The extraordinary story of a skinny lad from Manchester who rose to become British Champion bodybuilder. And there the cliches end in this gritty, humorous and brutally honest tale which strips away the dream tan and any illusion of a glamorous lifestyle to lay bare the sport as never before. Jim Moore writes about the all-too-often taboo subjects of performance-enhancing drugs, the debilitating illnesses and mental health problems which blight the scene. He takes the reader behind the stage curtain to reveal the murky depths to which some - including himself - will plunge in search of success. Moore reveals the shocking contradictions and dangers inherent in the bread-and-butter running of the sport, matched only by the intensity and insanity of his own dedication. It was this never-say-die approach which eventually saw Moore crowned a national champion five times; but also an attitude which ultimately almost caused his death.
The extraordinary story of a skinny lad from Manchester who rose to become British Champion bodybuilder. And there the cliches end in this gritty, humorous and brutally honest tale which strips away the dream tan and any illusion of a glamorous lifestyle to lay bare the sport as never before. Jim Moore writes about the all-too-often taboo subjects of performance-enhancing drugs, the debilitating illnesses and mental health problems which blight the scene. He takes the reader behind the stage curtain to reveal the murky depths to which some - including himself - will plunge in search of success. Moore reveals the shocking contradictions and dangers inherent in the bread-and-butter running of the sport, matched only by the intensity and insanity of his own dedication. It was this never-say-die approach which eventually saw Moore crowned a national champion five times; but also an attitude which ultimately almost caused his death.
Finished the book in 2 days. Very enjoyable and rang true as it reflected my own, less successful journey through bodybuilding contests. Luckily I seem to have had less overall health problems than the author but now suffer from extremely bad arthritis. I wonder if it's somehow related to steroids. All aspiring Jay Cutlers should read this.