It seems like every holiday season my thirst for knowledge intensifies, and there is something particularly satisfying about sipping a warm cup of tea while reading a great book. It’s probably a result of having time away from work, or maybe it is just about embracing the feeling of renewed optimism for the coming year. In any event, I love a great book!
[This video gets me pumped up, and if the book is half as good as the trailer then it will be a huge success. If you are interested in an uncommon guide to rapid fat loss, eating like our ancestors, or understanding why we get fat, then I hope you check out the following books.....]
I am often teased by my colleagues for reading “boring” books. A close friend of mine often tells me that I only read books that are informative, and help solve problems. He claims that if the book is not about finance, or health then I am not interested. As for fiction, he believes you should not even mention it to me.
As a young teacher I have learned to pick my battles, but the truth is I like all kinds of books. While I tend to stick with real, informative, and what I consider “relevant” books I have dabbled in fiction as well. One of my favorites is “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein (great for any pet owner and especially dog owner). The truth is I do love reading fitness books, and look forward to the new arrivals for the coming year!
The Best Fitness, Weight Loss, and Exercise Books for 2011
I have a few recommendations I would like to share. I know the books previewed below will become best sellers this year, so I have already started to read one of them and can’t wait to get my hands on the other two.
If I only purchase 3 books this year, they would be…….
Book #1
The 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide To Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Super Human
Author: Timothy Ferris
Besides writing a killer book about rapid fat loss and other cool super human accomplishments, the man knows a thing or two about marketing. Check out the trailer for the book above! Pretty Sweet
I know what some people are thinking, but this book is for real. Timothy Ferris is the author of the New York Times Best Seller “The 4 Hour Work Week”and world record holder for most Tango Spins in one minute. This modern day renaissance man is a seemingly an odd source to be providing nutrition and exercise advice, but make no mistake Tim knows his stuff. Like many health blogger’s, he has learned about diet and nutrition through experimentation, loads of it! He has conducted self experiments and enlisted the help of many high profile doctors, researchers, and athletes to create the content for this book. Rusty at Fitness Black Book has just written a great article about a few of the principles of 4 Hour Body that I suggest you check out as well
Click cover to read more reviews, or to order your own copy (affiliate link)
Who will like this book? Anybody interested in a short cut. I don’t believe in them, but being efficient is so important. If Tim Ferris can teach us anything it is about being efficient. He lives by the mantra of the “minimum effective dose”. In other words the minimum required diet/exercise to get the desired result. Can’t say I disagree with that! I encourage you to check out the reviews for yourself.
“Book #2″
The New Evolution Diet
Author: Art DeVany
Dr. Art DeVany is a Professor of economics and behavioral sciences at the University of California, who is best known for his contribution to research on complex economic systems. For the last 25 years however, DeVany has been a dedicated paleo athlete, and has been dubbed the “grandfather” of the modern Paleo movement, and the pioneer of evolutionary eating. He dedicated a great part of his life to finding the most evolutionary friendly diet, after his son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
I first learned about DeVany’s work on marksdailyapple, and from all I have learned the man practices what he preaches. Pictures do not lie! Mark has recently written an article with some excerpts from the book, and DeVany himself has even made comments on the post! Check it out here.
Who Will Like This Book? Anybody wanting to make a lifestyle change, people who have struggled with other diets, people ready to embrace the true essence of food.
Note: This is not a quick fix diet book, rather a guide to making a transition to evolutionary eating and exercise, from which I have personally experienced amazing results.
Click cover to read more reviews, or to order your own copy (affiliate link)
“Book #3″
Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It
Author: Gary Taubes
Check out this controversial video in which Gary Taubes smugly denounces the role of exercise in weight loss.
[I think he was merely insinuating that exercise is not required to lose weight! And I believe that too!]
Gary Taubes is best known for his book “Good Calories, Bad Calories”, where he argues that not all calories are created equal. He has many supporters, and equally as many critics, but his methods have helped many people achieve their goals. While I agree with his premise I do think calories still play a role in weight gain and weight loss. I have listened to his lecture titled “Big Fat Lies” on more than one occasion and it is quite intriguing. If you have time I suggest you watch the video. After reading “Good Calories, Bad Calories” I can’t wait to read “Why We Get Fat and What to Do about It”.
Who Will Like This Book? Anybody with an appreciation for scientific studies, and people that are interested in a theoretical approach to understanding weight loss and more particularly body composition and fat loss.
Note: His books are usually pretty technical, but I heard this one is supposed to be more user friendly, even for beginners.
Click cover to read more reviews, or to order your own copy (affiliate link)
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Pingback: Rapid Fat Loss, Evolutionary Eating, and Obesity Epidemic: Topics For Best Health Books in 2011 « Jordan Figueiredo
I just bought the 4 hr body and work week. I don’t know how much of it is true but looks a really good read.
I like non-fiction too currentyl reading about the Cosmos but when a really good fiction comes along like Dan Brown or JRR Tolkein I can’t help but read it.
Any fitness book or program I always judge what the author looks like if they don’t match what they are saying then I don’t pay much attention to it.
Raymond
Raymond,
When a good fiction book comes along it is hard to resist. It is hard to argue with the authors of these books, they are all in great shape themselves, so they do have authority on the subject. Art DeVany is quite the scpecimen at his age.
Happy Holidays
Jordan
Great recommendations, I’m going to check out all 3.
I have read most of 4 hour body, and it is very interesting. Just picked up Gary Taubes, “why we get fat and what to do about it” looking forward to reading it in the next week. I would also check out, Robb Wolf’s “The Paleo Solution”.
Happy Holidays,
Jordan
Jordan,
I bought The 4-Hour Body. It’s a huge book (about 550 pages), but I devoured about half of it in a couple of days. It’s an amazing read so far. I found the chapters on fat loss and muscle building especially interesting and I plan on implementing some of these tactics in the New Year.
Alykhan
I got the 4 Hour Body audio version on Audible.com. It is really good but it was the abridged version which comes with a pdf supplement I think, although I haven’t figured out how to get it. The audio version is only three hours, so I think I missed out on a whole bunch of stuff!
I liked Mark Sisson’s “Primal Blueprint” also. I got it last year and it has a lot of good stuff about eating Paleo. Check it out if you haven’t yet.
-Kelly
Thanks for the heads up, I’ve ordered the 4 hour body since the 4 hour workweek has been a big influence on me.
I like how these authors are not just repackaging the same old traditional health and fitness advice I used to see over the years. I think sources like this will help a lot of people find, or make, their own way.
Michael
Alykhan,
I am also pretty far along in the 4 hour body, and love the chapter on “overeating properly” I think I have been doing some of this stuff unintentionally.
Kelly,
The Primal Blueprint really changed my life. I read it when I was on my honeymoon in Hawaii in August 2009, and haven’t looked back since. I’m glad you recommend it too.
Michael,
The 4 hour work week is a great book. I loved it! The key is finding our own way, and these authors do a great job in providing the framework to accomplish that.
Cheers,
Jordan