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Becoming the Iceman: Pushing Past Perceived Limits
Becoming the Iceman - 10th Anniversary EditionFor generations, we've been taught to fear the cold... And while there are consequences to extreme cold exposure, with proper training, anyone can thrive in the cold and learn the lessons it has to teach. You may recognize Wim Hof from TV specials or YouTube clips; you might have seen him running barefoot above the Arctic Circle or swimming in ice-cold waters.While performing these incredible feats, Wim remained warm, comfortable, and centered, establishing himself as epitome of what is possible when someone uses the cold as a tool to train their body. Scientists became fascinated with Wim -- was he a genetic anomaly, the proof of evolution, or something else entirely? Well, in fall of 2009, college student Justin Rosales decided to follow in Wim's footsteps to discover if he, too, could conquer the cold. In this dual-perspective autobiography, Justin and Wim's lives intersect as they share their journeys and methods for becoming Icemen -- and prove that it's possible for you, too. More Information : BecomingTheIceman.com
298 pages, Paperback
First published November 9, 2011
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December 18, 2016
Where was the editor!?
This is a sweet little book telling, in alternate chapters, the story of Wim Hof's various extraordinary achievements and Justin Rosales's journey to study with him. Wim has workman-like prose. Justin, unfortunately, is a terrible writer. At first this is deeply annoying; Wim provides an interesting chapter about climbing Kilimanjaro or marathons in the arctic, then Justin follows up with over-detailed descriptions of his travel arrangements, his shopping habits, his school work:
Even Jarrett doesn't care about your microwave meals, Justin!
Despite the dullness of his chapters, Justin's essential good nature shines through, and it's difficult not to grow fond of him. He remains utterly daft, though, so that fondness is tempered with exasperation. He is desperate to learn from the Iceman and watches youtube videos repeatedly - but doesn't think to google for Wim Hof's website or email address, and stumbles on them by chance months into his quest. He finally travels to the Netherlands to meet Wim Hof - but doesn't arrange a meeting place and doesn't take any currency with him! Lost and anxious at the airport, he has to exchange the American dollars his parents give him as 'emergency funds' so that he can use the pay phone. His early attempts to build up a tolerance to the cold are undisciplined, sporadic and occasionally dangerous (he nearly gives his girlfriend hypothermia).
As the book goes on, a parallel between the alternating chapters starts to appear. Wim Hof writes repeatedly about the importance of acceptance, self-belief and perseverance. Then he demonstrates it in his amazing endurance feats. However, Justin is also demonstrating those exact same qualities. Although his achievements are small in comparison, it is still a challenge for him to catch a plane for the first time, navigate a foreign country or begin the journey to ice-endurance (especially as drunken frat boys chase him when he runs!).
Justin's chapters are perhaps not just banal interludes between the interesting events - they are the proof of the veracity of the principles underlying Wim Hof's approach. If you skip the Justin chapters then, like an eager young student who is so impatient to become a master that he skips over the boring training exercises, you miss the first lesson and never progress.
On the whole though, there are few lessons here and it's rather disappointing. Two slim chapters at the end of the book describe Wim and Justin's suggestions for how to proceed in developing cold resistance. Justin's is sensible and straight-forward: basically expose yourself to the cold gradually - don't overdo it and damage yourself. Wim's suggestions are similar and include a breathing and visualisation exercise.
If you are wondering about the details of how Wim trains for his events, then there is sadly little to go on. He talks a great deal about trusting himself, his body and his instincts - but almost nothing about his practical exercises or diet. This gives the impression that all anyone needs to swim beneath the arctic ice is limitless self-confidence. But Wim is also an experienced yogi - perhaps his yoga practice helps his endurance? Maybe, but the details of his yoga regime (if he has one) are not discussed. He mentions with some amusement the surprise of people when they discover that he drinks and smokes - but he doesn't discuss other eating habits. Wim seems to be a man who operates entirely on instinct - he probably does have an excellent plan for developing endurance but never articulates it, instead trusting the correct next move to occur to him when necessary.
Really, this book should have been written by a ghost writer or third person (Jon Ronson!) following the two men around, teasing the facts out of them, and then writing it up in a more interesting and informative book - with a proper spell-check at the end of it!
This is a sweet little book telling, in alternate chapters, the story of Wim Hof's various extraordinary achievements and Justin Rosales's journey to study with him. Wim has workman-like prose. Justin, unfortunately, is a terrible writer. At first this is deeply annoying; Wim provides an interesting chapter about climbing Kilimanjaro or marathons in the arctic, then Justin follows up with over-detailed descriptions of his travel arrangements, his shopping habits, his school work:
After grabbing my wallet and room key, I walked out the door. I had a couple hours until sundown so I decided to buy groceries. I walked to the office to ask the receptionist if she knew of any places where I could buy food. My map told me where Walgreens was but I wanted to make sure that it was still up to date [...] It took me about ten minutes to walk to Walgreens. I bought a few microwave meals and a couple of fruits. I called Jarrett while I was shopping and updated him about what had happened thus far.
Even Jarrett doesn't care about your microwave meals, Justin!
Despite the dullness of his chapters, Justin's essential good nature shines through, and it's difficult not to grow fond of him. He remains utterly daft, though, so that fondness is tempered with exasperation. He is desperate to learn from the Iceman and watches youtube videos repeatedly - but doesn't think to google for Wim Hof's website or email address, and stumbles on them by chance months into his quest. He finally travels to the Netherlands to meet Wim Hof - but doesn't arrange a meeting place and doesn't take any currency with him! Lost and anxious at the airport, he has to exchange the American dollars his parents give him as 'emergency funds' so that he can use the pay phone. His early attempts to build up a tolerance to the cold are undisciplined, sporadic and occasionally dangerous (he nearly gives his girlfriend hypothermia).
