Frank Zane presents in his yogic and west coast American way a life plan for keeping fit into old age. Zanes manner and writing style differs from Arnold Schwarzenegger's autobiographical book Education of a body builder although both books are of a similar size. Zanes book presents a life style for both men and women and discusses issues such as fat loss, training, body building, diet and meditation. The book has numerous photographs of Frank through the ages together with photographs and drawings (by Franks wife Christine) depicting training techniques and stretching exercises. The book is not a large paper back as I accepted it to be although that said the book is jammed full of information. I confess I like this book, it is not the usual body building diatribe that proliferates in magazines and other books of this genre, that said some of Zanes descriptions that boarder on the philosophic, hippyish and Freudian can be tiring and appear out of place. The book did grow on my as did Zanes other book Mind Body and Spirit. Would I recommend it? in a word yes, although be prepared for a different approach to what is usually very predictable literature of the body building genre.
Stephen Bamford July 2009