Lift: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives

by Anne Marie Chaker

From a professional bodybuilder and longtime Wall Street Journal reporter, a manifesto on how women can radically change their lives by tapping into their innate physical power

When Wall Street Journal reporter Anne Marie Chaker discovered bodybuilding as a hobby in midlife, she was recovering from a series of traumas, including postpartum depression, the end of her marriage, and the sudden death of her father. By throwing herself into strength training and stretching her body beyond what she imagined to be its limits, she began to regain confidence. Slowly, she challenged the deeply entrenched body insecurities she realized she’d long held, and her life changed in ways she never could have imagined.

In Lift, Chaker explores the forces that have led generations of women to internalize the message that they should make themselves smaller and explains why, instead, building muscle not only creates long lasting health, but also empowers us. Along the way, she highlights research that dismantles the conventional story of women’s bodies. As Chaker argues, strength training can help women find true power and confidence that goes far beyond how we it can dramatically shift how we move through the world, reshape how we respond to setbacks, and transform how we see our value. And science shows that increasing muscle mass can help protect women’s bodies from the effects of aging. Most important, it rewrites the message we send the next generation once and for all and will help girls step into their power from a young age.

Bridging narrative storytelling with empowering and actionable takeaways, including advice on how to start a training program, Lift is a rallying cry and inspiring guide to help women to get stronger for life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Fitness, Science, Sports, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published June 17, 2025

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is organized into three sections and feels like three different books that deserve three different ratings: 5⭐️ for Part One, 3⭐️ for Part Two, and 1⭐️ for Part Three.

Part One (Pull: Pulling Back the Curtain on the Story of Women's Bodies) is fabulous. It’s what I thought the whole book was going to be. I was disappointed when there were only three chapters of it. There’s so much more to be said here. The profiles of both historical and current women were excellent, as were as the descriptions of how skinny culture became a thing.

Part Two (Push: Building a Longer Life and Empowering a New Generation) is good but starts heading downhill. Chaker’s narration grows continually more out of touch, leaning more and more on her hale and hearty personal experience. Building muscle comes easily to her—she admits as much. There really aren’t any setback tales of injuries or illnesses. There’s one story of a woman with lupus, but otherwise there are little to no acknowledgments of how chronic illness can affect the ability to work out. It can take a woman years to grow from fearing the gym or having traumatic experiences related to exercise to having the pleasurable experience Chaker seems to take for granted:

I think the best piece of advice I can give you as you begin your strength-training practice is to avoid wanting to see differences in your body right away. These things take time. Instead, focus on the pleasure of the routine. When I step into the gym, there is a rubbery smell of equipment. I associate that smell with me time, so even before I do a single exercise, I already feel better. This investment of time and energy belongs to you-it's a space you've carved out from the bustle of life to take care of yourself. Put the emphasis on the feelings of accomplishment you get throughout your workout: the pleasure you gain from moving, the sensation of your muscles being activated, and after you've completed an exercise, the satisfaction of finishing.


Part Three (Lift: Taking Our Bodies Back) is even more out of touch, and potentially harmful. The form cues she gives for lifts leave out the torso and back, which are crucial for healthy and sustainable movement. She mixes beginner and advanced moves largely without differentiation. And then the diet section. That just needs to go. Whatever editor approved “I throw some tuna on a rice cake or eat it with leftover white rice, and I feel totally satisfied” should be sentenced to a week of eating only that. Honorable mentions go to “I usually keep eight to ten bags of frozen shrimp around” and “everyone eats from that big, delicious bowl of mess” when referring to celery leaves and radishes. (The sentence “In general, make sure the foods are whole and cooked and not from a box, and you'll do all right.” is another example of her lack of self-awareness. Plenty of not-awful foods come in boxes, and for most of the population, they can be a net positive, allowing worn out folks more time for things like building a gym routine instead of chopping up a big bowl of radishes).

Overall I’m bummed. I was fully planning on recommending this book far and wide while I read the first few chapters, but now if I do, I’ll tell people to stick with Part One. I wish the whole book followed its example.

