This is my 1999 amazon posted commentary on Fussell's book.
A case study in working out for the wrong reasons, August 7, 1999
Fussell is the son of one of the most prominent literary and social critics of our time, and the breakdowns in his family led him to repudiate it by burying himself in a sub rosa existence, in this case amateur bodybuilding. He writes accurately about the gym and competitive scene, and sections of this book have a pungent black humor. There is a seamy side to the scene that Fussell captures well. However, he does not capture the quiet heroism of many people who devote themselves to the platonic pursuit of ideal physical form. I don't think Fussell could have met the right people in the scene because of his contempt for others (which he shares with his father). Until a more articulate writer comes along, this one probably offers the best personal account of bodybuilding. I never warmed to Fussell as a person or felt he was a successful competitor, though, and would be interested in reading an account of the scene by a successful bodybuilder who cares more about his fellow man and woman.