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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.

Story Behind The Book

My Pomona College first year students in Biographies of Biologists seminar wanted to read a memoir or biography of a woman in science who had a family life and achieved family-career balance. When I couldn't find one, they urged me to write a memoir since I told them I had balanced my own career and family and still did research on the molecules of aging. Later I heard Donna Shalala say that we need many more biographies of women in science, and having surveyed the few available, I am sure she is right.

Reviews

Spiral Ceiling isn't just about women in science. It's about each of us trying to be the person we should be, the hurdles that change our direction, and the power that comes from realizing we've become exactly the person we want to be. An uplifting read for anyone whose path is unclear.%u201D Johanna Hardin, Mathematics Professor %u201CThis book is inspirational to so many women venturing into science, engineering, or any field, where they will be subject to injustice due to their gender, subtle or otherwise. %u201D Rossana D%u2019Antonio, Engineer %u201CHoopes' story of marching undaunted through a man's world to pursue the discipline she loved is evocative and compelling. When she writes about science, her words become luminescent. An inspiring read!%u201D S. Kay Murphy, Author and Teacher "Laura Hoopes takes you on an inspiring journey of self-discovery as she chronicles her successful efforts to achieve the balance of a scientific career and a fulfilling personal life.%u201D Libby Grandy, Writer %u201CLaura captures both the egregious and the more subtle (and often more deadly) ways women were discouraged from pursuing their passion for higher education in the %u201860s and %u201870s.%u201D Helaine Scarlett Golann, PhD in Psychology.

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Learning to Breathe Fire: The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness

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Story Behind The Book

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