[Caroline Winer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the start of the book which focused on the pressures women face to shrink their bodies rather than strengthen it. Especially the focus on the direct relationship between increasing pressure to be thin and increasing women’s rights. But the diet and food talk is definitely giving orthorexia.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's feminist message devolved into some orthorexic and out-of-date nutritional and exercise advice.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the beginning but then it turned into a weight lifting for dummies book and I didn’t need that.

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lift" by Anne Marie Chaker is an empowering read, especially for anyone passionate about women's health. What truly resonated with me were the powerful themes of women's empowerment, which left me feeling both uplifted and not alone in my fitness journey.

Chaker's journalistic nature shines throughout the book, making it a compelling and well-researched listen. I loved all the research she cited, particularly her work to dispel common misconceptions about women's strength training, like the fear of "getting too bulky" or being afraid to take up space. She also provides a wealth of information on the benefits of training for longevity and improving quality of life, especially for women as they face increased risks of sarcopenia and bone loss.

I was fascinated to learn about the historical context, including how the media shaped the perception of women's body image, the stories of early strongwomen from circus disciplines, and the significant role women played in hunter-gatherer culture. This historical perspective added a rich layer to the discussion of women and strength.

While I enjoyed the audiobook format overall, I found that some of the information on bodybuilding dragged out a bit, and the ending with detailed nutrition information and recipes would probably be better to read in a physical copy of the book.

Overall, this is a must-read for its insightful content, empowering message, and the compelling way it champions women's strength and health for longevity.

[Micha Goebig · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. I enjoyed the first part about the history of female body images and expectations but she lost me in part three where she lists on and on in detail which exercises she does. It feels like she wants to talk to everybody and this way makes it boring for people who know what to do at the gym and totally overwhelming for beginners. Who STARTS a workout routine with three strength days a week that involve 3 sets of 10 push-ups??? Or even a single pull-up? Also, I would not recommend that anybody starts lifting barbells without a trainer by watching someone’s IG account. That seems like an injury waiting to happen.

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thousand thank you’s to @prhaudio @avery_books for the gifted copy

Book Report: Lift
First Glance: Stunning, the color combo and that beautiful bicep, IN LOVE
Swipe over for a few highlights —>

The Jist: Anne Marie Chaker shares her bodybuilding discovery with actionable takeaways that inspire all that read it.

My Thoughts: I loved every minute of this short/direct novel. It gives a peek into a sport I knew very little about. Women bodybuilders are legit rockstars!!! Shout out to my friend @tiffanielf Lift shares a bit of the science, and the journey behind the sport that takes pure heart and dedication. I went audio route, which was narrated by the author herself and was perfection! I also recommend a physical copy, towards the end it has an in depth look at some stretches, body weight strength movements, a look at building a home gym, a Five Day Sample Meal Plan and some of Anne’s favorite weighted exercises... through pictures but text and would be easy to tab or highlight/revisit. The book finishes with a not to miss epilogue and touching acknowledgments. I recommend Lift to anyone looking to feel inspired or a sense of Girl Power!

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Lindsey Pressler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and a good introduction to fitness if you’re just getting started. Some of the advice was extremely helpful and relatable. Other sections will not for me personally (I will not be eating 7 egg whites as a meal, thank you).

I did catch a couple factual errors though, so as always in the fitness world, please take what you read with a grain of salt and double check.
* Pg. 177 - citation 6 refers to a study that according to the summary, measured hormones associated with muscle growth, not the muscles themselves as the author reports. It’s possible I’m wrong since I did not access the whole article, but a 60% muscle loss in 72 hrs seems very steep considering elderly bedridden patients lose 1–3% a day.
* Pg. 188 - ideal body weight is a medical term with associated formulas, but this was not discussed and just included with the “eat your body weight in protein” recommendation.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing new, I recommend A Physical Education instead and a dozen other fantastic books on women and strength training. . The chapters on tips were so basic, it was hard to keep listening.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I learned firsthand that when women are good to one another and supportive of each other’s goals they really benefit moreso than men.”

“…women shine when they have a network of strong supportive women.”

“Women’s bodies are badass. We live longer than men. We bring life into the world.”

“When you have people next to you who are active, you’re more likely to become more active.”

