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Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus
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.
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.
552 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2025
22 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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John Little
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 2, 2025
It would be impossible not to have a sense of bias here considering the author is my dad, but I can genuinely say that this was a fantastic read.
Without pumping its tires too much, this honestly reminded me of when I read Oppenheimer’s book. The way he corralled an entire life into the most important moments without missing any details, while also making the subject matter (that is generally uninteresting to me) digestible and engaging is truly impressive.
Not only does he identify the big moments of Mike’s life, but he’s also able to weave a narrative thread throughout that finds the deeper meaning of each moment and connects the significance of all these moments to paint the bigger picture of who Mike was.
Of course, as my dad wrote it, the deeper, more personal moments when he relates his personal stories with Mike hit me harder as I have direct relationships with the author. However, I’m impressed with how well he’s able to stay objective throughout the entire book; never being afraid to show the darker sides of Mike’s life, and only presenting facts to allow readers to draw their own conclusions based on them. As he’s said before, this isn’t a story of good and bad, this is a human story, and you feel that all the way through.
This was completely and 100% honestly one of the best books I’ve read in a while. The thought, detail and effort that went in alone make it worth reading, but learning the story of a man who you likely have never heard of, but came so close to make it a Shakespearean tragedy.
Without pumping its tires too much, this honestly reminded me of when I read Oppenheimer’s book. The way he corralled an entire life into the most important moments without missing any details, while also making the subject matter (that is generally uninteresting to me) digestible and engaging is truly impressive.
Not only does he identify the big moments of Mike’s life, but he’s also able to weave a narrative thread throughout that finds the deeper meaning of each moment and connects the significance of all these moments to paint the bigger picture of who Mike was.
Of course, as my dad wrote it, the deeper, more personal moments when he relates his personal stories with Mike hit me harder as I have direct relationships with the author. However, I’m impressed with how well he’s able to stay objective throughout the entire book; never being afraid to show the darker sides of Mike’s life, and only presenting facts to allow readers to draw their own conclusions based on them. As he’s said before, this isn’t a story of good and bad, this is a human story, and you feel that all the way through.
This was completely and 100% honestly one of the best books I’ve read in a while. The thought, detail and effort that went in alone make it worth reading, but learning the story of a man who you likely have never heard of, but came so close to make it a Shakespearean tragedy.
December 22, 2025
Mike Mentzer’s life was, at the same time, unfortunately tragic and deeply inspiring.
My main reservation is that the biography focuses too heavily on Mike Mentzer’s relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Overall, the narrative feels almost centered on Arnold’s influence, from the 1970s onward, while the later half of Mike’s life is treated more as background.
If the claims made about this relationship are true, then they are true—but I’m not convinced they should define the biography. I think the book would have been profound if it had emphasized Mentzer more clearly as a pioneering thinker who inspired people to strengthen themselves and realize human potential, especially through his rational, principle-driven approach.
I remember seeing a 1990s interview where Mentzer spoke positively—but briefly—about Arnold, noting that Arnold applied the same drive he used in bodybuilding to filmmaking, which made him successful. Perhaps the relationship wasn’t that bad in the end.
For that reason, I believe Mike Mentzer’s life can still be viewed, at its core, as deeply positive and inspiring, despite its tragic elements.
I strongly suspect, that this may become John Little’s most widely read book.
My main reservation is that the biography focuses too heavily on Mike Mentzer’s relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Overall, the narrative feels almost centered on Arnold’s influence, from the 1970s onward, while the later half of Mike’s life is treated more as background.
If the claims made about this relationship are true, then they are true—but I’m not convinced they should define the biography. I think the book would have been profound if it had emphasized Mentzer more clearly as a pioneering thinker who inspired people to strengthen themselves and realize human potential, especially through his rational, principle-driven approach.
I remember seeing a 1990s interview where Mentzer spoke positively—but briefly—about Arnold, noting that Arnold applied the same drive he used in bodybuilding to filmmaking, which made him successful. Perhaps the relationship wasn’t that bad in the end.
For that reason, I believe Mike Mentzer’s life can still be viewed, at its core, as deeply positive and inspiring, despite its tragic elements.
I strongly suspect, that this may become John Little’s most widely read book.
June 9, 2025
This book was absolutely amazing. The best biography I have read
February 7, 2025
Thank you to ECW Press via NetGalley for reaching out to see if I'd be interested in reading Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus by John Little. My review was published on Friday 7th February 2025 at www.equinoxx.info. Here's the main part of the post:
Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus by John Little chronicles the life of a maverick bodybuilder. I believe the best way to describe the man in a few short words - other than a 'maverick bodybuilder' - is as a person who dreamt big and achieved almost all of his goals in the evidently suspect world of bodybuilding.
The biographer was a fan, friend and colleague of Mike Mentzer. That made me confident to know I would get a thorough spotlight on the book's subject. John Little did an excellent job here. His own knowledge and research is backed up with a plethora of sources. A twenty-one year friendship with Mentzer sure was a bonus because Little was able to quote email exchanges the pair had over the latter part of Mentzer's life.