As the book goes on, a parallel between the alternating chapters starts to appear. Wim Hof writes repeatedly about the importance of acceptance, self-belief and perseverance. Then he demonstrates it in his amazing endurance feats. However, Justin is also demonstrating those exact same qualities. Although his achievements are small in comparison, it is still a challenge for him to catch a plane for the first time, navigate a foreign country or begin the journey to ice-endurance (especially as drunken frat boys chase him when he runs!).
Justin's chapters are perhaps not just banal interludes between the interesting events - they are the proof of the veracity of the principles underlying Wim Hof's approach. If you skip the Justin chapters then, like an eager young student who is so impatient to become a master that he skips over the boring training exercises, you miss the first lesson and never progress.
On the whole though, there are few lessons here and it's rather disappointing. Two slim chapters at the end of the book describe Wim and Justin's suggestions for how to proceed in developing cold resistance. Justin's is sensible and straight-forward: basically expose yourself to the cold gradually - don't overdo it and damage yourself. Wim's suggestions are similar and include a breathing and visualisation exercise.
If you are wondering about the details of how Wim trains for his events, then there is sadly little to go on. He talks a great deal about trusting himself, his body and his instincts - but almost nothing about his practical exercises or diet. This gives the impression that all anyone needs to swim beneath the arctic ice is limitless self-confidence. But Wim is also an experienced yogi - perhaps his yoga practice helps his endurance? Maybe, but the details of his yoga regime (if he has one) are not discussed. He mentions with some amusement the surprise of people when they discover that he drinks and smokes - but he doesn't discuss other eating habits. Wim seems to be a man who operates entirely on instinct - he probably does have an excellent plan for developing endurance but never articulates it, instead trusting the correct next move to occur to him when necessary.
Really, this book should have been written by a ghost writer or third person (Jon Ronson!) following the two men around, teasing the facts out of them, and then writing it up in a more interesting and informative book - with a proper spell-check at the end of it!
May 17, 2014
This book has some great information, but it was written so badly, that it ended up thoroughly disappointing.
It could have been the next "born to run", a prizewinning novel about feats of humanity combined with a heartwarming story. Instead it's not. All the elements are there; The physiology, the feats of endurance, the characters, the references to long-lost tribes...
If this book were ghost-written by a professional writer, then it could have been done properly. Unfortunately it was put together quickly by two people who have never written anything before. Not only that, but neither has very good English skills, and so the book is terrible.
At first I thought the main character Justin was mentally disabled, but I think he is just from a non-English speaking background, and is a small-town kid, so I won't be harsher than I already have been. The mentor Wim is also from a non-English speaking background
The other thing this book lacks is research. A huge amount of research could have been done on topics such as Pranayama, Tummo, Korean ice-divers, cold-weather physiology and hypothermia. It just wasn't done. Thus there is no background for any of the stories.
Finally, the book was not edited, so it is difficult to read.
If you're actually interested in the techniques contained in the book, I advise you to read the last few chapters, and ignore the rest. The detail on the techniques is sufficient to design your own cold-tolerance training programme.
It could have been the next "born to run", a prizewinning novel about feats of humanity combined with a heartwarming story. Instead it's not. All the elements are there; The physiology, the feats of endurance, the characters, the references to long-lost tribes...
If this book were ghost-written by a professional writer, then it could have been done properly. Unfortunately it was put together quickly by two people who have never written anything before. Not only that, but neither has very good English skills, and so the book is terrible.
At first I thought the main character Justin was mentally disabled, but I think he is just from a non-English speaking background, and is a small-town kid, so I won't be harsher than I already have been. The mentor Wim is also from a non-English speaking background
The other thing this book lacks is research. A huge amount of research could have been done on topics such as Pranayama, Tummo, Korean ice-divers, cold-weather physiology and hypothermia. It just wasn't done. Thus there is no background for any of the stories.
Finally, the book was not edited, so it is difficult to read.
If you're actually interested in the techniques contained in the book, I advise you to read the last few chapters, and ignore the rest. The detail on the techniques is sufficient to design your own cold-tolerance training programme.
February 7, 2012
Reads like a 7th grader's book report. "I did this. Then I did this. I was so excited that I did that. The end."
November 26, 2015
This was not a good read. In fact, it was a terrible read. It’s pretty obvious the authors (Wim Hof and his protégé, Justin Rosales) are not writers.
The book’s message? Wim Hof is not unique. Anyone can become like the iceman.
You’re welcome, you don’t have to read it now.
But don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge fan of and believe in Wim Hof and his methods. I’m just not a fan of this book. At all. So if you, like me, want to learn about the science behind Wim Hof’s methods, and want to learn how to perform them yourself, I would definitely recommend the web instead. There are a lot of good articles, podcasts and videos out there.
The book’s message? Wim Hof is not unique. Anyone can become like the iceman.
You’re welcome, you don’t have to read it now.
But don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge fan of and believe in Wim Hof and his methods. I’m just not a fan of this book. At all. So if you, like me, want to learn about the science behind Wim Hof’s methods, and want to learn how to perform them yourself, I would definitely recommend the web instead. There are a lot of good articles, podcasts and videos out there.
November 25, 2015
Inspiring!
April 29, 2020
Glad I’m not the only one bothered by the editing (or lack thereof). It’s like a high school essay, all the over the place. It really should be pulled from public circulation and fixed. So disappointed to have opened it just as I’m getting into Wim Hoff’s methods. It leaves a bad mark on his brand.
There’s a point he says he’s seventeen and then jumps three years back to walking with his wife and child? So he was married with a kid at fourteen? And he goes to state that his son gave him the idea for braving the cold when just earlier he says he walked out barefoot in the snow with no explanation as to why. This ‘book’ is so confusing to put it mildly.
