Boom! This is Books & Biceps #317!

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

If one of the 16,000+ awesome B&B readers shared this with you, add your e-mail with the subscribe button below:

If you’re a new subscriber or missed my yearly book round-up, The 15 Most Memorable Books I Read in 2023, you can read it here.

BOOKS

The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell

Earlier this summer, the Premium Flex Community read David Morrell’s legendary book, First Blood, together and I recommended it in Issue #303 here. The response from our crew was awesome, but what surprised me was how many B&B readers had already read it and immediately wrote me with recommendations for their favorite Morrell books.

I shouldn’t be surprised the dude has a rabid fanbase. He’s been writing bestseller after bestseller for 50 years and the biggest names in the craft, from new big time guys like Jack Carr to old school legends like Nelson DeMille sing his praises. He combines suspense and thriller writing with some of the best action scenes and characters put on paper.

I’m enjoying the hell out of reading Leigh Montville’s Evel Knievel biography (recommended in B&B 313) and all of Evel’s crashes and daredevil stunts made me want to stay in action mode with some fiction.

I bought The Brotherhood of the Rose when I finished First Blood and now’s the perfect time to dive in. The story has a taste of The Departed, as it centers on two orphans who are looked after by a mysterious man while in a school for boys. This takes place in Philly, not Boston, but the “mentor turns young boys evil” vibe is always a strong angle.

In this case, instead of raising organized criminals, this mysterious man trains the boys to be assassins. Then tries to have them killed. Awesome storyline, right?

I just started this, but it’s a speedy, suspenseful read and I’m thinking I’ll be done over the weekend, haha! Check it out here.

Books & Biceps is a reader supported publication, and paid subscriptions to join our Premium Flex Community keep us growing, connecting, sharing & talking about awesome books. If you’d like to support Books & Biceps, upgrade to paid and get access to our Premium Flex Community Chat, PLUS: Get a 2nd “Members Only” Tuesday Issue of B&B with a weekly workout and Big Read of the Month breakdown.

BICEPS

I do pull-up workouts twice a week. One day I go heavy, with sets of 4 to 6 reps with heavy chains around my neck. On those days I’ll typically only do four sets. So: 4 × 4 or 4 × 6.

On my second pull-up workout of the week, I’ll go body weight only and use four different grips, but the reps will be higher and I’ll do way more sets. One of my favorite sets is:

4 sets of 10 followed by 8 sets of 8, for a total of 104 pull-ups.

That one will take me about 25 minutes.

At no point have I ever considered tacking on an extra 9,150 pull-ups to this workout.

But this is exactly what Doug Censor Martin did this week, setting the new Guinness World Record for the Most Pull-Ups in 24 hours by cranking out 9,250.

Check out this guy’s hands afterwards (below right):

This feat is so impressive to me because when I’m at the end of my modest 100+ pull-up workout my entire back is gassed. So are my biceps. So are my hands. So are my forearms.

I simply can’t imagine cranking out over 9,000 more.

I suppose over the course of the day with enough spacing I could knock out 500. Maybe. 1,000???? Nahh. Don’t think so… And that’s still barely 10% of what this guy did. Amazing. Now, I’m curious about our B&B crew. Vote below and I’ll share the results next week:

QUICK FLEXES

When I was researching my Macho Man biography I found some crazy stuff in the old Randy Savage archives, especially when it came to products. You all know about Slim Jim and the action figures and plush toys and t-shirts, but did you know that the WWF sold an entire workout system called the Macho Machine for $340? Here’s the ad:

And so you don’t have to blow it up, this line is by far the best:

“Bring out the Macho Man in you.” Hahaha. Perfect.

Speaking of Macho Man, THANK YOU ALL!

We’ve crossed 100+ reviews on Amazon and even though the book came out 6 MONTHS AGO we’re still the #1 New Release on Audible in Combat Sports. So cool and it’s all because of your support! If you bought it, write a review. They really matter!

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.

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

If you enjoy reading this newsletter every week, let’s spot each other, just like in the gym. 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. Thanks!

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

🔥🔥🔥If you want to start your own newsletter, I can’t recommend Beehiiv enough (the platform I use to write Books & Biceps):

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

Want the OFFICIAL BOOKS & BICEPS SHIRT OF THE FALL?

You know that favorite tee you used to have? The one that's faded and comfy and that you could live in? This is that shirt! It shows that you're a fashion icon. A book lover. A gym rat. An absolute stud. Plus, we faded it and made it comfy for you... so you can actually live in it like people do in apocalypse movies. While flexing, of course.

GET 10% OFF AT CHECKOUT WITH THE CODE WORD: ‘BICEPS’