“If strong scares them, that’s their problem.”

This was such a motivating book that talks about how lifting and exercising in general is beneficial…moreso than most realize.

It also discusses how important it is to have children be comfortable with exercising and doing strength training from a young age so that when they get older, they’re more comfortable with doing that. It will serve them well in the future.

I also liked that she discussed various exercises and gave instructions on proper form.

It’s such a motivating book and she’s such a motivating force which shines through on the page!

💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[Tamara Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Lift: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives” is a nonfiction book focusing on how women can transform their lives by engaging in regular weight training or strength-based exercises.

The book consists of an introduction, seven chapters divided into three parts, an epilogue, acknowledgements, notes, and an index.

In the introduction, author Anne Marie Chaker transports the reader to the 2014 in which Chaker is experiencing postpartum depression after the birth of her second daughter, the unexpectedly death of her father, marriage in crisis, and binge drinking. In February 2019, Chaker’s life changes when she discovers a hotel fitness area while out of town coaching her daughter’s ice hockey tournament and meets a woman who tells her about bikini competitions in the sport of bodybuilding. As the introduction progresses, Chaker begins to focus on improving her nutrition while completing daily weight-based workouts and is impressed by how her mind and body responds. Chaker eventually participates in her first bikini competition and is happily surprised when she placed first in three or the four divisions, and second place in her class each her a coveted bodybuilder pro card. The introduction ends either Chaker sharing with the reader how bodybuilding redefined femininity for her and encourages the female reader to reject brainwashing of being skinny and instead focus on becoming stronger as well as building oneself up by lifting weights.

Part one, “Pull: Pulling Back the Curtain on the Story of Women’s Bodies” begins with Chaker sharing with the reader her personal experience of feeling inadequate because she didn’t look like the skinny girls in 1980s teen magazines and her body didn’t fit that of a figure skater or collegiate rower. As part one progresses, it was interesting to read of a past point in history when women wanted to weight more as a sign of wealth in the 1870s but by 1899, the war on weight has begun with women being fed the ideal to be slim and weight being viewed as gluttony. As time progresses, readers see the transformation from being praised for being overweight to being rail thin, developing eating disorders, fad diets, the creation of diet pills, and the introduction of vanity sizing. Part one ends with Chaker sharing with the reader strongwomen of the past including “The Great Sandwina,” Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Abbye “Pudgy” Stockton, roller derby girls, and more recently, GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.)

Part two, “Push: Building a Longer Life and Empowering a New Generation” begins with Chaker explaining how she didn’t really think about the aging process until she was well into her forties and how weight training is beneficial especially during by years when she experienced perimenopause. As part two progresses, it was interesting to learn that weight-bearing exercise using one’s own bodyweight can also have a similar effect of building strength as strength training using dumbbells and other weights and the term “muscle maturity” which is only achieved after years of training. Part two ends with Chaker describing five techniques to model positive strength training habits for your children (if applicable) leading them to value their bodies and view strong women as normal and increase self-confidence which will serve them well in their adult lives.

Part three, “Lift: Taking Our Bodies Back” begins by Chaker directing the reader on how to shift their mindset to staying on track in the quest to become stronger including surround yourself with yay-sayers or positive peer influences, find your why, establish your goal and write it down, commit to two lifestyle changes at first, and claim exercise as a form of self-care. As part three progresses, Chaker informs the reader of ways to establish a exercise routine as well as shares the importance of stretching in an exercise routine. As someone who is a home workout enthusiast, I really appreciated Chaker listing the best equipment for a home gym set up and providing the reader with motivation when one doesn’t feel like working out. Rest days are just as important as training days. Part three ends with Chaker sharing how her relationship with food has changed since she’s started bodybuilding and highlighting the value of macronutrients protein, carbohydrates, and fat. It was interesting to learn that weeks leading up to bodybuilding competitions, competitors reduce calories to lean out and showcase the muscles she’s built in the off-season. Part three ends with Chaker providing the reader with a list of protein, carbohydrates, and fats as well as mentioning the importance of staying hydrated as an athlete.

