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Poison: Sermons on Suffering
One hundred forty-one Sermons previously accessible only behind the paywall of an old website: these philosophical musings are guaranteed to motivate, admonish, inspire and critique, all linked by the inseverable bond between the physical and the psychological, the mind and the heart. Poison pays tribute to the origins of our current practice at NonProphet — combining the physical weight of a paper tome and the significance of analog art with the wormhole nature of a digital interface, reinforcing the connection between these means of communication, and expression. It offers a glimpse into the history and detail of the characters and concepts that informed these powerful essays.
These Sermons were mostly philosophical — because we believe that opening or guiding the mind makes all physical work and training more effective, more transferable to life outside of the gym, and that mindfulness amplifies the physical practice itself. Each essay draws upon personal experiences — how else would the ideas manifest or be applied and tested or leak outward to “real” life?
These Sermons were mostly philosophical — because we believe that opening or guiding the mind makes all physical work and training more effective, more transferable to life outside of the gym, and that mindfulness amplifies the physical practice itself. Each essay draws upon personal experiences — how else would the ideas manifest or be applied and tested or leak outward to “real” life?
456 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
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121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 20, 2022
My relationship with Mark Twight is chicken-or-egg-like. I first discovered Gym Jones 11 years ago, but wasn't aware of the philosophical side—the most important part—of the gym. Later during my college years, my philosophy towards life, training, and the relationship those two had was developing along a similar path Twight's had, and then poof! I rediscovered him. Had I read something in the interim that influenced me without my knowing it? I don't think so, but what I read after that sure as hell influenced me and spurred me deeper into the forest.
This book is the anthology of Twight's writings. Straight from the book's description on their website: "One hundred forty-one Sermons previously accessible only behind the paywall of an old website: these philosophical musings are guaranteed to motivate, admonish, inspire and critique, all linked by the inseverable bond between the physical and the psychological, the mind and the heart. Poison pays tribute to the origins of our current practice at NonProphet — combining the physical weight of a paper tome and the significance of analog art with the wormhole nature of a digital interface, reinforcing the connection between these means of communication, and expression. It offers a glimpse into the history and detail of the characters and concepts that informed these powerful essays. These Sermons were mostly philosophical — because we believe that opening or guiding the mind makes all physical work and training more effective, more transferable to life outside of the gym, and that mindfulness amplifies the physical practice itself. Each essay draws upon personal experiences — how else would the ideas manifest or be applied and tested or leak outward to “real” life?"
It's hard to quantify the impact these words have had on me—not just in the eight weeks that I was reading the book, but the years before this in which I read a handful of his articles. The scarcity of them encouraged, almost forced, me to fully digest each word, sentence, paragraph to its full extent, to see how if I currently lived that way, and if I didn't, why not. But this opened up a whole new world of writings, many of which aren't available on the internet (I'm not sure if they're even available on Gym Jones anymore).
I'm skeptical of the written word being a motivator. Music and film can only do so much before steam runs out. Inspirational quotes overlayed on some muscular man is not what will be found here. There's no "dream big, stay positive, work hard, and enjoy the journey" bullshit. But this book holds something more profound than that. It instills something deeper, something lasting, something, dare I say, inspiring. But this inspiration is a slow, steady burn, not the one-hard-push-then-back-to-laziness type. It's one of the first times I've had this happen to me. The first time? Reading Twitching With Twight .
I recommend reading one of these a day and reflecting on it. It will take many months. Tough questions will need to be asked and answered; confrontation with the self and others is inevitable; personal ideas will be torn down, solidified, or questioned greatly. But do this—do it right—and a better person will emerge at the end. They will be wiser, more thoughtful, more exacting, leaner, stronger, more focused.
This book is the anthology of Twight's writings. Straight from the book's description on their website: "One hundred forty-one Sermons previously accessible only behind the paywall of an old website: these philosophical musings are guaranteed to motivate, admonish, inspire and critique, all linked by the inseverable bond between the physical and the psychological, the mind and the heart. Poison pays tribute to the origins of our current practice at NonProphet — combining the physical weight of a paper tome and the significance of analog art with the wormhole nature of a digital interface, reinforcing the connection between these means of communication, and expression. It offers a glimpse into the history and detail of the characters and concepts that informed these powerful essays. These Sermons were mostly philosophical — because we believe that opening or guiding the mind makes all physical work and training more effective, more transferable to life outside of the gym, and that mindfulness amplifies the physical practice itself. Each essay draws upon personal experiences — how else would the ideas manifest or be applied and tested or leak outward to “real” life?"
