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John Gorman

John Gorman

About

Before John's stories made it into print he snapped the Eyesore of the week for the Queens Ledger. He's author of the novels Shades of Luz and Disposable Heroes. His newly released Fantasy/Adevnture novel The Acolyte & The Amulet is the first of a 6-part Nebilon Series. John's stories and articles have appeared in over 50 journals worldwide. He earned his MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR. You can read more about him on his blog jgpapercut.blogspot.com

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

Many years ago I set off a bookstore's metal detector with a bag full of grocery items. A security guard took a quick peek to see I hadn't pilfered anything. When he saw it was only ginger ale, a loaf of bread, yogurt, and a box of Twinkies he let me go on home. As I walked the street, I wondered what it would be like if this rolled out into an ordeal? What if I was detained for shoplifting and nobody would believe me. What if I'd been imprinting books in my head? That is, if I had a photographic memory and what if that was a crime? It took me a number of years to write &quot;Shades of Luz&quot;. I had many failed attempts with other books, but the &quot;Shades of Luz&quot; idea - or at that time &quot;Book Thief&quot; as my file was known kept coming back. I had to write it out of my head. And the book kept evolving as I grew to love my characters deeper and deeper. It became a coming-of-age love story, and a quest for meaning and hope.

Media Links

Zine Writer

🔗 http://zinewriter.blogspot.com/2009/09/guest-post-labor-of-love-by-john-gorman.html

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PRLog

🔗 http://www.prlog.org/10356893-shades-of-luz-is-stunning-debut-novel.html

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PRLog

🔗 http://www.prlog.org/10359942-john-gorman-beats-the-odds.html

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Reviews

<span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:small;">&quot;A coming-of-age story that is refreshing to read because it is empty of dyfunctional types of characters.&quot;<br /><br />Weam Namou, author of The Feminine Art and The Mismatched Braid <br /><br />&quot;Shades of Luz is a frantic, cockeyed search for love and meaning. This wonderfully odd story introduces us to a marvelously inventive universe with tough guys, loony broads, jazz-playing monkeys and surprises that can change lives.&quot;<br /><br />Karen Heuler, author of The Soft Room<br /><br />&quot;A charming and original coming-of-age story. As is Hieronymous Bosch and Ralph Bakshi had a love child. Filled with sentences that reel and careen like a roller-coaster ride before they hit you with cartoon punches. You'll be knocked off-balance but eventually you'll be pulled back toward the center, where you'll find a love story with a very big heart.&quot;<br /><br />E.R. Catalano</span></span></span>