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BOOKS

First, thanks to the many loyal Books & Biceps readers who wrote me last week pointing out that I can’t count.

My kids could have confirmed this for you on any given night when I try to help with their math homework, but you were all right. It looks like I sent out back-to-back issues of B&B as Issue 214… then managed to skip 215 by accident and go right to 216. There’s a reason this newsletter isn’t called Binomial Equations & Biceps.

So I’d like to officially invite you to the properly numbered Issue 217.

The Soulful Art of Persuasion by Jason Harris

I don’t know if we’ve reached peak influencer culture as a society yet, but we’re certainly getting close. Seems like everyone everywhere in every profession is building their own brand and launching their own products and becoming an “influencer” in their space.

In my opinion, it’s awesome.

The more people in control of their own destiny with corporations or gatekeepers out of the way, the better.

The flip side of this is, well… people have to actually give a shit about what you’re saying, why you’re saying it and then, in the end, either buy or not buy what you’re selling.

And this is the part where the rubber meets the road for most people. It’s one thing to want to have influence (among fans, friends, peers, whoever)… it’s quite another to actually have influence.

The ability to persuade people in a positive way is hard. It takes time and skill. It’s a practiced art.

Writers, by our very nature, have a desire to influence. We want readers to actually read our work… and before that, we have to persuade you to buy it.

I’ve always been curious about the psychological aspects of persuasion and it just so happens that Jason Harris, who went to my alma mater, JMU, wrote this phenomenal book on the subject.

Through the magic of Twitter, we’ve become pals and if you’re interested in understanding what makes an influencer, or on the other side, how influencers are trying to influence you, this book is great.

I like it because it doesn’t read like a snobby business book listing case studies and platitudes. Jason talks about why David Bowie’s career arc as an artist was a masterclass in reinvention, how KISS built a loyal audience, how Pepsi leverages the Super Bowl, BMW’s secrets and more.

He takes people and companies and entertainers you’ve heard of and breaks down why they were successful… and how. And he’s got the authority to back it up. The agency he runs works with everyone from HBO to Miller to Ben & Jerry’s. Check his book out here.

BICEPS

I post pictures with chains from the Flex Factory regularly (like this one) and a few people have rightly asked: “What the hell, Finkel? Why do you have chains?”

With that in mind, here are…

5 FACTS ABOUT THE CHAINS IN THE FLEX FACTORY:

1. I bought them at Home Depot. They’re each 10’ long and weigh about 18 pounds. I think. I’ve never weighed them, amazingly.

2. They are perfect to drape over your shoulders to add weight to bodyweight exercises like pull-ups and dips.

3. They are also great to add more weight to standard dumbbells for farmer’s walks and various lifts.

4. They’re excellent to use for warming up muscles since they allow for full range of motion

5. They look cool as hell.

QUICK FLEXES

Need some motivation? Here are five kick ass quotes from Larry Bird:

And this one is for my writer/entrepreneur pals… Before John Grisham became, well, literary icon John Grisham, his first book got rejected 27 times and then when it was finally published, he couldn’t even get people to buy it by driving copies around in his car.

His success story is awesome:

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Have a great weekend! - Jon