Sam Fussell: An interview with the author of Muscle (2014)(drmichaeljoyner.com)
drmichaeljoyner.com
Sam Fussell: An interview with the author of Muscle (2014)
http://www.drmichaeljoyner.com/sam-fussell-an-interview-with-the-author-of-muscle/
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Thanks for that excerpt, it ensured I'd read it, and what a great read it is. This man has led a fascinating life, on his own terms.
I found it to be a fascinating read, too. It reminded me of a similarly interesting article about bodybuilding, from a woman’s perspective, that was discussed here a couple of months ago:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26056934
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26056934
This article is a gem. For everyone, regardless whether they're into bodybuilding or not. I've already read it twice.
I wanted to add my favorite quotes here, to encourage others to read the whole thing, if they haven't already.
>> You can either lift it or you can't.
>> It's not enough to learn to lift. You have to learn to lie.
>> It's said that if you've run a sub-four mile, you probably aren't going to really enjoy running the mile in five minutes 'for fun'.
>> The representation becomes the reality. And, because it is merely representation, it is fraud.
>> I am not a hunting guide in Montana. I am a hunter in Montana.
>> There are no mirrors in the mountains. There are no agents in the mountains. There are no proxies in the mountains. There is no bullshit in the mountains.
>> Like lifting, you are never as good as you want to be. But always working on getting there.
>> I loved it. I lived it. I lifted it. I left it. What an adventure!
>> This isn't Gold's Gym. This is God's Gym. And I'm an active member.
I wanted to add my favorite quotes here, to encourage others to read the whole thing, if they haven't already.
>> You can either lift it or you can't.
>> It's not enough to learn to lift. You have to learn to lie.
>> It's said that if you've run a sub-four mile, you probably aren't going to really enjoy running the mile in five minutes 'for fun'.
>> The representation becomes the reality. And, because it is merely representation, it is fraud.
>> I am not a hunting guide in Montana. I am a hunter in Montana.
>> There are no mirrors in the mountains. There are no agents in the mountains. There are no proxies in the mountains. There is no bullshit in the mountains.
>> Like lifting, you are never as good as you want to be. But always working on getting there.
>> I loved it. I lived it. I lifted it. I left it. What an adventure!
>> This isn't Gold's Gym. This is God's Gym. And I'm an active member.
> They couldn’t believe I worked that many hours. Rather than argue about it, I told them it must have been my mistake. I realized then that in the Corporation, the aim is to fit in. Not stand out.
Oof.
Wish I'd heard this at the start of my working life.
I don't say "career", because that'd imply a plan, trajectory, narrative. Which was wholly missing from my life.
Oof.
Wish I'd heard this at the start of my working life.
I don't say "career", because that'd imply a plan, trajectory, narrative. Which was wholly missing from my life.
This is a great read. Anyone who has approached the top of just about any sport will understand it and appreciate it.
It's a classic in the realm of gym literature. Read that in high school.
I wasn't aware that Fussell took the Ted Nugent option and disappeared into the wilds of Montana, but it seems fitting.
I wasn't aware that Fussell took the Ted Nugent option and disappeared into the wilds of Montana, but it seems fitting.
What a great book that was. It deserves to be a classic. Nice to see Fussell has maintained all his writing skills and personality.
> I found Sam Fussell and he was generous enough to answer questions and engage in a multi-day e-mail exchange and reflection on the topics covered in his book and all sorts of related digressions that ultimately ran to more than 9,000 words. Consistent with what I expected his answers were thoughtful and articulate. What struck me more is that 25 plus years after his experiences in the gym, he has incredible insights about the search for what is real in our manufactured world. I believe these insights will hit home with a lot of people who have gone to the edge chasing physical goals, they certainly have for me.
> When I asked him if he had been waiting to expound on these issues for a while and I just sort happened to be the person to ask, he responded “I have been thinking about these issues for over 25 years. (And honestly, being something of an obsessive, not thinking about much else).”