The Eagle and the Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention

by Chris Duffin

Whatever has happened to you, it is not who you are.

The world may know Chris Duffin as "The Mad Scientist of Strength," but you wouldn't have ever guessed that if you saw the scrawny kid skinning rattlesnakes and chasing dragonflies in the early '80s. The story of his unconventional life will take you from gripping tales of murder, trauma, heartbreak, and survival deep in the Pacific Northwest wilderness all the way to an idealization of the self-made man--still flawed, but never broken.


In The Eagle and the Dragon, you'll follow one man's journey into the darkness of his own heart and witness the transformation of alcoholism, pain, and defeat into vision, character, and victory. Through Chris's powerful self-realization, you'll see how the human spirit can be either shackled by circumstance or freed from it.

Strength and Reinvention: the Eagle and the Dragon. Are you ready to walk through the fire and make your vision a reality?

This book will show you how.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2019

Reviews

[Cav · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Choose to create an environment of greatness and you will draw people toward you like a gravitational force."

I enjoyed The Eagle and the Dragon, although it was not really what I was expecting going in. The book got its namesake from the tattoos that adorn the author's body.

Author Chris Duffin is the co-founder and chief engineer at Kabuki Strength, an organization devoted to optimizing human performance and making the world a better place through strength. He previously worked as a corporate executive and has turned around automotive, aerospace, heavy equipment, and high-tech manufacturing industries.
Chris was previously ranked number one in the world in various powerlifting disciplines and has held numerous world records. Now retired, he is known for his industry-changing innovations and education in the strength and clinical worlds. He’s a leading speaker on topics related to strength and human movement, and performs insane feats of strength to help charities and organizations whose work he believes in.

Chris Duffin :


As I briefly mentioned above, this one was not really what I was expecting. I guess I was expecting more writing on personal growth, mindset, and the like. While Duffin does spend some time here on those topics, the book is more of a blow-by-blow biography of his life up until this point.

The book begins by detailing his early life, growing up off the grid in the mountains. His family was very poor, and they struggled to make ends meet. The family moved quite often, which affected a young Duffin, keeping him from properly connecting with other kids and forming long-lasting early friendships. His parents also led very unconventional lifestyles that saw the family have many brushes with the law, as well as child protective services.

Thankfully, Duffin writes with a fairly interesting and engaging style here, and the book was not longer than it needed to be.
He outlines the writing early on in this quote:

"This book is my story. In it, you’ll read about how I moved from that life of isolation and uncertainty to a successful career as an engineer, extraordinary accomplishments as a business executive, and the pinnacle of the powerlifting world. You’ll learn how I founded Kabuki Strength, positioned the company as a leader and authority in the strength industry, and found a happy and fulfilled family life.
No doubt your story is different from my own, but I hope you will find inspiration and motivation in these pages. I have faced some extraordinary obstacles and, in the process, developed and defined my mindset. Whatever the obstacles in your life, I believe you can overcome them with the courage to reframe your views, stay disciplined, and use your challenges to develop the strength you need to win at life.
It’s my hope that this book will inspire you. That by reading it, you will start to redefine what’s possible for you and take on challenges you may not previously have believed you could take on. I want you to chase your dreams, yet to do so with iron discipline and unshakeable purpose, in a way that delivers meaningful results."

The rest of the book follows Duffin's life in a chronological manner, up until its publishing in 2019.
He suffered many setbacks, trials, and tribulations along the way, but he rose above and became successful on his own terms. Some of the stories he tells here along the way were truly incredible.

**********************

As I mentioned above, I did enjoy The Eagle and the Dragon, although it was not initially what I expected...
It was nonetheless an interesting story.
4 stars.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I was provided an advance copy of this book.

Over the last few years I've heard bits and pieces of Chris' early years, but nothing in such a formal setting. This was one of those books I just couldn't put down. I've become a bit of a slow reader so regular sized books can take me a month or two. I managed to finish this in just over a week. It was one of those books that had me so engaged that I was staying up late reading until my eyes wouldn't stay open.

The fact that someone can overcome so many obstacles and still turn out to be a decent person is a huge testament to who Chris is. This book shows you how to take a step back from what's going on in your life and how to assess it to move forward. While these concepts are not new to me, hearing them in conjunction with Chris' stories really put things in perspective. It was a nice reminder that while your position may not be what you desire, you are (usually) in control and can redirect your path.

