Fitness People Are Not Making Men Better Fit
Armando Veve By Sebastian Langdell Dr. Langdell is a professor of medieval literature at Baylor University. New York Times I teach medieval literature, and so when I decided to get into better shape by lifting weights in early midlife, my references were not terribly contemporary. Medieval writers are always reminding us to keep our eyes on cultivating the soul. “Here is no home, here is but wilderness,” Chaucer once wrote. If we’re just pilgrims passing through this world, what need is there to focus on the body? But, my mind now countered, what if becoming bodily healthy would make me happier and lead to better work? I went to the gym, initially after a friend’s sudden death, to be strong enough to do the other things that mattered to me in life, from family commitments to professional creativity. But, for men, getting stronger is all too often about competition. The more I hit the gym, the more I felt the need for some pointers. I dipped my toes in the bro-...