As mentioned above, I consider Mentzer to be a 'maverick' because he took an approach to bodybuilding which was against what would have them been considered the norm. Mentzer's use of one of his mentor's - Arthur Jones - Nautilus training machines, and for shorter periods in contrast to the heavy sessions executed by other bodybuilders at the time, was one of the first of a handful of things which stood Mentzer out from tradition. And it resulted in success. Along with criticism from certain people with their own agendas.
In that era, the industry was Godfathered by the Weider Brothers, Joe and Ben, who co-founded the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB). The brothers had their hands in a lot of pies in that industry. Joe was of the pioneers in using his bodybuilding magazines to market his nutritional supplements.
Mentzer's approaches to bodybuilding contradicted the vertical integration of the Weider magazines plugging Weider products because his strategies - using the machines - conflicted with the teachings of the Weider models.
One major thing I took away from Little's coverage of the bodybuilding world, especially with the Weiders running the show, is that it was not too dissimilar to a world I believe I know fairly well - Professional Wrestling.
The history of pro wrestling will cover a number of double crosses here and there. Coming out of reading John Little's biography, I get the sense the story of bodybuilding cannot be told without covering the controversy which was the Mr. Olympia event from 1980.
On that occasion, Arnold Schwarzenegger - who had been retired from competition for years - was a surprise entrant and ended up being voted as the winner.
The events leading into the contest had me shaking my head as Little played out what happened. Mentzer was one of the favourites entering the contest because he had Mr America and Mr. Universal wins on his resume. He was seen as one of Schwarzenegger's rivals at the time. I think it's safe to conclude that Mentzer finishing in fifth place was not by design. Little allows the reader to draw their own conclusion, but I came away from that section of the book feeling everyone was robbed that day.
To further point out just how much of a questionable contest the Mr. Olympia '80 was - CBS travelled to Sydney Opera House to film the event, but its decision makers chose not to air any of the footage because they felt shenanigans were at play.
Through reading the biography, it becomes clear that Mentzer's mind itself suffers from the body's wins and downfalls. The bodybuilder was well-educated and applied his psychology knowledge in his bodybuilding training and teachings (through certain parts of his life Mentzer shared his methods through writing articles, mail order programmes and as a gym instructor). We learn during the early part of the biography that Mentzer's mother had a mental illness. By its close we see Mike himself have his own battles with psychological disorders.
It's the latter part of the book which, even though was very sad for most of it, was what I thought was the strongest. That's because John Little is able to share with you his own interactions with Mentzer in what was then Mike's last years. I believe the best books about about people are first, and foremost, autobiographies. However, the next - in the order of preference - are biographies by people that actually knew their subject on a personal level. You can tell John Little was a good pal to Mike Mentzer especially in those later years. Little's experience as a friend allowed this reader to see more about Mentzer than any other biography focused on the bodybuilder.
I've purposely left Mike's little brother - Ray - until now because I wanted to share something about him to close out my thoughts on the biography.
We're introduced to Ray at the start of the book. Ray is there throughout always behind Ray right through childhood. We witness Ray follow in his brother's footsteps as he made his own career in bodybuilding. Little was able to explore a dynamic between Ray and Mike which put a spotlight on Ray wanting to compete with his brother in life whether it be as the better son in their father's eyes or as the equal (or more) to Mike in bodybuilding.
When we see Mike pass away in 2001, we also witness Ray die two days later. Ray following his brother in death, just like he did in life, was not lost on me.
I came away from Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus knowing a heck of a lot more about the bodybuilding world than I did before opening the book. I learned all about Mike and Ray Mentzer and their unique, and ultimately - tragic, lives.
John Little has gone one better than Wrath of the Dragon with this title. Back in 2023, I gave the Bruce Lee biography four stars. Therefore, I have to go one better.
Five Stars!
Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus by John Little chronicles the life of a maverick bodybuilder. I believe the best way to describe the man in a few short words - other than a 'maverick bodybuilder' - is as a person who dreamt big and achieved almost all of his goals in the evidently suspect world of bodybuilding.
The biographer was a fan, friend and colleague of Mike Mentzer. That made me confident to know I would get a thorough spotlight on the book's subject. John Little did an excellent job here. His own knowledge and research is backed up with a plethora of sources. A twenty-one year friendship with Mentzer sure was a bonus because Little was able to quote email exchanges the pair had over the latter part of Mentzer's life.
As mentioned above, I consider Mentzer to be a 'maverick' because he took an approach to bodybuilding which was against what would have them been considered the norm. Mentzer's use of one of his mentor's - Arthur Jones - Nautilus training machines, and for shorter periods in contrast to the heavy sessions executed by other bodybuilders at the time, was one of the first of a handful of things which stood Mentzer out from tradition. And it resulted in success. Along with criticism from certain people with their own agendas.
In that era, the industry was Godfathered by the Weider Brothers, Joe and Ben, who co-founded the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB). The brothers had their hands in a lot of pies in that industry. Joe was of the pioneers in using his bodybuilding magazines to market his nutritional supplements.
