Suzanne Schlosberg

Fitness for dummies is yet another installment of the “for Dummies” series. The version that I have happens to be the Fourth Edition. Bringing the internet and its phenomenal resources to more of a forefront than before, this edition was quite due. According to the authors, not much else has changed from the book. Certainly, there have been quite a few ‘fad’ diets, new fitness crazes, and new gadgets that have come out, but the basic ideas and tenets of fitness have not.

For instance, nutrition is paramount. You can try to compensate for that Triple Bacon Cheeseburger with a few hours on the treadmill, but it is far more efficient to merely choose better foods. As for fitness itself, it isn’t merely looking good in a mirror. True fitness is a state of being with tons of parameters. Say you look like a bodybuilder model but you can’t run a mile without panting heavily. This means you probably aren’t that fit. Given that there are multiple facets to fitness the book goes over all of them while asking pertinent questions.

While the book discusses good advice, it also covers really bad advice and tells you why it is bad. It gives you a way to develop your own BS detector. With the internet being so widespread now, it gives out tons of online resources so that you can do your own research. Keep in mind that this is the fourth edition though, the previous editions apparently had only a paragraph or two talking about the internet.

The book mentions that there are five aspects of fitness and tells you how to improve all of them. They are nutrition, cardio, strength, balance, and flexibility. Now personally, I found this book to be really well done. They cover all the basics while including some intermediate stuff. I know some things about being in shape and how to get fit, but I never do any of it with any regularity. Fitness for Dummies talks about how to establish a routine as well.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. If you can find a later edition, then I would pick it up. Otherwise, it might not be worthwhile to buy or read it if the information is outdated.… (mer)

I asked for this book for christmas thinking it would be a funny and maybe slightly inspiring account of the authors story. Instead I read about a woman who seemed to have commitment issues(I have never had a three year relationship where I haven't yet said I love you. I think most people without issues haven't.), who seemed to be very picky, and who overall just seemed a little sad. Also, the "epiphany" she has at the end of the book is not uplifting in any way, or even funny. It is just depressing. I would stay away from this book if you are in the mood to laugh.… (mer)