There’s a point he says he’s seventeen and then jumps three years back to walking with his wife and child? So he was married with a kid at fourteen? And he goes to state that his son gave him the idea for braving the cold when just earlier he says he walked out barefoot in the snow with no explanation as to why. This ‘book’ is so confusing to put it mildly.
July 13, 2015
The knowledge contained in this book is invaluable.
If you are looking for practical knowledge that you would like to apply on yourself, for the betterment of your physical health and character, then this is a real gem.
Thank you Wim and Justin for sharing your experiences!
P.S. The quality of presentation is rather poor and could put off a lot of people (especially native English speakers).
If you are looking for practical knowledge that you would like to apply on yourself, for the betterment of your physical health and character, then this is a real gem.
Thank you Wim and Justin for sharing your experiences!
P.S. The quality of presentation is rather poor and could put off a lot of people (especially native English speakers).
September 11, 2019
The writing on this really qualifies as a 2 star, it needs a ghost writer and a copy editor, but I'm giving it 3 stars because I really like Wim Hof and his message. If you're interested in learning more about him and his techniques, I'd skip this book, check out his Youtube videos, and perhaps sign up for his course which is quite neat.
March 15, 2017
Wim Hof, the Iceman, is a fascinating, fascinating story. What he's been able to do with his body, against all odds and against known scientific "truths" is nothing short of astounding. Many of his feats are so out there they are difficult to believe without seeing video evidence.
Unfortunately, neither Wim nor Justin Rosales are good writers, and the quality of this book was nothing short of disappointing. The only reason I even gave it two stars was because of how impressive Wim's accomplishments are.
I commend Justin for pushing himself to the limits and taking on the challenge of "becoming an iceman", but his writing leaves much to be desired. The numerous typos and grammatical errors aside, the lack of depth in important, climatic parts of the story and the excessive depth in irrelevant details (Justin must have mentioned in depth six times how his parents were worried about his safety traveling to California for a training seminar... yet hardly goes into detail about critical elements of the training and interactions that were most relevant to the story).
Wim's first language is not english, and that is readily apparent in this book. This book would have greatly benefitted from having a professional writer and editor help them.
Watch youtube videos and the VICE documentary, and give one of the newer books about the Iceman a try. This one should be left on the shelf.
Unfortunately, neither Wim nor Justin Rosales are good writers, and the quality of this book was nothing short of disappointing. The only reason I even gave it two stars was because of how impressive Wim's accomplishments are.
I commend Justin for pushing himself to the limits and taking on the challenge of "becoming an iceman", but his writing leaves much to be desired. The numerous typos and grammatical errors aside, the lack of depth in important, climatic parts of the story and the excessive depth in irrelevant details (Justin must have mentioned in depth six times how his parents were worried about his safety traveling to California for a training seminar... yet hardly goes into detail about critical elements of the training and interactions that were most relevant to the story).
Wim's first language is not english, and that is readily apparent in this book. This book would have greatly benefitted from having a professional writer and editor help them.
Watch youtube videos and the VICE documentary, and give one of the newer books about the Iceman a try. This one should be left on the shelf.
February 10, 2014
Wim Hof is one of my greatest inspirations. I was so happy he wrote a book and it does a great job inspiring and convincing people that they too can achieve what Wim Hof has. He's not a superhuman, he has had a strategy all along which can be used by others.
October 24, 2018
I'm interested in Wim Hof and his method, I'm doing the breathwork and cold showers myself. However, this book is horrible. A few interesting nuggets buried under loads of irrelevant sidestories, boring minutiae and just general gibberish. I'm very disappointed.
June 27, 2019
Way too wordy, an ego driven account that needed some serious editing.
November 16, 2024
Lootsin raamatust enamat või mul olid teised ootused raamatust. Rmt rääkis ühest poisist, kes tahtis ka Iceman'iks hakata. Ja lõpus kohtus ka Wimiga, kes teda treenis. Iga peatüki alguses oli pilt, kelle kohta peatükk oli, aga alguses ei saanud aru sellest poindist, tundus, et lihtsalt kellegi pilt oli alguses. Ja eriti suvalise poisi pilt ka. Tahtsin ikka Wimi lugu kuulda, kuidas tema Icemaniks sai.
Aga rmtus oli palju ebavajalikku infot. Nt too poiss läks teise osariiki Tummo (jäätreeningud, mida Wim harrastab) kohta õppima ja kirjutas, et pidi selle jaoks raha teenima ja arvutas välja, palju kõik maksab. Mis on okei, aga kirjutas, palju maksab bussipilet lennujaamas hotelli ja numbrid, kaugel oli sihtpunkt, kuhu ta jooksis.
Lõpus too poiss, Justin, harjutusi, kuidas külmaga harjuda ning kirjutas nii ilmselgeid ja ebavajalikke asju: kui vannivesi jookseb, kasuta seda aega, et riietuda; pane valmis rätik; tahtis üheks harjutuseks endale täispuhutavat basseini osta, rääkis ka landlordiga läbi, kes lubas seda õues kasutada, otsis igalt poolt basseini, aga ei leidnud ja kasutas hoopis vanni. Rmt oleks saanud palju lühem kui ebavajalik info oleks riisutud.
Wimi lood olid põnevad, mis rekordeid on ta purustanud. Nt 1.5h jäävees olnud, Kilimanjaro ja Everesti kandis 7km kõrgusele mäe otsa roninud lühkarites, jooksnud maratoni lühkarites Lapimaal jne. Tundub, et ta on imeinimene.
