The Book arrived today. It is, as you might imagine, chockablock with moments of the sublime.

“I remember being in high school, sitting on the couch with my girlfriend watching MTV, and the video for “Under The Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers came on. The video ends with a shirtless Anthony Kiedis running in slow motion, long hair swinging, pecs bouncing, and the room got silent – loud silent. I looked over at my girlfriend and realized that she was practically drooling over this guy. Here I was, a fifteen-year-old with short, preppy hair and a sunken chest that wouldn’t grow. I felt the anger come over me. I hated this guy, and for years I couldn’t stand the Chilis. Anytime anyone brought them up, I got angry. What was causing my jealousy? Simple: my unmet potential.

As an adult, I can look back and laugh. I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

Here is a list of people. Just a list. In case you had forgotten. Thirteen of the most famous people in the world. What have they overcome? Setbacks and failures. How did they do it? Walt Disney. Thomas edison. the Beatles. That’s how. Memorize the list.

“After the internal work, I then turned to developing the physical. Alcide is a man who shares DNA with wolves, so I watched and read everything I could get my hands on pertaining to wolves. I even found a way to spend time with and observe real wolves. On top of that, I got a tan, because my character is used to working and being outside.”

i don’t know what exercise this is but i will perform it every day for the rest of my life

“While you might not be training to become a werewolf, the point I’m making has to do with approach.”

“I’ve stolen fire from the gods and I’m giving it to you. What you do with it is up to you.”

I drew you a Prometheus joke, because he stole fire from the gods, so you can see on  his left leg there is the eagle that eats his liver out, and also I have drawn for you an approximation of his liver, which I think is greenish. 

“Whenever I was hungry, I’d pull out the bag and eat some chicken.”

When you are hungry, eat chicken from your bag. Who among us is so proud he cannot follow this advice?

clap sadly for fitness

“I always bring a few pieces of equipment to insure that my muscles stay full of blood.”

“‘But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!’ – Ebenezer Scrooge to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, 1843…like a ghost of fitness yet to come.”

“As for the haters, they’ll be there to let you know that you’re doing something right. Forget them. They’ll either join the movement and change or go down with their own sinking ship, the SS Self-Loathing.”

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