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Strongman: My Story
Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall is the first Brit in 24 years to win the World’s Strongest Man competition, beating The Mountain from Game of Thrones. Everything about Eddie is huge. Standing at 6’3 he weighs almost 30 stone, and to make it through his hellish four-hour gym sessions he needs to eat a minimum of 10,000 calories a day. He eats a raw steak during weight sessions. His right eyeball once burst out of its socket under the strain. He put it back in. In his remarkable autobiography, Eddie takes you inside the world of the professional strongman – the nutrition, the training and competitions themselves. This is a visceral story of sporting achievement, an athlete pushing himself to the limits, and the personal journey of a man on the path to becoming being the best of the best.
320 pages, Board Book
Published October 19, 2017
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43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 22, 2018
I thoroughly enjoy this book. I always enjoy books where I feel the author is being fully honest about their experiences and stories wart and all I am told it is called.
I think every man in the world a one point in their/our lives though we were or could quite easily become the strongest man in the world. In this book Eddie Hall tell us exactly what it takes. There is no magic formula, it is physical and mental toughness bordering on torture. Then there is the sacrifice. This burden is not carried alone but must be shared by friends and family members alike. There is also a big difference between strength and health.
The book covers Eddie early and family life and of course his journey to becoming the strongest man in the world. The road is not easy. It takes someone like Eddie’s do or (literally) die attitude to make it happen. Eddie calmly take about injuries and situations that probably would have killed most people. The only thing that is not covered in this book is specific training me. Eddie vaguely says the number of hour he spends in the gym. but not specific of the exercise. The story is more about Eddie life experiences and the sacrifices along the way.
A great story and hard earned achievements and success. Many of which almost cost Eddie his life. A great story but Eddie is not shy talking about cost to himself and his family. A great story as long as you don’t mind a decent sprinkling of f-bombs, though that is just Eddie’s personally and speech so it adds authenticity.
I think every man in the world a one point in their/our lives though we were or could quite easily become the strongest man in the world. In this book Eddie Hall tell us exactly what it takes. There is no magic formula, it is physical and mental toughness bordering on torture. Then there is the sacrifice. This burden is not carried alone but must be shared by friends and family members alike. There is also a big difference between strength and health.
The book covers Eddie early and family life and of course his journey to becoming the strongest man in the world. The road is not easy. It takes someone like Eddie’s do or (literally) die attitude to make it happen. Eddie calmly take about injuries and situations that probably would have killed most people. The only thing that is not covered in this book is specific training me. Eddie vaguely says the number of hour he spends in the gym. but not specific of the exercise. The story is more about Eddie life experiences and the sacrifices along the way.
A great story and hard earned achievements and success. Many of which almost cost Eddie his life. A great story but Eddie is not shy talking about cost to himself and his family. A great story as long as you don’t mind a decent sprinkling of f-bombs, though that is just Eddie’s personally and speech so it adds authenticity.
April 2, 2018
This is an honest, brutal and unflinching story of what it takes to be a strongman. Until very recently the sport has quite niche compared to some sports despite the fact that it has been going for decades. It doesn't have the awareness, or the sponsorship of other sports, and it is probably the toughest sport out there. Eddie Hall, like other strongmen out there put their bodies through hell in order to compete. Every competition it's common to hear that at least one athlete has (look away now if squeamish) ripped a muscle, torn a muscle off the bone, dislocation a joint or broken something. It's brutal and most of the time, if it's not crippling, they will still compete. Eddie Hall was the 4th strongest man in the world after dislocating two fingers during practise. His fingers were like giant sausages, more so than normal I should add, and he still only just missed out on the podium.
In this book Eddie Hall, in his own direct way, talks about the reality of having a job, a family and a second career as a strongman. The endless hours in the gym. The huge amount of money spent on food, equipment, physio and other necessities. He also talks about the struggle of balancing all of those things and how for a long time he was failing. The book covers his childhood right up to the moment when he competed in the World's Strongest Man in 2017 which was breaking point for so many reasons.