Aga sain teada, et kui oled külmaga harjunud nagu on Wim, siis on võimalik suunata külmale kohale soojust ja see üles soojendada. Ja loomulikult immuunsust tugevdada.
Lõpus olid ka hajutused, mida teha, et külmaga harjuda, nt jäävannid kätele ja jalgadele, lumes kõnd/jooks, ülekeha külmad vannid jm.
Aga rmtus oli palju ebavajalikku infot. Nt too poiss läks teise osariiki Tummo (jäätreeningud, mida Wim harrastab) kohta õppima ja kirjutas, et pidi selle jaoks raha teenima ja arvutas välja, palju kõik maksab. Mis on okei, aga kirjutas, palju maksab bussipilet lennujaamas hotelli ja numbrid, kaugel oli sihtpunkt, kuhu ta jooksis.
Lõpus too poiss, Justin, harjutusi, kuidas külmaga harjuda ning kirjutas nii ilmselgeid ja ebavajalikke asju: kui vannivesi jookseb, kasuta seda aega, et riietuda; pane valmis rätik; tahtis üheks harjutuseks endale täispuhutavat basseini osta, rääkis ka landlordiga läbi, kes lubas seda õues kasutada, otsis igalt poolt basseini, aga ei leidnud ja kasutas hoopis vanni. Rmt oleks saanud palju lühem kui ebavajalik info oleks riisutud.
Wimi lood olid põnevad, mis rekordeid on ta purustanud. Nt 1.5h jäävees olnud, Kilimanjaro ja Everesti kandis 7km kõrgusele mäe otsa roninud lühkarites, jooksnud maratoni lühkarites Lapimaal jne. Tundub, et ta on imeinimene.
Aga sain teada, et kui oled külmaga harjunud nagu on Wim, siis on võimalik suunata külmale kohale soojust ja see üles soojendada. Ja loomulikult immuunsust tugevdada.
Lõpus olid ka hajutused, mida teha, et külmaga harjuda, nt jäävannid kätele ja jalgadele, lumes kõnd/jooks, ülekeha külmad vannid jm.
January 21, 2021
** the reference 'how to' text for the Wim Hof method for beginners**
I am going to give this book 4.5 stars because — not in spite of — the stylistic challenges that frustrated many readers. Paul Theroux, the literary travel writer (and inveterate snob) loved to complain that the greatest travel and adventure authors (think Chatwin, Naipaul, Messner) always left out the details of how they had gotten there. How did they prepare for the trip? How did they handle their finances? What were the flights and departure halls like? What did they eat? What was their sleep, mood, and digestion like? Did they miss their family?
Besides frustration at the amount of details, readers also poked fun (cruelly, I might add) at Justin’s “naive”, “unprepared”, or “clueless” demeanour throughout his journey to become the Iceman. But here’s a crucial detail that might never occur to the urban literati — the kind of vaguely rich, cosmopolitan, went-on-a-gap-year, high-flying New Yorker-reading type; the kind of covertly elitist Wokerati who loves to sneer at the majority of their fellow Americans who “don’t own a passport”. It may not occur to those readers, as they sneer at Justin’s angst-filled account of his first time on an airplane, or calling up his dad to ask how to get a passport, that his is precisely the kind of reality that most Americans can relate to. Romanticized Dickensianisms or victimological exceptions aside, this is precisely the kind of everyday, relatable, everyman reality that never finds its way to the pages of the New Yorker, the Atlantic, or Mother Jones. Justin’s is, as such, the kind of narrative that can actually inspire and elevate many people.
Readers complain they would have wanted more concrete advice from Wim Hof besides questionably messianic claims that one can tap into one’s “cardiovascular system” or “immune system” (note how it is never clear when and how one boosts or suppresses said system). Here’s the thing. You will never get anything more concrete from the Man Himself. At this stage in his name brand development, you won’t get anything more either even if you sign up for one of the courses in Poland. You will get good training and oversight from one of his branded trainers, and the odd appearance of the Man himself for a long messianic and iconoclastic monologue. Don’t me wrong. Hof is a sincere, generous, inspiring, eccentric, disorganized genius. But if it weren’t for the marketing know how of his son, and — I will insist again — the very useful details provided by people like Justin, his teachings might have been lost on the world.
Readers complain again about the lack of science and evidence in Justin’s book. For a thorough, well-written, balanced account of the scientific backing (and lack thereof) behind the Wim Hof method, Scott Carney’s ‘What Doesn’t Kill Us’ is the reference text. For a relatable ‘how to’ guide, Justin’s is still the best book out there. While Carney does include useful details about his own training steps, note again that he is not exactly Mr Everybody. By the time he takes up the method, Carney (despite his not-terribly-sincere modesty) is already an advanced athlete, globetrotting gonzo journalist, and he has seemingly endless direct lines to sports and Hollywood celebrities. He can quit whatever he is doing on a whim to run obstacle courses in England, pick up an extreme surfing training method in California, or head to Kilimanjaro. Exhilarating to read about, but not exactly accessible to most people.
Full disclosure: I am an anthropologist, behavioural scientist and professor who has been, often on a whim, to a fair share of jungles, high plateaus, big cities, research labs and fancy cocktail parties on 5 continents. I have designed, run and published experiments on mind-body regulation. I grew up on three continents an have a drawer of full of passports of different colours. And yet, I found Justin’s book much more useful than Carney’s. When we stack away our passports and piles of New Yorkers, those of us committed to trying the method will all begin at home, with a kitchen-sink approach. We’ll have hopes and questions, and some anxieties. We’ll want to know if other people felt dizzy too, how long their first cold bath was, how long their backdrop lasted, and how they set up their routines. The rich details provided by Justin on all these steps — including his own doubts, fears, and readjustments of expectations — are invaluable. As a narrator, Justin is also immensely likeable. He embodies the good Christian virtues of fortitude, perseverance, humility, and service to others (full disclosure again: I am not a Christian). His frequent mention of his girlfriend and family is heart-warming and useful. It is good to read how other people handle the delicate issue of explaining to their loved ones why they would want to so something so outlandish as submerger themselves in icy water.