Mentzer's approaches to bodybuilding contradicted the vertical integration of the Weider magazines plugging Weider products because his strategies - using the machines - conflicted with the teachings of the Weider models.
One major thing I took away from Little's coverage of the bodybuilding world, especially with the Weiders running the show, is that it was not too dissimilar to a world I believe I know fairly well - Professional Wrestling.
The history of pro wrestling will cover a number of double crosses here and there. Coming out of reading John Little's biography, I get the sense the story of bodybuilding cannot be told without covering the controversy which was the Mr. Olympia event from 1980.
On that occasion, Arnold Schwarzenegger - who had been retired from competition for years - was a surprise entrant and ended up being voted as the winner.
The events leading into the contest had me shaking my head as Little played out what happened. Mentzer was one of the favourites entering the contest because he had Mr America and Mr. Universal wins on his resume. He was seen as one of Schwarzenegger's rivals at the time. I think it's safe to conclude that Mentzer finishing in fifth place was not by design. Little allows the reader to draw their own conclusion, but I came away from that section of the book feeling everyone was robbed that day.
To further point out just how much of a questionable contest the Mr. Olympia '80 was - CBS travelled to Sydney Opera House to film the event, but its decision makers chose not to air any of the footage because they felt shenanigans were at play.
Through reading the biography, it becomes clear that Mentzer's mind itself suffers from the body's wins and downfalls. The bodybuilder was well-educated and applied his psychology knowledge in his bodybuilding training and teachings (through certain parts of his life Mentzer shared his methods through writing articles, mail order programmes and as a gym instructor). We learn during the early part of the biography that Mentzer's mother had a mental illness. By its close we see Mike himself have his own battles with psychological disorders.
It's the latter part of the book which, even though was very sad for most of it, was what I thought was the strongest. That's because John Little is able to share with you his own interactions with Mentzer in what was then Mike's last years. I believe the best books about about people are first, and foremost, autobiographies. However, the next - in the order of preference - are biographies by people that actually knew their subject on a personal level. You can tell John Little was a good pal to Mike Mentzer especially in those later years. Little's experience as a friend allowed this reader to see more about Mentzer than any other biography focused on the bodybuilder.
I've purposely left Mike's little brother - Ray - until now because I wanted to share something about him to close out my thoughts on the biography.
We're introduced to Ray at the start of the book. Ray is there throughout always behind Ray right through childhood. We witness Ray follow in his brother's footsteps as he made his own career in bodybuilding. Little was able to explore a dynamic between Ray and Mike which put a spotlight on Ray wanting to compete with his brother in life whether it be as the better son in their father's eyes or as the equal (or more) to Mike in bodybuilding.
When we see Mike pass away in 2001, we also witness Ray die two days later. Ray following his brother in death, just like he did in life, was not lost on me.
I came away from Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus knowing a heck of a lot more about the bodybuilding world than I did before opening the book. I learned all about Mike and Ray Mentzer and their unique, and ultimately - tragic, lives.
John Little has gone one better than Wrath of the Dragon with this title. Back in 2023, I gave the Bruce Lee biography four stars. Therefore, I have to go one better.
Five Stars!
September 8, 2025
An intriguing look into the world of bodybuilding, and one of the industry's forgotten heroes. It's fortunate that Mike is having a renaissance as of late, it's what drove me to read this book.
We all know Arnold. Many know about Ronnie, Jay, and other heavyweights of the body building world, but Mike was someone I'd never heard of until I started taking my own training at the gym somewhat seriously.
The more I heard about him, the more I wanted to learn about him. And this book delivered on that in every way. From his beginning, his challenges with the IFBB, to his struggles with mental health, it covers everything one would want to know about Mentzer and his life, training, and philosophy.
An excellent read.
We all know Arnold. Many know about Ronnie, Jay, and other heavyweights of the body building world, but Mike was someone I'd never heard of until I started taking my own training at the gym somewhat seriously.
The more I heard about him, the more I wanted to learn about him. And this book delivered on that in every way. From his beginning, his challenges with the IFBB, to his struggles with mental health, it covers everything one would want to know about Mentzer and his life, training, and philosophy.
An excellent read.
September 4, 2025
This is an exceptional biography. It is a tragedy, as it tracks faithfully the life of Mike Mentzer, who was a phenomenal bodybuilder and who possessed a substantial intellect. Mentzer was a bodybuilding iconoclast who changed the way many of the bodybuilding fraternity thought about training. The book also faithfully portrays the grotesque antics and machinations of the politics in that field in the 20th century. The behaviour of many famous persons is clearly outlined for the shameful disgrace that it was. Brilliantly researched, clearly referenced and written with the excellence of a great author and the sensitivity a compassionate profoundly decent friend. A wonderful book.
November 22, 2025
1/3 a history of the sport of bodybuilding, 1/3 a biography of Mike Mentzer, and 1/3 a scathing condemnation of Arnold Schwarzenegger & the Weider brothers.
December 5, 2025
John Little has provided a remarkable service to the memory of Mike Mentzer through this book. An amazing read and highly recommended.
December 11, 2025
A well written and very interesting story of a bodybuilder, a philosopher and a contrarian.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews