Learning to Breathe Fire
The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness
J.C. Herz
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Description
The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon.
One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, Learning to Breathe Fire combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die.
The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals.
In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out.
From the Hardcover edition.
Publishers Weekly Review
© Publishers Weekly
Customer Reviews
A Glimpse Into The Box
I was quite pleased with this book. It did a nice job of outlining the history of CrossFit and fitness in general and put forth wonderful stories. It also gave outsiders a glimpse into what goes on in the box and why athletes like us push so hard each day with our communities. HTFU!
Good read despite odd title
The title made me think this would be more of a Crossfit, how-to, but it turns out it is a fantastic story of the rise of a new path in fitness. Worth every penny.
If
If you're into crossfit or just mildly interested in learning how this phenomenon came about, you'll get a kick out of this book. Couldn't stop reading.

- $11.99
- Category: Health & Fitness
- Published: Jun 03, 2014
- Publisher: Crown/Archetype
- Seller: Random House, LLC
- Print Length: 368 Pages
- Language: English
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