All in all, a very good book, that can help ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things. Copy editing is always an issue, even with the best publishers. Given Justin’s limited means and the minimal effort one imagines was invested by the publisher, the presence of many typos (more so, by the way, in the Wim Hof sections) is unfortunate, but understandable.
I first read this book as a ripped e-pub, but am buying the paper version to support Justin.
I am going to give this book 4.5 stars because — not in spite of — the stylistic challenges that frustrated many readers. Paul Theroux, the literary travel writer (and inveterate snob) loved to complain that the greatest travel and adventure authors (think Chatwin, Naipaul, Messner) always left out the details of how they had gotten there. How did they prepare for the trip? How did they handle their finances? What were the flights and departure halls like? What did they eat? What was their sleep, mood, and digestion like? Did they miss their family?
Besides frustration at the amount of details, readers also poked fun (cruelly, I might add) at Justin’s “naive”, “unprepared”, or “clueless” demeanour throughout his journey to become the Iceman. But here’s a crucial detail that might never occur to the urban literati — the kind of vaguely rich, cosmopolitan, went-on-a-gap-year, high-flying New Yorker-reading type; the kind of covertly elitist Wokerati who loves to sneer at the majority of their fellow Americans who “don’t own a passport”. It may not occur to those readers, as they sneer at Justin’s angst-filled account of his first time on an airplane, or calling up his dad to ask how to get a passport, that his is precisely the kind of reality that most Americans can relate to. Romanticized Dickensianisms or victimological exceptions aside, this is precisely the kind of everyday, relatable, everyman reality that never finds its way to the pages of the New Yorker, the Atlantic, or Mother Jones. Justin’s is, as such, the kind of narrative that can actually inspire and elevate many people.
Readers complain they would have wanted more concrete advice from Wim Hof besides questionably messianic claims that one can tap into one’s “cardiovascular system” or “immune system” (note how it is never clear when and how one boosts or suppresses said system). Here’s the thing. You will never get anything more concrete from the Man Himself. At this stage in his name brand development, you won’t get anything more either even if you sign up for one of the courses in Poland. You will get good training and oversight from one of his branded trainers, and the odd appearance of the Man himself for a long messianic and iconoclastic monologue. Don’t me wrong. Hof is a sincere, generous, inspiring, eccentric, disorganized genius. But if it weren’t for the marketing know how of his son, and — I will insist again — the very useful details provided by people like Justin, his teachings might have been lost on the world.
Readers complain again about the lack of science and evidence in Justin’s book. For a thorough, well-written, balanced account of the scientific backing (and lack thereof) behind the Wim Hof method, Scott Carney’s ‘What Doesn’t Kill Us’ is the reference text. For a relatable ‘how to’ guide, Justin’s is still the best book out there. While Carney does include useful details about his own training steps, note again that he is not exactly Mr Everybody. By the time he takes up the method, Carney (despite his not-terribly-sincere modesty) is already an advanced athlete, globetrotting gonzo journalist, and he has seemingly endless direct lines to sports and Hollywood celebrities. He can quit whatever he is doing on a whim to run obstacle courses in England, pick up an extreme surfing training method in California, or head to Kilimanjaro. Exhilarating to read about, but not exactly accessible to most people.
Full disclosure: I am an anthropologist, behavioural scientist and professor who has been, often on a whim, to a fair share of jungles, high plateaus, big cities, research labs and fancy cocktail parties on 5 continents. I have designed, run and published experiments on mind-body regulation. I grew up on three continents an have a drawer of full of passports of different colours. And yet, I found Justin’s book much more useful than Carney’s. When we stack away our passports and piles of New Yorkers, those of us committed to trying the method will all begin at home, with a kitchen-sink approach. We’ll have hopes and questions, and some anxieties. We’ll want to know if other people felt dizzy too, how long their first cold bath was, how long their backdrop lasted, and how they set up their routines. The rich details provided by Justin on all these steps — including his own doubts, fears, and readjustments of expectations — are invaluable. As a narrator, Justin is also immensely likeable. He embodies the good Christian virtues of fortitude, perseverance, humility, and service to others (full disclosure again: I am not a Christian). His frequent mention of his girlfriend and family is heart-warming and useful. It is good to read how other people handle the delicate issue of explaining to their loved ones why they would want to so something so outlandish as submerger themselves in icy water.
All in all, a very good book, that can help ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things. Copy editing is always an issue, even with the best publishers. Given Justin’s limited means and the minimal effort one imagines was invested by the publisher, the presence of many typos (more so, by the way, in the Wim Hof sections) is unfortunate, but understandable.
I first read this book as a ripped e-pub, but am buying the paper version to support Justin.
May 9, 2021
Ingenuous journal entries of Wim Hoff, the Dutch Man who has trained himself to handle extreme cold and a wide-eyed Midwestern kid trying to build the same. It is endearing, especially thinking back on my first trips to Europe and how similar my thoughts would’ve been as the kid. Some heartfelt moments and small inspirations but if you are looking for insight into cold water training I’d pick up a later one than this.
May 19, 2017
interesting character Wim Hof, had not heard of him, borrowed the book on a whim
mix of extreme endurance athlete and meditation / mental strength advocate with side order of mysticism
did feel he had an interesting story to tell with the challenges he had set and achieved
did get repetitive, in the structure of how overcame these and could have been presented better
felt uncertain when he veered into scientific or medical proclamations
then we have his self appointed disciple, can't fault his enthusiasm
to me, his chapters were poorly written and edited.
