Grand Central Publishing
A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting
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Written by the creator of the She's A Beast newsletter, this mash-up of memoir and science writing is the rare story of a woman finding joy in a body that, for so long, she considered her enemy.
After an abusive relationship, the death of her father, and a running injury that left her limping, Casey Johnston was unmoored, alone, and burned out. Then she stumbled on a viral blog post about one woman’s experience lifting heavy weights—no dieting, no cardio, no weight loss, and no shame or guilt. With zero experience and nothing left to lose, Casey took a deep breath and stepped into Brooklyn’s grungiest gym. Then she began to question how she had treated her body, and what that treatment meant.
Combining wit, rage, and a reporter's eye for detail, Johnston embarks on a radical mission to understand the process of rupture, rest, and repair—not just within her cells and muscles, but also within her spirit. Her personal story frames a take-down of diet culture, and the ways we try to "get healthy" that actively make our bodies weaker, as she dives deep into the science of rebuilding mental, emotional, and physical strength. This is a sharp cultural critique for anyone who has ever longed to reclaim their body.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781538773253
EAN:
1538773252
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
272
Authors:
Casey Johnston
Publisher:
Grand Central Publishing
Published Date: 2025-06-05
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Casey has summarized her take on strength training in a compelling personal narrative. Information from her years worth of articles are available in this single volume. I highly recommend reading both this book and looking up her articles on strength training, both have helped my relationships with food, my body, and exercise. Thanks Casey!
This book is written as a memoir. The author provides unique and thoughtful insights on a topic I can relate to. She injects humor into her writing as well, which makes for a pleasant read.
Highly recommend this book for all women who want to change their relationship to their bodies for the better!
I’ve read this book in a few sittings - it’s really good; a personal account of struggles with diet culture, eating and exercising, which I’m sure many women will identify with, and the benefits of strength training. I like how it’s well researched so it’s not just a personal account but factual and historical too. It’s encouraged me to keep up the strength work, up the weights and eat more. I’m doing it for the future me. Thank you Casey Johnston.
Funny, witty, and a rare real-life look at how lifting can impact all aspects of your life for the better.This book does a fantastic job of explaining how people, especially women, are ALLOWED to take up space in the world. Each chapter was it's own anecdote, and I enjoyed reading it.Casey is a gem and a badass.
