Muscletown USA: Bob Hoffman and the Manly Culture of York Barbell

I grew up in a household in which I was not welcome. Two individuals made my life bearable: Mickey Mantle and Bob Hoffman! From the late fifties through the late sixties I was a welterweight lifter out of Oakland, California. I enjoyed a small measure of success. I can recall being at the newsstand each month on the appropriate day to search the racks for the latest Strength and Health. I would read those magazines from cover to cover, every word, and would do so several times before the next issue was released. And throughout those years I certainly bought more than my share of York equipment.Someone once said something to the effect that if you have an idol look a little closer and you will see that you are selling yourself short. The author, Mr. Fair, looks a little closer, but not unfairly, in my opinion. Growing up with Strength and Health I was not aware of many of Mr. Hoffman's shortcomings. And now that I know them, nothing has changed. For Hoffman is still number one in my book. In my view the character flaws only serve to humanize him. Something wrong with that? How many of you who've submitted critical reviews regarding Hoffman have lived steller lives? How many of you have built sucessful businesses from the ground up? And most importantly, How many of you have MADE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of so many? The silence is deafening. Regarding the book, I find it well written. Also of great interest to me are the photos of the luminaries of that era. I am thankful that this book was written, and I am pleased to have read it. Mr. Fair, how about bios on some of the high profile people of the "weight game", Grimek, Reeves, etc?

I was hoping to read the history of Bob Hoffman and specifically the chronology of York Bar Bell, but it seems this is an expose of the semi-true claims of Hoffman's empire and his personal accomplishments along with some stories about some of the York boys who were real strongmen. Most of us who were growing up in the 60's and 70's remember hoisting a pair of the York 25 pound plates (perhaps adding some 10's later) on the famous York E-Z Curl bar, envisioning OUR biceps as grand as Larry Scott, Dave Draper, etc. I wanted less of the rather dry history of Hoffman and more of what his company did for us bodybuilders. Admittedly, I have only read the first few chapters, but while doing so (if I really cared) I would have had to get out the dictionary twenty times to find out what the author was describing. His writing style, in my opinion, would be better suited to the science of animal dissection rather than human interaction and documentation. The reviews I read led me to think there might be some awesome photos of the York gyms and perhaps even a history of the barbell plate making process and their revisions. The photos that are included are poor quality. If I had paid full price (I purchased my copy used), I would have been greatly disappointed. I guess I will search on for what intrigues me, that is, viewing the past with today's perspective.Update: 2016 I finished the book and have actually enjoyed a few sections of it. It was informative and I guess the gossip and dirty tricks (allegedly, of course) are amusing. The steroid revelation was most interesting. Still, the book overall was rough to get through, perhaps because of Mr. Fair's writing style. I consider it a "reference material" and will review it periodically. I really wish SOMEONE would put together a book about the York foundry and the many barbell plate revisions, the "composition" discs used in WW two to save raw material, and those ads that were printed from the 30's onward

quite an expose, but still an interesting read

The hidden story behind York Barbell. Very interesting.

Marvelous history as I go back to the late 50s with Hoffman and York. Book arrived as promised.

The book was in excellent condition and I really enjoyed reading i. It had a lost of information that is not found today.

If you're a York/Hoffman fan it's great reading, hard to put down. A+, 4 Stars

the book has everything you would want to know about hoffman and other famous bodybuilders, strongmen but the way the book was written too much information, was not entertaining.