It's hard to quantify the impact these words have had on me—not just in the eight weeks that I was reading the book, but the years before this in which I read a handful of his articles. The scarcity of them encouraged, almost forced, me to fully digest each word, sentence, paragraph to its full extent, to see how if I currently lived that way, and if I didn't, why not. But this opened up a whole new world of writings, many of which aren't available on the internet (I'm not sure if they're even available on Gym Jones anymore).
I'm skeptical of the written word being a motivator. Music and film can only do so much before steam runs out. Inspirational quotes overlayed on some muscular man is not what will be found here. There's no "dream big, stay positive, work hard, and enjoy the journey" bullshit. But this book holds something more profound than that. It instills something deeper, something lasting, something, dare I say, inspiring. But this inspiration is a slow, steady burn, not the one-hard-push-then-back-to-laziness type. It's one of the first times I've had this happen to me. The first time? Reading Twitching With Twight .
I recommend reading one of these a day and reflecting on it. It will take many months. Tough questions will need to be asked and answered; confrontation with the self and others is inevitable; personal ideas will be torn down, solidified, or questioned greatly. But do this—do it right—and a better person will emerge at the end. They will be wiser, more thoughtful, more exacting, leaner, stronger, more focused.
November 8, 2025
Some of the most motivating, thought provoking essays ever put on paper.
June 11, 2024
Something primordial keeps this collection on my bedside table. Each short essay, be it 2 pages or 4 or 6… They’re not long, yet the result is usually the same. I lower the book down into my lap and stare off into space.
Who am I today? Is it an accident of fate, stumbling from one circumstance to the next, or is it the result of conscious decision? Even obtaining a copy of this book takes intentionality. Self-selecting those who are open to grappling with the material it contains.
I don’t always like my own answers to the questions posed in these treatises. My emotions are instructive. Life isn’t a straight line, and so much of modern living feels like trying to cobble together one’s own personal philosophy from the wreckage of religion, ethics, and what remains of western society. Surrounded by moral relativism where everything and everyone has been painted in ambiguous shades of gray, it’s understandable why so many just give up and surrender to mindless consumption. Is connecting a series of unfocused, coincidental meetings and events together one after the next after the next really a life?
Poison offers no easy solutions. I feel like each piece of writing is the author speaking directly to me. Raging that I would allow life to slip away through my fingers. Sharing lessons hard won through will and sacrifice. Passed on with the hope that perhaps not every lesson needs to be learned and re-learned by each individual the hard way. He lays out the foundation for a Philosophy of Effort. Struggling to push onwards? If the result was guaranteed, nothing of value would be gained from the work.
Reluctant determination to parrot the author’s words is one thing. Living out the ideas is wholly another. Ultimately, Poison pushes one to choose. My path, my people, my life. Limited judgement, that some are more difficult than others, more fulfilling in different ways. The choices are made one way or another, one day after another, and I’m left walking a path with those choices littered in my wake. The present expressing the results of all the past, with more decisions ahead. I’m reminded I can correct the path with intention and effort or continue floating along. Reading Poison demands one way or another, I make a choice.
Who am I today? Is it an accident of fate, stumbling from one circumstance to the next, or is it the result of conscious decision? Even obtaining a copy of this book takes intentionality. Self-selecting those who are open to grappling with the material it contains.
I don’t always like my own answers to the questions posed in these treatises. My emotions are instructive. Life isn’t a straight line, and so much of modern living feels like trying to cobble together one’s own personal philosophy from the wreckage of religion, ethics, and what remains of western society. Surrounded by moral relativism where everything and everyone has been painted in ambiguous shades of gray, it’s understandable why so many just give up and surrender to mindless consumption. Is connecting a series of unfocused, coincidental meetings and events together one after the next after the next really a life?
Poison offers no easy solutions. I feel like each piece of writing is the author speaking directly to me. Raging that I would allow life to slip away through my fingers. Sharing lessons hard won through will and sacrifice. Passed on with the hope that perhaps not every lesson needs to be learned and re-learned by each individual the hard way. He lays out the foundation for a Philosophy of Effort. Struggling to push onwards? If the result was guaranteed, nothing of value would be gained from the work.
Reluctant determination to parrot the author’s words is one thing. Living out the ideas is wholly another. Ultimately, Poison pushes one to choose. My path, my people, my life. Limited judgement, that some are more difficult than others, more fulfilling in different ways. The choices are made one way or another, one day after another, and I’m left walking a path with those choices littered in my wake. The present expressing the results of all the past, with more decisions ahead. I’m reminded I can correct the path with intention and effort or continue floating along. Reading Poison demands one way or another, I make a choice.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews