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Stephen Blanchard

Stephen Blanchard

About

I'm a writer with previous history in everything from travel magazines to film & TV scripts. My first novel, "Getting Sync'd" has recently been published. I am also a broadcaster with several years experience in commercial radio. 

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

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

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Description

<p><b>The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon.</b><br /> <br />One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, <i>Learning to Breathe Fire </i>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. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />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. </p>

Story Behind The Book

So, I was once a radio DJ (although not the filth-monger type you see at the start of the book!) and there was talk of a university reunion, which I dreaded. I never went, but I got to thinking "what if?". So I sent Dan Shears off on his reunion...

Media Links

Radio interview

🔗 http://stephenpaulblanchard.podomatic.com/entry/2011-10-12T13_23_36-07_00

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BBC Radio Interview

🔗 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00kn0kb

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Reviews

<div><span style="font-size:14px;">&quot;<span style="line-height:normal;font-size:small;">I always like to give new authors a chance and I purchased this book in preparation for my first holiday since giving birth. I wanted something that was a page turner and that would give me the &quot;feel good&quot; factor after reading a good book. This is exactly what it delivers. S P Blanchard has made the characters likeable and identifiable and the story has twists and surprises unlike a typical holiday read. I think it may appeal more to the &quot;blokes&quot; but as a female it is quite nice to know there are no surprises with what they think about! If I were to describe it, I would say it is a male rom-com along the lines of other authors such as Matt Dunn, Mike Gayle and Nick Hornby. A must-read!&quot; - <em>Dr.K</em></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:14px;">&quot;<span style="line-height:normal;font-size:small;">This is not the normal type of book I go for as I'm more of a blood, murder, sci fi kind of person. However I thought that maybe I should try something a bit lighter for my holiday reading and downloaded 'Getting Sync'd' onto my kindle. It was perfect poolside reading. The characters are realistic, and being from a media back ground know this to be true! As the previous reviewer pointed out it is a rom-com but from a male perspective. If you're not into 'fluffy' books and want to try something a bit different I'd recommend trying this.&quot; - A<em>nn Kendrick</em></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:14px;">&quot;First off let me say this is a really good book! It was recommended to me by a friend and didn't disapoint. The plot itself is nothing new - it's basically a reunion story mixed together with a hint of early mid-life crisis. The kind of things that have been seen before in other male-rom-com stories. But this story has an individual humour, is laced with witty dialogue from believable, fallable characters which keep you engaged and wanting to know more. It's also not as straight-forward as you would expect, with some surprising twists and turns keeping the story even more realistic. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:14px;">The ending is a typically happy one but there are so many open endings that make you want to know more. I do wonder if any follow-up book will resolve these loose ends!?</span></div><div><span style="font-size:14px;">An excellent read which I would, and indeed have recommended to others. Well done!&quot; - <em>Jim</em></span></div>