[Jake Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book, about a truly interesting fellow who's lived a truly interesting life. Duffin is definitely much more than a meathead. There are some good points in here for use by those wishing for a more self-directed existence, as well, and if you're of that mindset, you could do worse than by starting here, for sure.

[Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Duffin was a guest on the Order of Man podcast and that same day I ordered his book. He was an engaging speaker with an unbelievable tale of upbringing. The book was an even wilder ride than his interview.
He wrote his book for any and everyone, it's an easy read that captivates your attention.

[Denise Griffitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Eagle and the Dragon by Chris Duffin is an absolutely fascinating read! From start to finish, this book takes you on a thrilling adventure through the world of strength sports, as Duffin shares his personal journey of becoming a record-breaking powerlifter and strongman.

What sets The Eagle and the Dragon apart from other sports memoirs is the depth of insight that the author provides. He not only recounts his triumphs and struggles on the competition platform but also shares the mental and emotional challenges that he faced along the way. His willingness to be vulnerable and honest about his experiences makes this book all the more inspiring.

But what really makes The Eagle and the Dragon stand out is Duffin's unique perspective as a strength athlete who also happens to be an engineer. He brings scientific rigor to his training and his writing which is both fascinating and informative. Even if you're not particularly interested in powerlifting or strength sports, this book has something to offer. At its core, this memoir is about the human drive to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. Duffin's story is one of resilience, persistence, and determination, and it speaks to the universal human experience of pursuing a goal despite setbacks and challenges. Through his candid and insightful writing, Duffin inspires readers to embrace their own struggles and work towards their own personal best. Whether you're an athlete or not, this book will touch your soul and leave you feeling empowered to pursue your dreams.

[Paul Geary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had expected something Goggins like when I went into this. After all this is a story of strength and reinvention however I got something quite different.

A lot of time is spent on his formative years and while I can understand why I found the pacing slightly off.

As the book progresses you do see an evolution of his writing style.

He has themes and lessons throughout and on that front it's hit and miss. The themes are easy to see, the lessons and guidance thereafter are not as well defined.

On one hand I appreciate how he has stayed away from telling people what steps to take to get where he has arrived at. On another it's left vague and suggestive.

I have come to the assumption that Chris is one of those people who have those intangible skills which are easy enough to understand but so very difficult to truly emulate.
Take his proficiency at his professional roles, he knows the tools but more importantly how and when to use them.

He has a really interesting story to tell and from that point this is a good read.
Life lessons and guidance are less obvious but there is enough in there to get you thinking.

Overall I have a lot of time for Chris, his lifting, the coaching, the charity work and so many other things.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Duffin has a very unique upbringing that while reading was fascinating, but I can imagine was very painful. In this book he retells memories of growing up and the people, events, and actions that shaped him.

This also shares advice for becoming more aware of your true self and where you want to go. He encourages you to put in the work, though I wouldn’t recommend (and I don’t think he does either) being as extreme in his pursuits at times.

I did find it inspiring and drives me to think about where I’m going with my life especially in uncertain times. Some clunky transitions in the book at times but overall I found this an inspirational and interesting read.

[Ulrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris is amazing. This book is a captivating narrative on the life of an individual that had to grow up under harsh circumstances. Chris tells about how he turned failures into valuable lessons and gives guidance on how we (the reader) can do the same. He shows us how our economical-, social- and educational-capital does not have to define who we can become. It is a book that tells about alcohol abuse, depression, loss but also about hard work, victories and persistency. If you need to gain perspective, want to read a good story or feel stuck then please read this book.

[Stephane Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legacy through hell

Chris shows how you can learn from the obstacles in your life. No fluff, just a lot of really crazy stories that help you understand what led to his journey.

[Andreas Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a great experience getting a look into the story that created one of the most badass people in the world

[Casan Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a powerlifter, I was already very aware of Chris’s accomplishments as a lifter. This book opened my eyes to his incredible early challenges and his success in business. Highly recommend!

[Wyatt Jarrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! It’s incredible how a person can overpower trauma at a young age and still become great!

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story. This guy took nature vs nurture and threw it out the window. Chris ultimately defined his life. Amazingly intelligent both emotionally and intellectually. Very inspiring!

