WHY THE PAIN? WHAT’S THE GAIN? THE QUEST FOR EXTREME FITNESS

By Daniel Kunitz £16.99, Waterstones

It’s no secret that fitness has become one of the world’s biggest industries – and it certainly doesn’t seem to be stalling anytime soon. With more and more men and women lifting bigger, running further and working out harder, Daniel Kunitz explores our ever-changing, 3,000-year-long relationship with fitness and exercise. Diving into the depths of fitness history, he looks at how it has evolved from Ancient Greece’s courtyard gymnasiums to today’s Lululemon-wearing, performanceoriented Crossfit generation, while also tapping into various arguments that have – and will continue to – shape the world of fitness. Throughout, Daniel chats to experts from within the industry (from Divine, a Navy seal who can plank for seven minutes straight, to Ron, ‘whom I know from the gym, a man whose belly just blares “impending heart attack”, but who can actually run five miles, climb walls and carry huge sandbags and tyres)’. Beautifully written, carefully constructed and genuinely insightful and engaging – it’s a must-read for all fitness fanatics. STAR RATING: ✰✰✰✰✰