A remarkable story of dedication, grit, determination and the desire to succeed. Every time someone told him it couldn't be done he went out there and proved them wrong. He has broken, and will continue to break, world records. He was the first man in the history to lift half a tonne. No, that's not a typo. Half a tonne. A fascination book and his story isn't over yet.
In this book Eddie Hall, in his own direct way, talks about the reality of having a job, a family and a second career as a strongman. The endless hours in the gym. The huge amount of money spent on food, equipment, physio and other necessities. He also talks about the struggle of balancing all of those things and how for a long time he was failing. The book covers his childhood right up to the moment when he competed in the World's Strongest Man in 2017 which was breaking point for so many reasons.
A remarkable story of dedication, grit, determination and the desire to succeed. Every time someone told him it couldn't be done he went out there and proved them wrong. He has broken, and will continue to break, world records. He was the first man in the history to lift half a tonne. No, that's not a typo. Half a tonne. A fascination book and his story isn't over yet.
September 17, 2025
I went into Strongman Eddie Hall: My Story as a big fan of Eddie — I admired his work ethic, his incredible strength, and the drive that got him to the top of the strongman world. Unfortunately, I came out of the book feeling more disappointed than inspired.
The biggest issue I had wasn't the storytelling or the writing itself, but rather Eddie's character as it comes across in these pages. There's a noticeable lack of remorse in some of the things he's done, and a disturbing ease with which he talks about hurting people — often seemingly for no good reason. I expected a story of resilience, grit, and growth. Instead, I got one that sometimes read more like a justification for violence and ego.
What really soured the experience for me was what happened after the book’s release. After winning World's Strongest Man, Eddie added a new chapter — but only for those who bought the book again. That felt like a cash grab, not a gift to the fans who supported him all along. Add to that the inconsistencies between his book and later interviews (like claiming to have been hypnotized during his record deadlift — something conveniently left out of the book), and I start to question how honest this story really is.
I’ve always tried to separate the man from the athlete, but in this case, it's hard. Eddie Hall is undoubtedly one of the most physically powerful athletes of our time — but this book made it difficult to continue admiring the person behind the persona.
The biggest issue I had wasn't the storytelling or the writing itself, but rather Eddie's character as it comes across in these pages. There's a noticeable lack of remorse in some of the things he's done, and a disturbing ease with which he talks about hurting people — often seemingly for no good reason. I expected a story of resilience, grit, and growth. Instead, I got one that sometimes read more like a justification for violence and ego.
What really soured the experience for me was what happened after the book’s release. After winning World's Strongest Man, Eddie added a new chapter — but only for those who bought the book again. That felt like a cash grab, not a gift to the fans who supported him all along. Add to that the inconsistencies between his book and later interviews (like claiming to have been hypnotized during his record deadlift — something conveniently left out of the book), and I start to question how honest this story really is.
I’ve always tried to separate the man from the athlete, but in this case, it's hard. Eddie Hall is undoubtedly one of the most physically powerful athletes of our time — but this book made it difficult to continue admiring the person behind the persona.
February 11, 2019
When I started reading this book I thought Eddie Hall was a bit of a wally and watching the World Strongest Man competition each year seemed to confirm this but after reading his very honest account of what it takes to become a strongman not least the very best in the world you cannot help but admire his personality.
A well written book with honesty to behold. Eddie’s drive to win is incredible and you can tell his self-belief is what has taken him so far in a very tough sport.
A well written book with honesty to behold. Eddie’s drive to win is incredible and you can tell his self-belief is what has taken him so far in a very tough sport.
December 19, 2025
This book is a definite break from most of what I read. But it was welcome and I’ve been a fan of his for years so I thought why not. It coincides a lot with a documentary that was done a decade ago. The chapters are short and it’s almost like this belongs being an audiobook or a podcast. They’re telling about separate little episodes. But it is a good reminder that life is nothing but small victories and the small victories add up. A sensational read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews