Boom! This is Books & Biceps #315!

Welcome to our hundreds of new readers and a special shout out to everyone who joined our Premium Flex Reading Community this week!

This is a big week because it’s the first issue of Books & Biceps that will be going out to over 15,000 readers (15,109 to be exact!). An absolutely tremendous accomplishment that you all made happen. Thank you so much for being a part of this community.

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Today’s issue is brought to you by our Big Time Title Sponsor: SFH

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Support Books & Biceps, VISIT THE SFH SITE and try it! Every click and order supports this newsletter. And you get jacked. Win-win!

BOOKS

The High-Flying Life of Evel Knievel; American Showman, Daredevil & Legend by: Leigh Montville

Whenever I go on media tours promoting my books I always get asked why I chose my subject. At first, people may think there’s no connection: Macho Man “Randy Savage”, Charlie Ward, “Mean” Joe Greene, the 1996 sports year and more…

BUT, I always say that there is a connection.

Each person or event is what I’d consider to be a one-of-one. A unicorn.

Macho Man was an entirely unique wrestler and pop culture icon. Charlie Ward remains the only Heisman Trophy winner to play in the NBA, let alone start an NBA Finals. 1996 is the most unique and impactful sports year of our time.

Of course, I don’t have any kind of monopoly on these stories, and when I learned that one of my favorite sportswriters ever, Leigh Montville, wrote a biography on Evel Knievel, a one-of-one pop culture icon I’ve always been fascinated with, but knew little about, I couldn’t wait to read it.

I’ve recommended two of Montville’s books here in B&B: Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero and The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth…

This Evel biography, though, was entirely different.

Instead of a straightforward, chronological biography, Montville took a biography/scattershot approach, mixing the trajectory of Evel’s life with side stories about Evel that illustrate a part of his personality from that time period.

The book reads like a great storyteller at a bar is telling you about the life of Evel Knievel, from his insane-but-true childhood in one of the craziest towns and places we’ve ever had: Butte, Montana in the 1940s and 50s… to his time as a thief, drill operator, salesman, ski jumper, cowboy, grifter, drifter and ultimately daredevil.

Evel is one of the most compelling entertainers you’ll ever read about because he was so flawed. He was alternately beloved and loathed by those who knew him. He was rich and he was poor. He was a good guy and awful guy. An honest man and a complete liar.

He also had guts - an absurd amount of guts, in fact, and an ability to tolerate pain and fear and promote his ability to do both with his stunts, like this one, where he jumped over 14 greyhound busses:

I just started this book and it’s awesome. Highly recommended so far. Montville doesn’t miss. Grab your copy here.

👉NOTE: This book is the ‘Big Read of the Month’ for our Premium Flex Reading Community. Want to join us? You get:

Weekly chapter breakdowns and book analysis from me, rare covers and author info, original columns and reading camaraderie, the Members Only Tuesday Issue of B&B, PLUS: Access to the Premium Flex Reading Community Chat on Teams. Learn more here!

BICEPS

I’ve long considered one-arm pull-ups to be the holy grail of bodyweight exercises. The problem is that they’re very difficult to train for because you’ve got to go from assisted to negatives to holds… all at a progression that builds to raising your entire body up with one arm.

This is the best video I’ve seen that explains how to train to become a one-armed pull-up machine:

QUICK FLEXES

In a new YouTube video Tom Brady talked about how he and his former back-up QB Matt Cassell did a bench press max competition many years ago.

Brady says he did 225 eight or nine times, which is fine, but not what anyone would consider impressive, even for an NFL QB. That should translate to a max of about 275 to 295 depending on the individual.

In this video, Brady decides to see what he can max out at today.

I won’t tell you what he gets, but you can see it at about the 3:00 mark.

Also he uses those lame rubber plates so I’d deduct 20 dork pounds.

Football is back. Coaching youth sports is back. It’s ALL BACK!

If you’d like to up your trash talk game and understand why we talk smack in the first place, you’ll want to read this interview:

STRONG LINKS:

1) Running sucks! But I make myself do it.

Lately, I’ve become interested in learning about the mechanics of running, prepping for races and more. This newsletter, The Rundown shares unique stories as well as stretches, nutrition tips and even cool upcoming races you might be interested in. You can join here.

2) Do you run a start-up?

Have you ever wondered what tools and tactics the best founders use? This newsletter, Big Desk Energy, gives you deep insight into the ins, outs, dos, don’ts and definitely don’ts when it comes to starting a company - all with a little humor involved. Check it out.

Want OFFICIAL BOOKS & BICEPS GEAR?

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PS: You still reading Gus and Mallory? Thanks for getting through the whole thing! No skimming!

Time to Honor Our Meathead Agreement

In the gym there is an unspoken agreement that if a fellow dude needs a spot you jump in and help, one meathead to another.

If you enjoy reading this newsletter every week, let’s spot each other.

Let’s consider my writing and sending each issue of Books & Biceps my spotting you the best books, interviews and meathead content around.

Your spot to me is that you share this issue with ONE person who you think would like it.

That’s the deal. I spot you. You spot me. Just like the gym. Thanks!

Here’s your personal sharing link to get free stuff for every share:

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→ USE THIS LINK to try Beehiiv and you won’t regret it!

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