(August 11) Got this because of Judy Aldridge’s comments on Atlantis Home... both there and on the Amazon website, the book comes off as a mid-life crisis thing... as if the author had been an average Joe who re-invented himself as an elite athlete... the Amazon intro says: “incredible-but-true account of achieving one of the most awe-inspiring mid-life physical transformations ever.”
So I thought this would be interesting because the person would have discovered the same thing I have -- that you can get stronger in middle (and older) age. You don’t have to get weak. But that’s not what it is at all -- Roll was never an average Joe -- he was an elite athlete as a youth and young man, then succumbed to alcoholism for a decade or so.
Mind you, when he brings himself back to health and fitness, he is healthier and more fit than he ever was in his youth, and he did it all as a vegan... which is pretty amazing. But basically he’s an extreme guy. Everything he’s done has been done extremely.
So not quite the narrative I expected... and, really, the point of the book is to get you interested in the endurance-training vegan products Roll sells. Kind of an extended commercial for those things. (He’s creating his muse, à la the Four-Hour Work Week guy, whom he mentions, although he doesn't hint that he’s setting up a "muse.")
Still, it was an interesting story and he’s competent at telling it... there’s a familiar formula with these kinds of books -- a series of detailed highlights from nadirs or zeniths on the journey, then background filled in. But it was fine, not annoying.
And this is the first time I've ever found veganism appealing. He makes it so. Kudos there. He made me want to eat more healthily, and to try coconut water and almond milk.
He did not make me want to take up endurance sports at all.
