Bodybuilding’s foremost nonconformist and strikingly handsome intellectual, Mike Mentzer, rose to the top of his sport despite opposition from industry insiders like rival Schwarzenegger. Written by his close friend of two decades, Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus chronicles Mentzer’s journey in a fiercely competitive world to become one of the most iconic bodybuilders of all time.
REBEL. PHILOSOPHER. BODYBUILDING ICON.
Mike Mentzer was a strikingly handsome man with a brilliant mind and a “perfect” physique — the first bodybuilder to receive a perfect score in both amateur and professional competitions. In the late ’70s, Mentzer rose to the very top of his sport (despite the efforts made by industry power brokers, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger), was featured in GQ magazine, and profiled on national television. But he was also a man who wrestled with mental illness his entire life and ended up living on the streets and being sent to prison. Just when it seemed his career was over, he found it within himself to reboot his intellect and revolutionize bodybuilding training, arguing bodybuilders should not forsake their mental development in favor of developing their bodies. He became a pariah in the fitness industry (which only cared about selling supplements and other products) but a hero to legions of fans who earnestly sought truth.
Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus is the first biography of Mike Mentzer to appear in North America written by his close friend of 21 years, John Little, “one of the leading fitness researchers in North America” (Iron Man magazine). Drawing upon audio recordings, letters, diary excerpts, as well as interviews with those closest to him, this is the true story of one man who stood up to an entire industry — and paid the ultimate price.
“This is the definitive text on the life of bodybuilding’s greatest iconoclast. John Little writes with intelligence and the intimate familiarity of a friend but through the detached lens of a forensic investigator. A towering achievement.” — Jack Neary, former senior editor of Muscle & Fitness magazine
“John Little has done a masterful job of portraying the life of one of the most iconic athletes and intellects of our times. Like most heroic figures, Mike Mentzer lived a life of triumph and tragedy, which has made him a subject of worship and ridicule. Through exhaustive research and firsthand accounts, John Little gives us what Mike would have wanted most … an honest and objective account of a life well lived.” — Doug McGuff, MD, co-author of Body by Science
“John Little is not only an accomplished author in the fields of bodybuilding and martial arts but was also a close friend of Mentzer in the last stages of his life. Detailing Mike’s struggles with mental illness and his determination to overcome his struggles, John provides insight into the Mentzer story that has never been told before.” — John Hansen, Natural Mr. Olympia and host of the Bodybuilding Legends Show
John Little is the bestselling author of Wrath of the Dragon: The Real Fights of Bruce Lee and the two-volume history The Donnellys. Little has been interviewed on CNN, A&E, NPR, CTV, and by Entertainment Weekly. He lives in Bracebridge, Ontario.
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