This is what I did, then I did this, then this happened, wow, it was great, Wim's amazing
I did not enjoy
mix of extreme endurance athlete and meditation / mental strength advocate with side order of mysticism
did feel he had an interesting story to tell with the challenges he had set and achieved
did get repetitive, in the structure of how overcame these and could have been presented better
felt uncertain when he veered into scientific or medical proclamations
then we have his self appointed disciple, can't fault his enthusiasm
to me, his chapters were poorly written and edited.
This is what I did, then I did this, then this happened, wow, it was great, Wim's amazing
I did not enjoy
May 10, 2018
I was expecting to read more how Wim came to this and his up and down, because Justin's story is not interesting, since he had initial desire which has been heavily supported by Wim and helped him to broke through. But there are 2 things, which I learned from this book:
- embrace and like cold, and try to see a great transforming power in it.
- relax and just do it.
Maybe it is not needed entire book and such take aways can be easily taken from any other such kind of books :).
- embrace and like cold, and try to see a great transforming power in it.
- relax and just do it.
Maybe it is not needed entire book and such take aways can be easily taken from any other such kind of books :).
May 6, 2018
This book could have had so much better potential. I was really excited to hear more about Wim and his process, as well as how to develop those skills better. However the book is just poorly written and there were a lot of egregious mistakes. That being said, the book was still endearing and inspiring, in a quaint sort of way. I wouldn’t read it again.
July 21, 2018
I second anyone who thought the editing was horrible. There are some inspiring stories, but the writing is not good at all.
Seeing how Wim and Justin were able to train their minds and bodies is more effectively relayed with the YouTube videos referenced in the text.
Seeing how Wim and Justin were able to train their minds and bodies is more effectively relayed with the YouTube videos referenced in the text.
September 5, 2017
Content=decent
Writing style=a long undergrad essay where one has a minimum page requirement
Writing style=a long undergrad essay where one has a minimum page requirement
July 10, 2018
A bit self-aggrandizing and false humility. Challenging to go through with it and also several typos. A bit carelessly written.
March 9, 2019
Could use editing for length and grammar. Perhaps intersperse the methods in between the stories for better flow.
October 18, 2019
So badly written and edited that it was a struggle to finish.
September 18, 2023
Ha pasado un tiempo, un gusto estar de regreso al hábito de la lectura:)
No es ningún secreto que no soy fanático de la reciente ola de "opciones alternativas" en torno a temáticas de Autocuidado y Descubrimiento Personal. Todo, desde la lectura del Tarot hasta la naturaleza absurda de las prácticas extremas de yoga, siempre me parece un poco extraño. No es que no crea que estas prácticas puedan generar una sensación de alivio y logro, es más bien que personalmente nunca podría identificarme con ese sentimiento. En la parte superior de esa lista en particular, los baños de hielo fueron probablemente los más alienantes para mí. Todo el concepto de sumergirse en agua helada bajo cero y la metafísica que rodea estos ideales siempre me pareció particularmente "sectario" y extravagante. Irónicamente, fue sólo cuando un amigo cercano me invitó a una práctica que entendí realmente el verdadero propósito del método, y fue entonces cuando decidí comenzar este libro.
Quiero empezar expresando mi más sincero pensamiento de admiración hacia la figura de Wim Hof. Lo más importante que puedo sacar de este libro es que, por encima de todo, el filántropo holandés y autoproclamado "Iceman" Wim Hof es una figura única en la vida. Tengo un cariño particular por este tipo de figuras; Parte de esto, obviamente, se debe a una sensación de celo desatendido al ver y leer las hazañas insondables de estos especímenes extravagantes, lo que en última instancia me hace envidiar su soledad y atención plena como hierro y fuerza. Pero también surge de una sensación de inspiración genuina. Admiro a personas como David Goggins no por sus hazañas y elogios particulares, algunos de los cuales tienen poco o nada que ver conmigo, sino más bien por el hecho de que esas hazañas y elogios ocurrieron en primer lugar. No tengo ninguna duda al respecto y realmente deseo aprender más sobre el concepto de Wim Hof y sus numerosas prácticas. Este libro, por otro lado, aunque entretenido y con información relevante, me pareció un poco deslucido.
La novela se centra en explicar la filosofía y la practicidad de Wim Hof, pero la mayoría de las veces, el libro tiende a divulgar ampliamente la vida personal y los elogios de Wim Hof, lo cual está bien para presentar al lector el punto de vista del autor, pero yo Personalmente sentí que la elaboración excesiva de la vida personal de Wim Hof dañaba la experiencia de lectura en su conjunto. Como comenté antes, hay una delgada línea entre "admiración" y "adoración" por estas figuras, y el autor juega tremendamente con eso. Hay algunos segmentos muy interesantes sobre los efectos mentales del agua fría y la aplicación de la ciencia hipertérmica, pero estas partes luego son abruptamente interrumpidas por segmentos de la vida de Wim.
Entiendo que este no es el único libro del autor, y no estoy en condiciones de evaluar toda su tipografía en base a esto, ya que no he divulgado el resto de su catálogo, así que espero que esto sea solo una exención para este lectura particular, ya que en general creo que una buena elaboración de estos temas podría crear un verdadero impacto. Además de eso, es una lectura relativamente corta, con sólo 298 páginas que se pueden leer en menos de una semana. En términos de tema, es muy interesante y extenso, pero en términos de ejecución, parece mediocre. Realmente no puedo recomendar esto a todo el mundo.