[Rita Wachtler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike any upbringing I’ve ever heard of, so I was highly engaged to learn about something so unique.

At the time I listened to the audiobook, it was free on Amazon. Go check it out! Was an easy listen with interesting stories.

[Steve Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book by Chris Duffin

At times, I found myself highlighting what seemed like entire chapters. Excellent advice on finding purpose and meaning in your career and life. Highly recommended!

[Phaedon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not usually so impulsive about choosing books. On the contrary, I put a lot of though into it, and being a believer in the Lindy effect, it's very rare that I read a brand new release. I usually like to give the world a few months (or years or centuries) to determine if the content is worthwhile. With this one, I just went for it. I heard Chris Duffin on the Human Performance Outliers podcast and I was intrigued, so I bought it on Amazon and read it. It wasn't great, but I blame myself for my impulsive choice and having expected too much.

There is a glimmer of substance in here. It's the same glimmer that I caught as I listened to the podcast with Duffin. He does have something to say about how to approach life, but I just think this isn't his medium. That bit of substance came in the last few pages of the book for the most part, and there's lots to wade through before that.

I will caveat by saying that I think Chris Duffin himself seems to be a fairly inspirational character. He's achieved a lot, despite very inauspicious beginnings. He certainly seems worthy of being the subject of a book. I think perhaps he just wasn't meant to write one.

The main challenge I had with this book is that it's just very poorly written, and even more poorly edited. There is a jarring amount of repetition, sometimes even in the same paragraph. The prose is jerky at best, and really failed to engage me.

It's unfortunate that the words on these pages really don't bring to life what is quite an incredible story. Beyond the writing, it seemed as if there was a real shortage of detail and meat around some of the narrative. I often found myself asking 'how' quite often? How did you turn around the company? How did you train for your record-breaking lifts? How did you go about setting up your business? The book is completely devoid of detail that may have been the best part of the read. Instead, it really is just a narrative.

Sometimes the complete lack of detail did make some of the content seem, quite literally, incredible. I'm not saying that Duffin is a fraud by any means. I think most of this is true, but without any colour around how he accomplished certain things, one can't help but feel a bit of incredulity. There are also some factoids which seem to be of questionable (if not impossible) veracity. For instance, I really struggle to believe he had 90 direct reports at a company, let alone in a business unit that was succeeding.

I also struggled with the passages discussing themes and life lessons. These paragraphs often felt forced, trite, even glib. It almost felt like these sections were forcibly woven in to the life story to try to add some substance. I think the pages would have been much better filled with more depth in the story itself, allowing the reader to derive some of his own lessons.

I'm still intrigued by Chris Duffin and impressed by what I understand of his story, but I definitely would not recommend his book.

[Oliver Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating autobiography/self-help book from fitness equipment guru and lifting champion Chris Duffin. His peripatetic early life in the wilds of the Pacific NW is covered in great detail. In each chapter, Duffin tries to draw lessons from the experiences he has discussed. The pacing is methodical and the narrative is easy to follow, much like Duffin's online coaching videos, but I would like to see him write something specifically focused on his run as one of the world's top powerlifters. What's found in here is very good (Duffin describes how a back tweak forced him to properly position himself during the deadlift, enabling him to finally surpass the 800-lb barrier; there's a good bit on a debilitating weight cut) but it comprises perhaps 60 pages of the manuscript. However, given that Duffin seems to "write off" or "shed" past activities, it's unlikely he wanted to revisit that time in great detai.

[Wendie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vulnerability and wisdom Chris depicts in his story allows readers to relate to and draw guidance from it. I love how he draws readers in because they are impressed with the results of his hard work, dedication and relentless pursuit of improvement, in all arenas of life, yet his primary message to the reader is that of self-discovery and motivation to whole-heartedly pursue our own niche in this life.

[gary dunn jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

You will not be disappointed in reading this book. The struggles, the focus, the accomplishments of an ordinary joe to become Extra-ordinary. Your focus will determine your actions.

[Zack Quaderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very motivational read. The stories that Chris shared throughout the book and his thought processes at the time were very touching and enlightening. Definitely worth a read.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild, wacky, and a bit horror mixed with fun.

Amazing the types of lives that people have led, and where it takes them. Duffin has a colorful past and one very worth the read.