Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories
Sports & Active outdoor recreation
Weblink
https://www.alyssaages.com/

SECRETS OF GIANTS

Alyssa Ages

A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength

A deep dive into the science and psychology of why pushing our physical limits is so impactful - and how we can achieve so much more than we know.

On the verge of turning 40, mom of two Alyssa Ages has one item left on her fitness bucket list: to pull an eighteen-wheeler with her bare hands. To understand why she's so compelled by this goal and what it might mean to finally achieve it, Ages goes on an immersive journey into the world of strongman. She hoists kegs and lifts boulders alongside these superhuman athletes, and meets with sports psychologists, coaches, and scientists to understand how the pursuit and possession of strength can permeate every aspect of our lives, from building resilience and confidence, to finding joy in pain, to teaching us to handle adversity.

Everyone wants to know they can do the impossible; few of us will ever try. Part personal narrative, part research mission, part chronicle of a midlife crisis, Secrets of Giants uncovers why physical strength matters, and how it teaches us that we're capable of more than we think.

This is for readers of Finding Ultra, Born to Run, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, and The Joy of Movement, and for people who participate in CrossFit, Strongman, Ironman, Tough Mudder, marathons, triathlons, and other recreational strength building/endurance sports.

Alyssa Ages is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Globe & Mail, WIRED, Men's Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Parents, MTV News, SPIN, and VIBE. She is a former personal trainer and group fitness instructor, as well as a strongman competitor, marathoner, triathlete, and occasional rock climber. A born-and-raised New Yorker, she now lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters.

Available products
Book Published 2023-09-01 by Avery
Book Published 2023-09-01 by Avery

Comments

Along with salient insight into female anxieties about becoming "bulky"rooted in cultural notions that "a woman who takes up space is threatening"Ages weaves a lively, research-rich appraisal of the hidden psychological depth of a deceptively primitive human pursuit.

Enthusiastically researched and authentically lived, this in-depth exploration into the world of strongman goes behind the scenes of the flashy feats like pulling trucks and hoisting stones to uncover what really drives us to test our physical limits. With unvarnished honesty, Alyssa Ages takes readers on a relatable journey that's about gaining so much more than just muscle.

In Secrets of Giants, Alyssa Ages intertwines her personal journey into the world of strongmanlifting Atlas stones, flipping large tires, and pulling semi-truckswith scientific and historical research to understand why humans are driven to test the limits of our strength. Through this fascinating and immersive excursion, she learns that strength isn't just about being strong, but it's tied to our sense of identity, community, resilience, and joy. It's the ultimate love letter to and celebration of strength.

A fascinating and moving book. Secrets of Giants reveals not only why the pursuit of strength matters, but also that you are stronger than you know, and we are stronger when we face challenges together.