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Toni Sweeney

Toni Sweeney

About

I write mostly sci-fi and fantasy, with an occasional sidestep into horror and westerns.  Thus far, I have 8 novels published as well as many short stories online at Amazon Shorts and in magazines.

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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<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>

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<em><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';">Sinbad’s Wife</span></em><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';"> is an unconventional tale of adventure and danger about a woman’s struggle to save the man she loves, even if it means making tough choices that go against the grain. Though I found her choices to be somewhat disturbing, I had to ask myself if I would do the same thing in her situation. How far would you go to save the man you love? <br /><br /> Ms. Sweeney always creates stories that are thrown miles outside the box, and <em>Sinbad’s Wife</em> is no exception. <a href="http://www.nightsandweekends.com/articles/09/NW0900127.php"><span class="klink"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;">Imagine</span></span></a> an Amish-like community that’s set far into the future, on a distant planet, where most people aren’t entirely human. Throw in a family <a href="http://www.nightsandweekends.com/articles/09/NW0900127.php"><span class="klink"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;">drama</span></span></a> edged with perilous excursions, and you have yourself a grand escapade. <br /><br /> Though you might find yourself judging the choices that Andrea makes, perhaps even disliking her a little in the process, I can still guarantee that <em>Sinbad’s Wife</em> is unlike anything you’ve read before. After reading it, you’re going to want to pick up the next book to see what adventures Sinbad gets mixed up in next. I know I will.<br /><br />--Margaret Marr<br />Nights and Weekends<br /></span>