Jonathan Black is a veteran of magazine editing, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, Inc., Forbes, GQ, and the American Spectator. He is the author of Yes, You Can! Behind the Hype and Hustle of the Motivation Biz and has taught at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

• Introduction: A Night to Remember1. The Shape of History2. Selling the Body Beautiful, 19001930s3. America Shapes Up, 1930s1950s4. The Machine Age, 1960s1970s5. Gotta Move, 1960s1980s6. The Buff Culture, 1970s1990s7. Pumping Up Business, 1980s1990s8. Fitness Today9. Why Exercise?NotesIndex

"Making the American Body is a fascinating and informative sprint through the history of body worship from the classical Greeks to the present-day fanatics of fitness."-Pat Jordan, author of A False Spring -- Pat Jordan "In Making the American Body, Jonathan Black masterfully explores the many twists and evolutions of the fitness industry, from barbells to exercise machines to today's health clubs."-Jeff Friend, Foreword Reviews -- Jeff Friend Foreword Reviews "An interesting history of physical fitness in America."-Karen Sutherland, Library Journal -- Karen Sutherland Library Journal "An engrossing history of fitness in the United States... A must-read for fitness buffs and beefy enough to whet the appetite of even the most inert couch potato."-Kirkus Reviews Kirkus Reviews "The antecedents of the American fitness industry are varied and fascinating, and journalist Black ... does a superb job of chronicling them."-Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly "As a book for a popular audience, it will be of interest to diverse readers."-J. L. Croissant, CHOICE -- J. L. Croissant CHOICE

Jonathan Black is a veteran of magazine editing, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, Inc., Forbes, GQ, and the American Spectator. He is the author of Yes, You Can! Behind the Hype and Hustle of the Motivation Biz and has taught at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

• Introduction: A Night to Remember1. The Shape of History2. Selling the Body Beautiful, 19001930s3. America Shapes Up, 1930s1950s4. The Machine Age, 1960s1970s5. Gotta Move, 1960s1980s6. The Buff Culture, 1970s1990s7. Pumping Up Business, 1980s1990s8. Fitness Today9. Why Exercise?NotesIndex

"Making the American Body is a fascinating and informative sprint through the history of body worship from the classical Greeks to the present-day fanatics of fitness."-Pat Jordan, author of A False Spring -- Pat Jordan "In Making the American Body, Jonathan Black masterfully explores the many twists and evolutions of the fitness industry, from barbells to exercise machines to today's health clubs."-Jeff Friend, Foreword Reviews -- Jeff Friend Foreword Reviews "An interesting history of physical fitness in America."-Karen Sutherland, Library Journal -- Karen Sutherland Library Journal "An engrossing history of fitness in the United States... A must-read for fitness buffs and beefy enough to whet the appetite of even the most inert couch potato."-Kirkus Reviews Kirkus Reviews "The antecedents of the American fitness industry are varied and fascinating, and journalist Black ... does a superb job of chronicling them."-Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly "As a book for a popular audience, it will be of interest to diverse readers."-J. L. Croissant, CHOICE -- J. L. Croissant CHOICE

Jonathan Black is a veteran of magazine editing, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, Inc., Forbes, GQ, and the American Spectator. He is the author of Yes, You Can! Behind the Hype and Hustle of the Motivation Biz and has taught at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

• Introduction: A Night to Remember1. The Shape of History2. Selling the Body Beautiful, 19001930s3. America Shapes Up, 1930s1950s4. The Machine Age, 1960s1970s5. Gotta Move, 1960s1980s6. The Buff Culture, 1970s1990s7. Pumping Up Business, 1980s1990s8. Fitness Today9. Why Exercise?NotesIndex

"Making the American Body is a fascinating and informative sprint through the history of body worship from the classical Greeks to the present-day fanatics of fitness."-Pat Jordan, author of A False Spring -- Pat Jordan "In Making the American Body, Jonathan Black masterfully explores the many twists and evolutions of the fitness industry, from barbells to exercise machines to today's health clubs."-Jeff Friend, Foreword Reviews -- Jeff Friend Foreword Reviews "An interesting history of physical fitness in America."-Karen Sutherland, Library Journal -- Karen Sutherland Library Journal "An engrossing history of fitness in the United States... A must-read for fitness buffs and beefy enough to whet the appetite of even the most inert couch potato."-Kirkus Reviews Kirkus Reviews "The antecedents of the American fitness industry are varied and fascinating, and journalist Black ... does a superb job of chronicling them."-Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly "As a book for a popular audience, it will be of interest to diverse readers."-J. L. Croissant, CHOICE -- J. L. Croissant CHOICE