After part three is an epilogue in which Chaker informing the reader about training for her third season as a competitive bodybuilder and her first as a pro. The book ends with Chaker describing her nutrition and exercise prep period for the competition and expresses joy at seeing more women lifting weights at the gym while realizing that there’s still a long way to go for true equality for girls in sports.

As I finished reading this book, I liked Chaker’s conversational writing style which makes the reading book both educational and enjoyable to read. I read each chapter, I liked Chaker’s seamless writing of combining personal stories with the history of women’s body and strength. Although it’s inevitable that muscular shrink with age, Chaker’s book has inspired me with the knowledge that it’s never too early or too late to start building muscle. I feel that the only thing lacking from Chaker’s book was photo of past strongmen as a way to inspire current and future generations of women involved in beginning strength training.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In traditional femininity, we see ourselves in the way men would like to see us. We place value in "pretty," in "slim." It is who we aspire to be in the eyes of men. …
It's thanks to bodybuilding that I came to the message of this book: that we, as women, have been brainwashed our entire lives to reduce our bodies, to make ourselves less-but that we are en much me Everything about our culture as it relates to fitness for women is about becoming skinnier. … it’s all about burning fat, not about getting strong.

Meanwhile, women's bodies are badass. We live longer than men. We bring life into the world. Research out of Cambridge University shows that prehistoric female bones were the size of world championship rowers' bones today.It's only in recent generations that society has pressured women to diminish them-selves, to literally waste away.” P14


“Is it any coincidence that the pressure to be thin coincided with a newly empowered woman who wanted political agency?
As the American author and feminist Naomi Wolf wryly noted in her seminal 1991 book The Beauty Myth, "soft, rounded hips and thighs and bellies were perceived as desirable and sensual without question until women got the vote."* In one study, authors Brett Silverstein and Deborah Perlick tracked the curva-ceousness of Vogue cover models with female college graduation rates over several decades, finding that increases in the proportion of women graduating from college correlated to a slimmer standard, an indication that a less curvaceous physique translated to more professional opportunity.' P31


Exercise has measurable benefits for the brain, including improved focus, memory, and reaction time. Over the long term, regular exercise can even change your brain's physiology, helping produce new brain cells in the hippocampus. In other words, regular exercise has a protective anti-aging effect on the brain, stimulating it to develop a more robust hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, those areas most susceptible to neurodegenera-tive disease and cognitive declines in aging? And while working out doesn't necessarily mean you can prevent or cure dementia or Alzheimer's disease, it can help delay the symptoms of those diseases. P 111

[Addie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this easily across two days, so it's certainly a user-friendly entry into the recent smattering of books being published about the benefits of weight-lifting for women. However, it suffers from excess "magazine writing" (using scientific study results to make broad, confidant, generalized conclusions and leaning into anecdotes about random individual experiences as if one woman's story illustrates every person's experience). I found the author's starting point, as a thin woman who puts on muscle easily, to be off-putting -- her body type isn't her fault or a place of blame, obviously, but I think it would've done the audience a favor to find a more accessible entry point. The last third, the helpful how-to third, devolves into the devotions of a fanatic, and was a surprising turn-off for the sport or endeavor of weightlifting, as her portrait of her lifestyle feels obsessive, dominated entirely by constant thoughts of food measurements and training routines, in a way that is not at all appealing and feels entirely unattainable. I'd say it's more a book about the starting point for being a professional body building in competition, rather than a starting point for a woman who wants to integrate a weight-training routine into her health without it coming to dominate her entire existence.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journalist turned competition bikini body builder writes about her mental and physical transformation and how and why lifting is such a big part of her life. She wrote about everything from history of women exercising, to her diet and routine, and the bedazzled bikinis and spray tans of competition. She included a good list of exercises that you can do with little to no equipment, as well as recs for your own home gym, and how people around her have reacted.
I found the book interesting from the perspective of someone who, at a less intense level, has regularly done weight lifting and strength building for the last 30 years and who wants to encourage others to do their own muscle building activities. I struggle to identify the targeted audience for the book, as I think current lifters know all this stuff and those not lifting may not be interested. I guess it is for those considering adding it to their routine.

