Muscle: The Gripping Story of Strength and Movement

by Roy A. Meals

An entertaining illustrated deep dive into muscle, from the discovery of human anatomy to the latest science of strength training. Muscle tissue powers every heartbeat, blink, jog, jump, and goosebump. It is the force behind the most critical bodily functions, including digestion and childbirth, as well as extreme feats of athleticism. We can mold our muscles with exercise and observe the results. In this lively, lucid book, orthopedic surgeon Roy A. Meals takes us on a wide-ranging journey through anatomy, biology, history, and health to unlock the mysteries of our muscles. He breaks down the three different types of muscle―smooth, skeletal, and cardiac―and explores major advancements in medicine and fitness, including cutting-edge gene-editing research and the science behind popular muscle conditioning strategies. Along the way, he offers insight into the changing aesthetic and cultural conception of muscle, from Michelangelo’s David to present-day bodybuilders, and shares fascinating examples of strange muscular maladies and their treatment. Brimming with fun facts and infectious enthusiasm, Muscle sheds light on the astonishing, essential tissue that moves us through life. 90 illustrations

288 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2024

About the author

Roy Meals is an orthopedic surgeon and an avid outdoor enthusiast. He grew up in suburban Kansas City, attended Rice University (BA). and Vanderbilt University (MD). He performed his orthopedic surgery residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and hand surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Along the way, he served as a general medical officer (Major) in the USAF before joining the faculty at UCLA, where he continues to practice, teach, investigate, and write about the musculoskeletal system.

He has served as editor in chief for the Journal of Hand Surgery and as President of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Away from work, he has hiked, walked, and/or bicycled on all 7 continents and ardently gardens at home in Los Angeles.