Never Let Go: A Philosophy of Lifting, Living and Learning [Formato Kindle]

Anything will work for three to six months. What then? That's the dynamic message I got from Dan's book. Oh, there was a lot more here. But I generally take one or two new and interesting ideas from a book --- assuming it's a good book. And this one is.

Dan's book is really a collection of essays. They're not in any particular order. I say that because he mentions his fat period twice --- once in the early part of the book and again towards the end. Both are written in the time he is recovering from his fatness.

But that doesn't take away from the messages of the book.

Dan believes in making things simple. Not easy, he says. But simple. I like that idea more and more as I get older. It makes more sense for anyone. Our lives are already far too confusing and full and rushed and out of control.

Dan recons we should focus on our main goal and plan our activities, our workouts and exercises accordingly. If you want to lose weight, you must follow different activities than someone who wants to get power or strength or run a marathon, for example.

Again, this makes sense and simplifies things for us. This is the way Bruce Lee was able to be so great in martial arts. He tried many things and discarded the things that didn't work or didn't help him in his main persuit --- his goals for his unique purposes.

I find this idea empowering. And you'll find it in abundance in Dan's new book.

While you might think the book is written for weight lifters or bodybuilders, it's really for anyone who wants to get fit.

Some of it you may discard. You may find parts of it just don't apply to you. But there is enough encouragement and no BS information in the book that you'll thoroughly enjoy it and come away the wiser. You'll profit with more useful workouts that actually get you to your goal.

Dan cuts through the myths and the outright lies we see in advertising and muscle mags and gets to the heart of the matter. He tells it like it is. And since he's not a young man, we know he's probably tried it all and seen most of it and is well equipped to give you honest solutions.

Buy this book if you need encouragement in your training and fitness program. Moreover, buy it if you want to learn how to cut through the BS and get to the real meat of how to get from where you are to where you want to be.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

Superb information presented in a clear, highly readable style. He provides an unbiased look at everything from weight training to goal setting. The author is refreshingly self effacing. The book is written as a series of semi-connected essays (originally written as individual articles) and there's not a clunker in the bunch. He's given me a ton of new ideas for my own training. Great stuff.

Everything I know about lifting, I learned from Dan John.

There's been a lot written about Dan John lately. It's reassuring to see him getting his due, because here's a man who's walked the walk, his whole life, and is still smiling and enthusiastic about his passions. He's genuine.

I've known Dan for a while now. We met online in 1999 or 2000, and corresponded frequently, in email and on assorted message boards and in the occasional phone call. In 2007 I finally got to meet him, twice, both out in Utah and at Denison University in Ohio. I consider him a friend, and knowing him has much enriched my life.

I held off writing this bit until I'd gone through his book a few times. It's hard not saying what other folks have said: Dan's down-to-earth voice and advice cuts through noise and is pure signal, Dan's a humble genius. Dan's a coach's coach. Dan's gently scathing humor draws our attention to the realities of life and lifting and competition.

I can't match the eloquent and descriptive phrases such luminaries like Pavel Tsatsouline and Dave Draper and others have used to describe Dan's contribution to the written word of the Iron Game. I can only say that it's good. It's excellent. It's humbling to me personally. Explaining why is difficult, if not impossible.

If you buy one book about training, hell, if you buy one book about life, this year, or this even decade, make it Dan's book. You might not 'get it' yet. That's OK. You will.