[Willie Gillis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading Lift. I read about it in a random fitness article from a few months ago and immediately put it on my TBR from my local library.

What hooked me about the book was solely the first part: Part 1. That section talked about body size and shape and how weight was viewed differently in the 1800s and the turn of the century made a dramatic shift in the viewing of body size and shape.

Just that part of the book had me hooked. Once the book delved into Parts 2 & 3. It started to lose me. It became a generic health and physical fitness book. It felt very geared towards beginners and I started to lose interest. This continues into Part 3 of the book which delves into more beginner information on how to train and macros.

I really wish the book was more like the Part 1 section because I found that section the most intriguing. The last 2/3 of the book felt like filler.

At least read it for Part 1 though!

3.5 stars!

[Estelle Schweizer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook on Spotify and while the first 3/4 of it had an interesting history of how and why women started wanting to be skinny, as well as the beginning of women’s weightlifting, the last 1/4 of the book was meant to be more of a practical guide on how build a routine and fuel yourself with food, but it felt very basic. She covers things most people already know if they use the internet and social media. Her food section was borderline nauseating as she shared how she mixed liquid egg whites into her smoothies or just drinks them raw with stevia and cinnamon. 🤮 It just perpetuates the belief and that if you want to look like you have muscle, you have to eat food that tastes like @ss. It’s one thing to eat like this for a short period of time before a competition but it’s a completely different story if you’re drinking liquid egg whites on a regular basis. And I honestly think it borders on OCD and disordered eating.

[Fawn Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The historical parts of this book were the most interesting. It's impactful to realize when and where Western femininity ideals and standards came from—linking virtues and morality with body shape, the correlation between women's suffrage and physical minimization as "a construct of control."

This is also partly a memoir about Chaker's own entry to bodybuilding at a low point in her life. I wish this had been more drawn out. It seemed like it was a quick fix for her that solved all her problems. I appreciated her point of thinking of herself as an athlete and that being a lifestyle we don't have to give up as we age.

The last part details exercises, meals, and macros. This would perhaps be better in a different format, like youtube videos, than in book form. I didn't get a lot out of this section other than women should eat more protein as they age to combat muscle loss.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good research-based book on the history of women who lift. This is written by a pro body builder, so you can expect the book to take that direction.

Parts 1&2 focused primarily on the past and how to take those lessons into the future.

Part 3 was more action-based as she dived into nutrition and exercises one can do. Personally I would’ve preferred an index at the end vs listing exercises & how to do them. I did listen on audiobook so unsure if photos accompanied these, but I didn’t find it necessary.

The “orthorexia” reviews are honestly overblown. The author emphasized balance and realistic expectations, but naturally her diet has more of a “gym bro” vibe. Anyone who wants to compete is going to have a similar diet.

I also appreciate how she cited research from an RD vs just throwing in some random nutrition advice, a huge pet peeve of mine.

[peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a lot of negative reviews for this book and I can see why. I’m not upset that it was simplistic; its target audience is literally for beginners. But I wish I had this book 2 years ago when I started my fitness journey. I loved the motivation and inspiration that this book provided. I appreciate the step-by-step method to explaining how to even get to a gym; god knows how much anxiety and nerves I had stepping into a gym for the very first time. Loved this book! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in starting for the first time. And even for the well established fitness guru, it serves as a good reminder of where we came from and what truly matters. Keep it simple, keep it fun, stay dedicated and true to yourself. It’s so important to be strong - both for our health and for those watching us.

[Debi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book struggles to find a purpose. The subtitle is misleading because rather than being a guide to how women can reclaim physical power and transform their lives, in reality it's a "here's how my routiine has made me a happier person." The section providing instruction on specific weight lifting movements is useless; not only are there no photos (or even illustrations) to show form and technique, there aren't even any tips like keep weight in your heels (squats) or proper positioning of your hands for pushups.

