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dianne sweeney

dianne sweeney

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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

“ I'm the average, thirty-something, working woman of today--sometimes sarcastic, sometimes too honest for my own good--but I do tell it like it is. Professionally, I'm set. Friends--I have plenty. But love...well, isn't that what we're all looking for? ”

Media Links

KRTY

🔗 www.krty.com

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Tucson Citizen

🔗 www.tucsoncitizen.com

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Reviews

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="right" width="0">  </td> <td valign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;">7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-left:-5px;"><img height="12" alt="5.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._V47081849_.gif" width="64" border="0" /></span><strong>AMAZING book!!!</strong>, December 16, 2009</div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">By </td> <td><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2GJLMFOAGZTNF/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><font color="#004b91">Vanessa<img class="custPopRight" style="border-right:medium none;border-top:medium none;border-left:medium none;border-bottom:medium none;" alt="" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/carrot._V47081519_.gif" /></font></span></span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2GJLMFOAGZTNF/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#004b91">See all my reviews</font></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>This is a honest, funny, witty, and charmingly written book!! It's one that you will not want to put down! In addition to the authors commentary and perspective of things, it includes the emails and instant messages that were sent back and forth from the author and her potential &quot;princes&quot;. I found myself laughing out loud for much of the book. Don't miss out on this one!! <div style="clear:both;width:100%;padding-top:10px;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"> <div style="padding-right:15px;"> <div style="padding-bottom:5px;"><strong class="tiny" style="color:#666666;white-space:nowrap;"><font size="1">Help other customers find the most helpful reviews </font></strong>  </div> <div>Was this review helpful to you? <span style="margin-left:-3px;"></span>&quot;); } function restoreYesNoDefaultMessage(uId){ var msgLayer = document.getElementById(&quot;thanks&quot; + uId); msgLayer.innerHTML = &quot;&quot;; } function showYesButton(vUrl, uId){ var yesImg = ' ' + '<a>' + '<img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-yes-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" alt="Yes" height="18" border="0" />' + '</a> '; document.write(yesImg); } function showNoButton(vUrl, uId){ var noImg = '<a>' + '<img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-no-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" alt="No" height="18" border="0" />' + '</a>'; 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+ uId); if ( result == &quot;SUCCESS&quot; ) { msgLayer.innerHTML = &quot;<br />Thanks for your feedback.&quot;; } else { showVoteErrorResponse(msgLayer,result,value, &quot;&quot;); } }  <a><img height="18" alt="Yes" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-yes-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" border="0" /></a> <a><img height="18" alt="No" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-no-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" border="0" /></a><span class="tiny"></span> </div></div></td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"> <div></div></td> <td valign="top" align="left"> <div style="padding-left:15px;"> <div style="white-space:nowrap;"><span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.freado.com/users/settings/#"><font color="#004b91" size="1">Report this</font></a><font size="1"></font></span><span style="color:#cccccc;">|</span> <span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R10D3Y03VAF7NY/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm"><font color="#004b91" size="1">Permalink</font></a><font size="1"></font></span></div> <div style="padding-top:5px;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R10D3Y03VAF7NY/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0578041790&amp;nodeID=#wasThisHelpful"><font size="1"><img height="16" alt="Comment" hspace="3" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/comment-sm._V47082363_.gif" width="16" border="0" /></font></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R10D3Y03VAF7NY/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0578041790&amp;nodeID=#wasThisHelpful"><font color="#004b91">Comment</font></a> </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a></a><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="right" width="0">  </td> <td valign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;">6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-left:-5px;"><img height="12" alt="5.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._V47081849_.gif" width="64" border="0" /></span><strong>Relevent for men!</strong>, December 20, 2009</div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">By </td> <td><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AZY436IXAXQ5H/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="#004b91">Miles <span style="white-space:nowrap;">Hansen<img class="custPopRight" style="border-right:medium none;border-top:medium none;border-left:medium none;border-bottom:medium none;" alt="" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/carrot._V47081519_.gif" /></span></font></span></a> (Oslo, Norway) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AZY436IXAXQ5H/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#004b91">See all my reviews</font></a><br /><a href="http://www.freado.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_rn_bdg_help?ie=UTF8&amp;nodeId=14279681&amp;pop-up=1#RN"><font color="#004b91"><img height="15" alt="(REAL NAME)" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reputation/c7y_badge_rn_1._V47060296_.gif" width="70" border="0" /></font></a>    </td></tr></tbody></table></div>This book was recommended to me by a friend who insisted that I read it. Oh my god! This is not a book to read on the bus unless you want to look like a crazy person!! I was laughing so hard out loud that the entire bus was staring! Not only is it a riot, but it is definitely easy for a man to relate to. I have already told my cube-mates at work to read it. Nice work Sweeney! <div style="clear:both;width:100%;padding-top:10px;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"> <div style="padding-right:15px;"> <div style="padding-bottom:5px;"><strong class="tiny" style="color:#666666;white-space:nowrap;"><font size="1">Help other customers find the most helpful reviews </font></strong>  </div> <div>Was this review helpful to you? <span style="margin-left:-3px;">  <a><img height="18" alt="Yes" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-yes-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" border="0" /></a> <a><img height="18" alt="No" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-no-sec-md._V8278393_.gif" width="35" border="0" /></a><span class="tiny"></span> </span></div></div></td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"> <div></div></td> <td valign="top" align="left"> <div style="padding-left:15px;"> <div style="white-space:nowrap;"><span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.freado.com/users/settings/#"><font color="#004b91" size="1">Report this</font></a><font size="1"></font></span><span style="color:#cccccc;">|</span> <span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R258NXGTOQ4AWW/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm"><font color="#004b91" size="1">Permalink</font></a><font size="1"></font></span></div> <div style="padding-top:5px;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R258NXGTOQ4AWW/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0578041790&amp;nodeID=#wasThisHelpful"><font size="1"><img height="16" alt="Comment" hspace="3" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/comment-sm._V47082363_.gif" width="16" border="0" /></font></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R258NXGTOQ4AWW/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0578041790&amp;nodeID=#wasThisHelpful"><font color="#004b91">Comment</font></a> </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a></a><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="right" width="0">  </td> <td valign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;">5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-left:-5px;"><img height="12" alt="5.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._V47081849_.gif" width="64" border="0" /></span><strong>If this doens't make you laugh....then I don't know...</strong>, December 15, 2009</div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">By </td> <td><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1UMRNVSSI6R3C/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="#004b91">Deborah A. Lang &quot;Deborah <span style="white-space:nowrap;">Lang&quot;<img class="custPopRight" style="border-right:medium none;border-top:medium none;border-left:medium none;border-bottom:medium none;" alt="" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/carrot._V47081519_.gif" /></span></font></span></a> (San Jose, CA) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1UMRNVSSI6R3C/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#004b91">See all my reviews</font></a><br /><a href="http://www.freado.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_rn_bdg_help?ie=UTF8&amp;nodeId=14279681&amp;pop-up=1#RN"><font color="#004b91"><img height="15" alt="(REAL NAME)" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reputation/c7y_badge_rn_1._V47060296_.gif" width="70" border="0" /></font></a>    </td></tr></tbody></table></div>Hysterical, insightful, relevant and honest journey negotiating the cyberspace waters of on-line dating. <br />Great read regardless of your relationship status. <br />This is a Brave new world of dating and Dianne Sweeney has taken us along on her journey. <br />And if you don't find yourself laughing outloud...then I don't know what to say. <br />Highly recommended! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table>