Strongman: The Doug Hepburn Story

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read!!!!
Review: Hello! I'm a 26 year old weightlifter, and had heard the name Doug Hepburn a few times in strength and bodybuilding magazines. However, I really didnt know much about the man until I purchased this book. I can honestly say, this man's story was inspiring and yet sad at times. It's one of the best reads I've had in a while, and those who are involved in weight training will want to pick up a copy of this book.

I really came away feeling inspired and grateful. With all the hogwash out there written by juiced-up "athletes," it's good to know people like Mr. Hepburn were truly the strongest of the strong naturally and that it IS possible to become strong without chemicals. Had I known of him years ago before his passing, he truly would have been someone I'd want to meet in person.

Also, many thanks to the book's author, Mr. Tom Thurston, who took the time to respond to my letter and answer my questions.

Rating:
Summary: Remarkable
Review: Impossible to read "Strongman: The Doug Hepburn Story" without coming away both drained and inspired. Thurston's approach to the telling of Hepburn's life is as remarkable as the great man himself. Hepburn should have died long before he did. That he beat the odds to once again become the champion he once was, is the stuff that makes a legend. A fantastic read!

Rating:
Summary: Bittersweet tales from one of the greats.
Review: Pick it up and I doubt you'll put it down. This book is nothing more than an honest look back at a life lived to the fullest, through ups as well as downs, on and off the lifting platform.
Some nice information on Doug's simple yet effective training methods are included as well.
HAIL DOUG!!!

Rating:
Summary: Strongman - the Doug Hepburn Story
Review: Strongman - the Doug Hepburn Story
by Tom Thurston

Tom Thurston's aptly titled biography of Doug Hepburn, Strongman, is a telling tale of one man's aspirations to greatness, while struggling with the material world. For me, this book represents a very humanizing portrait of an inspiring boyhood hero from the fifties. Doug wrestled with the temptations of being exploited into the image of a larger than life, plastic fantastic, comic book like action figure. It is the story of one very human being. Combining insightful sensitivity with brutal reality, Tom delivers a penetrating study into Doug's indomitable spirit.

This book is a must read, from those casually interested in fitness to the competing athlete. This is the story about one man who actually did live by the creed: no tricks, not gear, not drugs.

Bill Owens
Comox, BC
Canada



Rating:
Summary: Much More than a Weightlifting Book
Review: Tom Thurston has done a brilliant job of portraying Doug Hepburn's remarkable life. Hepburn seems to have wanted to be depicted "warts and all" and Thurston's rendering is unflinching.

Born with a club foot and badly crossed eyes, Doug Hepburn had the courage and strength of will to become arguably the strongest natural (i.e. trained without benefit of steroids or other performance enhancers) man in history.

Weight lifters and others who wish to train without risking their health--Hepburn retained his incredible strength into his later years--can use this book as a training manual. It ought to be required reading for young athletes.

But Thurston's book is much more than a training manual, or dry recitation of weights lifted and contests won (although the book has all of these statistics). The raw honesty of its narrative coupled with the astonishing achievments of its subject combine to make it make it a compelling read. It's a page turner as hard to put down as a best selling novel.

And yet it's all true, often painfully so. This is no mere homage or whitewashed "Biography Channel" version of Doug Hepburn's life. Thurston depicts those qualities of spirit which determined Doug Hepburn's greatness as an athlete, while at the same time letting us see those aspects of his life and character which were at odds with his natural gifts and self-determined destiny.

In short, a great read even if you don't care about weight-training, or other athletic achievment at the world-class level, and a must read if you do.

Rating:
Summary: Much More than a Weightlifting Book
Review: Tom Thurston has done a brilliant job of portraying Doug Hepburn's remarkable life. Hepburn seems to have wanted to be depicted "warts and all" and Thurston's rendering is unflinching.

Born with a club foot and badly crossed eyes, Doug Hepburn had the courage and strength of will to become arguably the strongest natural (i.e. trained without benefit of steroids or other performance enhancers) man in history.

Weight lifters and others who wish to train without risking their health--Hepburn retained his incredible strength into his later years--can use this book as a training manual. It ought to be required reading for young athletes.

But Thurston's book is much more than a training manual, or dry recitation of weights lifted and contests won (although the book has all of these statistics). The raw honesty of its narrative coupled with the astonishing achievments of its subject combine to make it make it a compelling read. It's a page turner as hard to put down as a best selling novel.

And yet it's all true, often painfully so. This is no mere homage or whitewashed "Biography Channel" version of Doug Hepburn's life. Thurston depicts those qualities of spirit which determined Doug Hepburn's greatness as an athlete, while at the same time letting us see those aspects of his life and character which were at odds with his natural gifts and self-determined destiny.

In short, a great read even if you don't care about weight-training, or other athletic achievment at the world-class level, and a must read if you do.