Reviewed by Gail McDonald
Dr Kelly Starrett is the cofounder of The Ready State and San Francisco CrossFit. He wrote Becoming a Supple Leopard, Ready to Run and the Wall Street Journal best seller Deskbound. Dr Starrett consults with athletes and coaches from various sports and Olympic teams, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard forces and consults with corporations on employee health and wellbeing.
Juliet Starrett is an entrepreneur, attorney, author, and podcaster. She is cofounder and CEO of The Ready State. Juliet is the co-author of Deskbound and was a professional white-water paddler, winning three world championships and five national titles. The couple lives in California.
I have never read through an entire book about movement and exercise before and I am pleased that I read this one.
From the beginning, I found it to be a pleasant surprise from what I imagined I was going to read. It really interested me from the start because it wasn’t focused on super athletic people who could leap tall buildings. It was targeted at the everyday person who just wanted to make the most of what they had and where possible improve on their daily movement activities and diet.
The book is set out in such a manner that it is easy to read chapters that pique your interest, without having to go page by page through sections that may not be so interesting; but no doubt, the reader will go back and cover the other chapters. And in each section, there is a test that the reader can do to assess their competency level and from there you can work to improve on your original position.
The authors point out that there is more to being fit than a punishing session the gym or on the road, that the aim is to see if a person can move capably across platforms – to be functional at a level that allows the individual to do everything they want and need to do.
My favourite chapter in the book is Vital Sign 4 – Walk This Way. It spoke to me because I am a walker. The simple act of walking surpasses any fitness gadget or club member ship you can buy; it’s the best movement tool available.
The authors go on to explain the value of counting your steps with the aim of increasing them on a daily basis.
Included in the book is Vital Sign 6 – Eat Like You Are Going To Live Forever which is obviously about food. This was an interesting chapter which highlighted the importance of good nutrition – noting what counts and what doesn’t count in an easy-to-read table. The information is clear and concise encouraging the reader to once again, as in every chapter, to do the test. In this case, weigh the food so that you can get a picture of what the recommended weight of the food looks like.
The Afterword in the book notes: Exercise is your supplemental insurance plan. If you are following the physical practices in this book – specifically the 8,000 to 10,000 steps protocol – then you are exercising to some degree.
This was an enjoyable and informative book to read and I would certainly recommend it to everyone, not only those interested in exercise but for those who want to lead a better life.
Built to Move
[2023]
by Juiet Starrett
Hachette
ISBN 978 139870 869 3
$34.99; 336pp