Premiership rugby players, competitive weightlifters and professional boxers, to Premier League footballers and ultra-distance triathletes - to bust the myths and explain how a well-planned plant-based diet can take your health and performance to the next level. With simple but comprehensive practical guidance - from maximising muscle protein synthesis and improving your recovery, to tweaking nutrition timing and getting enough energy to fuel highly active training schedules - TJ gives you everything you need to bring your A-game. He also shows you just how simple it is to incorporate the most important nutrients into your diet with a selection of 30 easy and delicious recipes. 'A definite "must read"' Fiona Oakes, four-time world-record-holding marathon runner 'Brim full of the information you need to eat your way towards your full potential' Etienne Stott MBE, London 2012 canoe slalom gold medallist 'A holistic lifestyle guide, from a scientist not a guru' Dale Vince OBE, Chairperson, Forest Green Rovers FC, the world's first vegan football club 'Every athlete, coach, trainer and medical practitioner in all sporting organisations should read this book and utilise the insights it offers' Les Kiss, Head Coach, London Irish Rugby Club

Developed and written by canfitpro, Canada's foremost education and certification provider for fitness professionals, this third edition of Foundations of Professional Personal Training contains essential information for building skills, creating systems to work with clients, and preparing for the Personal Training Specialist (PTS) certification. Extensively updated to match the certification standards, this edition includes the following: New chapters on periodization, screening and assessment, program design, and the canfitpro Personal Training Specialist framework Diverse client case studies to use for practice and application of concepts Details about canfitpro's optimal health perspective, which integrates physical activity, nutrition, and mental well-being Strategies for cultivating the client-personal trainer relationship Contemporary information regarding inclusive training, training in a virtual environment, and building a business Foundations of Professional Personal Training, Third Edition, prepares new and prospective personal trainers for all aspects of their exciting profession. Providing key concepts of personal training, guidelines for program design and injury prevention, and considerations for working with clients, this text is an essential resource for preparation for the PTS exam and for a successful career in personal training.

The Hero's Body is a memoir of what it means to be a man in modern America. At just forty-seven years old, William Giraldi's father was killed in a horrific motorcycle accident. Writing here with searing honesty about grief, obsession, shame and identity, he looks back on three generations of men from the blue-collar town of Manville, New Jersey, and tells their stories in tandem: the speed-crazed cult of his father's 'superbikes', each Sunday spent racing fate along the winding back roads of Pennsylvania; the trauma of a son's ultimate loss, and William's attempts to rebuild a self in the manliest costume he knew. For a teen consumed by hardcore bodybuilding, pumping iron was so much more than a sport-it was a hallowed lifeline for a bookish tenth-grader, a way to forge himself a spot amongst his family's imperious patriarchs. A work of lasting literary beauty, lauded by the New Yorker for its 'unrelenting, perfectly paced prose', The Hero's Body is a tale of the working-class male, the codes of machismo and the unspoken bond between father and son.