No es ningún secreto que no soy fanático de la reciente ola de "opciones alternativas" en torno a temáticas de Autocuidado y Descubrimiento Personal. Todo, desde la lectura del Tarot hasta la naturaleza absurda de las prácticas extremas de yoga, siempre me parece un poco extraño. No es que no crea que estas prácticas puedan generar una sensación de alivio y logro, es más bien que personalmente nunca podría identificarme con ese sentimiento. En la parte superior de esa lista en particular, los baños de hielo fueron probablemente los más alienantes para mí. Todo el concepto de sumergirse en agua helada bajo cero y la metafísica que rodea estos ideales siempre me pareció particularmente "sectario" y extravagante. Irónicamente, fue sólo cuando un amigo cercano me invitó a una práctica que entendí realmente el verdadero propósito del método, y fue entonces cuando decidí comenzar este libro.
Quiero empezar expresando mi más sincero pensamiento de admiración hacia la figura de Wim Hof. Lo más importante que puedo sacar de este libro es que, por encima de todo, el filántropo holandés y autoproclamado "Iceman" Wim Hof es una figura única en la vida. Tengo un cariño particular por este tipo de figuras; Parte de esto, obviamente, se debe a una sensación de celo desatendido al ver y leer las hazañas insondables de estos especímenes extravagantes, lo que en última instancia me hace envidiar su soledad y atención plena como hierro y fuerza. Pero también surge de una sensación de inspiración genuina. Admiro a personas como David Goggins no por sus hazañas y elogios particulares, algunos de los cuales tienen poco o nada que ver conmigo, sino más bien por el hecho de que esas hazañas y elogios ocurrieron en primer lugar. No tengo ninguna duda al respecto y realmente deseo aprender más sobre el concepto de Wim Hof y sus numerosas prácticas. Este libro, por otro lado, aunque entretenido y con información relevante, me pareció un poco deslucido.
La novela se centra en explicar la filosofía y la practicidad de Wim Hof, pero la mayoría de las veces, el libro tiende a divulgar ampliamente la vida personal y los elogios de Wim Hof, lo cual está bien para presentar al lector el punto de vista del autor, pero yo Personalmente sentí que la elaboración excesiva de la vida personal de Wim Hof dañaba la experiencia de lectura en su conjunto. Como comenté antes, hay una delgada línea entre "admiración" y "adoración" por estas figuras, y el autor juega tremendamente con eso. Hay algunos segmentos muy interesantes sobre los efectos mentales del agua fría y la aplicación de la ciencia hipertérmica, pero estas partes luego son abruptamente interrumpidas por segmentos de la vida de Wim.
Entiendo que este no es el único libro del autor, y no estoy en condiciones de evaluar toda su tipografía en base a esto, ya que no he divulgado el resto de su catálogo, así que espero que esto sea solo una exención para este lectura particular, ya que en general creo que una buena elaboración de estos temas podría crear un verdadero impacto. Además de eso, es una lectura relativamente corta, con sólo 298 páginas que se pueden leer en menos de una semana. En términos de tema, es muy interesante y extenso, pero en términos de ejecución, parece mediocre. Realmente no puedo recomendar esto a todo el mundo.
November 28, 2020
First rate. This is not actually written by Wim himself, but it's the story of a young man, Justin Rosales, who hears about Wim and his method and decides to not only try it out but contact Wim directly and get instruction from the master himself. Justin is a naive but optimistic young man who follows his instinct and achieves amazing results. With very little preparation, he launches himself into the method in a rather hap-hazard way, or so it seemed to me who had the benefit of following along with the Wim Hof Method app and a 10-week introduction course with videos, explanatory notes, etc., etc. Justin had none of that.
I read this in January 2018, and it inspired me to get cracking and give this a try. I stuck with the cold showers for a year, starting January 1st. This was after watching a few YouTube videos on Wim and the Method and before I bought the 10-week course.
Not as methodical or as supported by scientific evidence as Wim's other and more recent books, but I found it entrancing and highly memorable. I think Justin has intuitively understood what Wim is all about at a deep level. From the way Wim treated him, it seems Wim saw qualities in Justin that set him a little apart from most. He is neither a cynic eager to expose Wim as a quack, nor a starry-eyed groupie (well, maybe a little starry-eyed): he is quick (alarmingly so, I thought) to put Wim's ideas into practice even before he properly understands them or the risks. Typical teenager!
A very inspiring book, and one that I plan to re-read soon for that very quality.
(This review refers to the Kindle version.)
I read this in January 2018, and it inspired me to get cracking and give this a try. I stuck with the cold showers for a year, starting January 1st. This was after watching a few YouTube videos on Wim and the Method and before I bought the 10-week course.
Not as methodical or as supported by scientific evidence as Wim's other and more recent books, but I found it entrancing and highly memorable. I think Justin has intuitively understood what Wim is all about at a deep level. From the way Wim treated him, it seems Wim saw qualities in Justin that set him a little apart from most. He is neither a cynic eager to expose Wim as a quack, nor a starry-eyed groupie (well, maybe a little starry-eyed): he is quick (alarmingly so, I thought) to put Wim's ideas into practice even before he properly understands them or the risks. Typical teenager!
A very inspiring book, and one that I plan to re-read soon for that very quality.
(This review refers to the Kindle version.)
July 14, 2021
The spirit of Wim has fascinated me since I first heard of him. He clearly thinks in a different way than the average person. I believe he just chooses not to see limits, and if he wants to achieve something, he simply decides he can and puts in the work without doubts, while following his inner guidance.
As for Justin, I found him to be a little bit too much on the cautious side. Constantly anxious, constantly worried even if nothing was happening to him. I mean it happens to all of us to an extent but his goal is to become the next iceman. In order to do this he needs to release his fear and almost constant over thinking about his safety, in my opinion. His heart is good and likable anyway, I think his intentions are pure.