Chaker's fitness program is specific to bodybuilding. The focus is on a desired physical appearance for competition rather than the benefits of improving functional fitness.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I actually DNF'd this, but let met explain why. This book is great for true beginners and someone who is curious about weights and looking for inspiration. Loved the content, loved that is was geared towards women and portrayed working out as something for body and mind. I just am not at the point in my journey they target audience for this book would be. If you are thinking about embarking on fitness, I would say, "check this out alongside other resources". I knocked a star off only because the "diet" section was a little off-putting to me. While there is some great information on there, scant meal layouts are a trigger for me (and also set a very unhealthy bar for women. We all have different needs and those needs may not be egg whites for dinner).

[Nienke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag this book, with focus on impact of skinny ideals, female strength athletes, data on the impact of lifting and a how to guide to start body building.

I guess most readers will be interested in one part, yet not necessarily all, at least I was. The data on how lifting is important for women was what I came for and it was a rather short part. The rest, well, either I knew or I am not so interested in. And some of it is even dangerous, a 7 egg white only dinner anyone?

A shame since we cannot overestimate the importance of resistance training at large for women and how it can empower us. There is still so much taboo around this, maybe even more outside US, that this needs to be reinforced for increased healthspan of half of the world population.

[Sadie Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lift is an educational, empowering, and inspiring book that challenges the status quo of women’s health. The idea is for women to have strong bodies (rather than slim bodies). However, the author lays out that you don’t have to be a bodybuilder to attain this! It’s not about looking the strongest, fastest, or most muscular, it’s about living a lifestyle where you challenge and build your body physically (through weight bearing strength exercises) and mentally (by breaking the status quo)! Chaker’s writing style is extremely friendly, educational, and effective, likely due to her journalist past. I throughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it!

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of this book had a great message – strong over skinny. I was interested in the history of strength training for women. Overall, it had a very positive message. This is not a book for people looking for a specific weight training plan. It does give a list of exercises that the author likes to use. It also includes diet information, but this is geared more to a competitive bodybuilder. It does not provide macros or suggested calorie intake, so you should look elsewhere for that, if you are looking for that sort of plan.

[Susan Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the message of this book. As a woman of menopausal age, I was looking for resources on strength for bone and overall health. While this provided a wealth of information that I was looking for, I really loved the message about body positivity, moving the focus from weight loss to health and strength, and finding the right fit for my body and life. I have no intention of becoming a bodybuilder, but this isn’t about that. It’s about the of strength for lifetime health. Highly recommended for all women, regardless of whether you’re a beginner or expert athlete.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, love the tie in to young girls weight lifting right away to get ahead of the social pressures and insecurity, getting their confidence from their own capability and working hard for their muscles and being proud of the effort, i see huge potential with this mindset.
However her daily food breakdown is disgusting and that is far too much protein and i’m honestly not shocked her group of friends got colon cancer and dementia but hey they lived hard and fast, it’s quality of life at expense of quantity of life.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I recently started strength training consistently and have wanted to better understand how to do this. It does that and more.

It’s part memoir, part history of how women have come to be more valued if they’re the weaker sex, and part how to eat and lift in a healthful way. It’s also a super short book, and the audiobook is read by the author who does a great job.

Chaker’s book will make you believe strength training is the solution to all that ails women, and she makes solid points about how it improves physical, emotional and mental health.

[Kiera D.]

This book includes a lot of interesting, useful, and empowering information about the benefits of weightlifting for women, but the author’s advice on how to make healthy lifestyle changes are all filtered through the lens of her highly specific sport of body building. The attitude towards restriction of food does the opposite of encouraging new lifters; there are many ways to educate about food and exercise that encourage more food rather than less and holistic changes that are easier to consistently maintain.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting read overall but the reason I rated 3 stars (3.5) is because it started strong, and I was really interested in the information regarding women and the societal pressures to be thin rather than strong, however, the bodybuilding info kind of dragged and I found my mind wandering.

I would recommend this book to people who are invested in lifting.

thank you @tarcherperigree @avery_books for this gifted copy

[TJ Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree that the first part of the book was awesome. Women are encouraged to be thin, lean.

I have been lifting weights since the early 1980s. I would encourage anyone to lift weights to build muscle. I am not bulky but a healthy weight.

Her program for diet and exercise was lacking. She wrote in paragraphs "Squat" etc. How about a photo of correct form?

I think she is very focused on food. Too focused in my opinion....