Book Review: Fitness For Geeks by Bruce W. Perry

Ok, we know not all dads are super jocks, and quite frankly quite a few are 'geeks', 

so what happens when the two shall meet?

This book!

Synopsis: You get up in the morning with the shades yanked down, after having collapsed under the covers at some indeterminate time past midnight (which followed hours in front of a computer). Luckily, you'd set the coffee maker on a timer, so a quart of strong joe waits on the kitchen counter. Twelve ounces of that washes down a toasted bagel smeared with extra margarine and jelly, as you're out the door on the way to a 45-minute car or train commute. It's just the beginning of a marathon bout of sitting. 


Fitness for Geeks: Real Science, Great Nutrition, and Good Health by Bruce Perry explains what cubicle dwellers, home office addicts, and the rest of us tech junkies can do to reverse "chair living," get moving, and eat right. Indeed, Perry doesn't flinch from offering technical or scientific information in And along with a little homespun wisdom, he gives a provocative look at what we can do to step away from our computers and step into a healthier life. Perry discusses:

The best times of day to eat and what to eat.

Why eating carbs before exercising isn't healthy.

Why you can get a beer belly, even if you don't drink beer.

The best exercise routines to lose weight, and maintain a healthy weight.

What two things matter most in keeping a healthy lifestyle.

How to find your way around the gym, especially the weight room.

The pros and cons of yoga.

What apps are the best for exercise, and how to use them.

About the Author: Bruce W. Perry played college soccer in New York, then amidst a varied career in journalism and software engineering finished literally (ask his knees!) hundreds of road races and multisport events. He's since moved on to family life and recreational alpine hiking, skiing, and resistance training. He has also written two recent software books for O'Reilly Media. After an unguided youth, he now hangs out weightlifting in gyms again, and climbs with guides now, recently Piz Palu in the Swiss Alps, Mt. Whitney's Mountaineer's Route, and Mt. Rainier. Follow his blog at fitnessfg.com

Review: This book really covers ALL the basics from start to finish- nutrition to healthy living! It starts out in Chapter One with explaining how the human body is set up, and how we have changed overtime physically and biologically. (and FYI, the Chapters sections have hilarious names like "Hey, the Stone Age Was a Nasty Time", "Don’t Be a Hungry Vampire",Apples vs. Twinkies", and "Grade School Nurse Fondly Recalled"!

Then it goes into fitness and exercise tools and apps (which are great for Mom and kids too!) and off into the basic about the food we eat that fuels our bodies. The author talks about carbs, proteins, fats and how they all work together, and how to figure out what micronutrients YOU need on a daily basis. He then does an EXCELLENT job in breaking down the need for vitamins and minerals, and how we can be deficient, and how you can boost your levels, without taking pills!

Perry then talks about choosing the RIGHT foods and reading product boxes. This chapter alone is super for Mom to read too! I loved the chapter on finding good food on the run! Perry then discusses how WHEN you eat affects how your body. He offers great advice on fasting and eating in blocks! Now that you know the basics of your body and how to fuel it, Perry goes into the dreaded "outside and exercise topics"! The chapter includes excellent ideas for cross-country training and using your own body weight to exercise. For those looking to train for a 5k, or the infamous "Warrior Run" there is some really great training tips in Chapter 7!

The exercise chapter offers great instruction and photos for basic moves, be it power lifting, weight lifting and high-intensity training regimes. Perry then offers great tips for shaking up your routine and getting enough sleep (and reducing stress). He offers encouragement for getting enough hydration (did you know that when you have cravings, you are usually dehydrated and it is water you need?) and making sure you have enough fuel (food) to keep your body working at an optimal level.

Overall, this is a pretty THOROUGH book. In fact, I'd say it's one of the best ones on diet and fitness I've seen since blogging! I highly recommend it for YOUR favorite geek (just sneak off and read it for yourself when they're on the computer!)

Disclosure / Disclaimer:  I was offered this book, free of charge, from O'Reilly Publishing, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told what to say about it.