Finally, while the premise of the book is just wonderful and has so much potential to make a best seller, the writing left a lot to be desired. I found spelling errors and grammatical errors consistently throughout the entire thing. Even the layout of the book and placement of the chapters could have used a lot of improvement. I know that English isn’t Wims first language so I’ll cut him a break. The book would benefit from an editor who is proficient in English.
Good book, great story. I love Wim, and the hearts of these guys are gold. It would have been better with a good editor.
As for Justin, I found him to be a little bit too much on the cautious side. Constantly anxious, constantly worried even if nothing was happening to him. I mean it happens to all of us to an extent but his goal is to become the next iceman. In order to do this he needs to release his fear and almost constant over thinking about his safety, in my opinion. His heart is good and likable anyway, I think his intentions are pure.
Finally, while the premise of the book is just wonderful and has so much potential to make a best seller, the writing left a lot to be desired. I found spelling errors and grammatical errors consistently throughout the entire thing. Even the layout of the book and placement of the chapters could have used a lot of improvement. I know that English isn’t Wims first language so I’ll cut him a break. The book would benefit from an editor who is proficient in English.
Good book, great story. I love Wim, and the hearts of these guys are gold. It would have been better with a good editor.
December 27, 2025
The spirit of Wim has fascinated me since I first heard of him. He clearly thinks in a different way than the average person. I believe he just chooses not to see limits, and if he wants to achieve something, he simply decides he can and puts in the work without doubts, while following his inner guidance.
As for Justin, I found him to be a little bit too much on the cautious side. Constantly anxious, constantly worried even if nothing was happening to him. I mean it happens to all of us to an extent but his goal is to become the next iceman. In order to do this he needs to release his fear and almost constant over thinking about his safety, in my opinion. His heart is good and likable anyway, I think his intentions are pure.
Finally, while the premise of the book is just wonderful and has so much potential to make a best seller, the writing left a lot to be desired. I found spelling errors and grammatical errors consistently throughout the entire thing. Even the layout of the book and placement of the chapters could have used a lot of improvement. I know that English isn’t Wims first language so I’ll cut him a break. The book would benefit from an editor who is proficient in English.
Good book, great story. I love Wim, and the hearts of these guys are gold. It would have been better with a good editor.
As for Justin, I found him to be a little bit too much on the cautious side. Constantly anxious, constantly worried even if nothing was happening to him. I mean it happens to all of us to an extent but his goal is to become the next iceman. In order to do this he needs to release his fear and almost constant over thinking about his safety, in my opinion. His heart is good and likable anyway, I think his intentions are pure.
Finally, while the premise of the book is just wonderful and has so much potential to make a best seller, the writing left a lot to be desired. I found spelling errors and grammatical errors consistently throughout the entire thing. Even the layout of the book and placement of the chapters could have used a lot of improvement. I know that English isn’t Wims first language so I’ll cut him a break. The book would benefit from an editor who is proficient in English.
Good book, great story. I love Wim, and the hearts of these guys are gold. It would have been better with a good editor.
November 10, 2023
"Becoming the Iceman" is the third book that I have read concerning the Wim Hof method as I have found significant improvement by practicing these methods in terms of my stamina and energy levels. "Becoming the Iceman" seems to be a collaborative effort between the Iceman, Wim Hof, and Justin Rosales, his student. Although these are helpful suggestions in continuing one's practice, Wim Hof's previous books cover the basic information. "The Wim Hof Method Activate Your Human Potential" would be an excellent choice. However, there are some advanced practices that seem dangerous and unnecessary without proper precautions and safeguards. One was Justin Rosales swimming in extreme deep cold water where he could have easily drowned and another where Justin Rosales catapulting down a mountain without the proper safety equipment. Due to the foregoing, this book presents a mixed bag with a review of two stars. More appropriate safeguards would have earned this book a higher rating.
February 3, 2024
I listened on audio and really enjoyed this! It may have been a little annoying to read in a physical book because of the writing style, but audio was a good listen!
A college student named Justin describes his experience learning to do cold swims and run barefoot on snow. (Among other things). His experiences are mixed in with glimpses of Wim's much more noteworthy achievements. I haven't read "The Wim Hof Method" yet, but my husband says this seems like the gentle version of that book as the Wim Hof Method contains Wim's full and rather sad story and this book only contains a few of Wim's highlights.
I was pleasantly surprised that in the 10th anniversary edition, Justin shares how learning the depths his body was capable of strengthened his Christian faith. This is actually a heavy theme throughout, so it makes it a sort of light Christian-inspiration read.
A college student named Justin describes his experience learning to do cold swims and run barefoot on snow. (Among other things). His experiences are mixed in with glimpses of Wim's much more noteworthy achievements. I haven't read "The Wim Hof Method" yet, but my husband says this seems like the gentle version of that book as the Wim Hof Method contains Wim's full and rather sad story and this book only contains a few of Wim's highlights.
I was pleasantly surprised that in the 10th anniversary edition, Justin shares how learning the depths his body was capable of strengthened his Christian faith. This is actually a heavy theme throughout, so it makes it a sort of light Christian-inspiration read.
April 17, 2020
The writing is really really bad, as the other reviewers have already pointed out. I almost turned down the book after the first few chapters, but kept on.... and I'm glad I did. As poor as the writing is, the stories of Wim Hof and Justin are inspiring, really inspiring. I motivated me to incorporate cold showers in my daily routine and enjoy the numerous health benefits that Wim Hof is an extreme example of (I mean, 39 bpm resting heart rate at more than 50? Controlling the autonomic nervous system consciously? That's something everyone should strive for).
So thanks to the authors for the inspiring book.
So thanks to the authors for the inspiring book.
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