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On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters
From the bestselling author of
Why We Swim
comes a mind-expanding exploration of muscle—from our ancient obsession with the ideal human form to the modern science of this amazing and adaptable tissue—that will change the way you think about what moves us through the world.
“Remarkable . . . A singular book about the true meanings of strength and flexibility, about our ability to define who we are and who we might be.”—Ed Yong, New York Times bestselling author of An Immense World and I Contain Multitudes
In On Muscle, Bonnie Tsui brings her signature blend of science, culture, immersive reporting, and personal narrative to examine not just what muscles are but what they mean to us. Cardiac, smooth, skeletal—these three different types of muscle in our bodies make our hearts beat; push food through our intestines, blood through our vessels, babies out the uterus; attach to our bones and allow for motion. Tsui also traces how muscles have defined beauty—and how they have distorted it—through the ages, and how they play an essential role in our physical and mental health.
Tsui introduces us to the first female weightlifter to pick up the famed Scottish Dinnie Stones, then takes us on a 50-mile run through the Nevada desert that follows the path of escape from a Native boarding school—and gives the concept of endurance new meaning. She travels to Oslo, where cutting-edge research reveals how muscles help us bounce back after injury and illness, an important aspect of longevity. She jumps into the action with a historic Double Dutch club in Washington, D.C., to explain anew what Charles Darwin meant by the brain-body connection. Woven throughout are stories of Tsui’s childhood with her Chinese immigrant artist dad—a black belt in karate—who schools her from a young age in a kind of quirky, in-house Muscle Academy.
On Muscle shows us the poetry in the physical, and the surprising ways muscle can reveal what we’re capable of.
“Remarkable . . . A singular book about the true meanings of strength and flexibility, about our ability to define who we are and who we might be.”—Ed Yong, New York Times bestselling author of An Immense World and I Contain Multitudes
In On Muscle, Bonnie Tsui brings her signature blend of science, culture, immersive reporting, and personal narrative to examine not just what muscles are but what they mean to us. Cardiac, smooth, skeletal—these three different types of muscle in our bodies make our hearts beat; push food through our intestines, blood through our vessels, babies out the uterus; attach to our bones and allow for motion. Tsui also traces how muscles have defined beauty—and how they have distorted it—through the ages, and how they play an essential role in our physical and mental health.
Tsui introduces us to the first female weightlifter to pick up the famed Scottish Dinnie Stones, then takes us on a 50-mile run through the Nevada desert that follows the path of escape from a Native boarding school—and gives the concept of endurance new meaning. She travels to Oslo, where cutting-edge research reveals how muscles help us bounce back after injury and illness, an important aspect of longevity. She jumps into the action with a historic Double Dutch club in Washington, D.C., to explain anew what Charles Darwin meant by the brain-body connection. Woven throughout are stories of Tsui’s childhood with her Chinese immigrant artist dad—a black belt in karate—who schools her from a young age in a kind of quirky, in-house Muscle Academy.
On Muscle shows us the poetry in the physical, and the surprising ways muscle can reveal what we’re capable of.
Audible Audio
Published April 22, 2025
183 people are currently reading
7820 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Tsui
12 books323 followersBonnie Tsui is a longtime contributor to The New York Times and the bestselling author of Why We Swim, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and a Time magazine and NPR Best Book of the Year; it has been translated into ten languages and was a Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Science. Bonnie is also the author of American Chinatown, which won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and Sarah and the Big Wave, a children’s book about the first woman to surf Mavericks and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. She is a consultant for the Hulu television series Interior Chinatown. Her new book, On Muscle, will be published in April 2025. Her work has been recognized and supported by Harvard University, the National Press Foundation, the Mesa Refuge, and the Best American Essays series. She lives, swims, and surfs in the Bay Area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
May 8, 2025
"AT THE MOST basic level, muscle powers and animates our existence..."
Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy On Muscle. I have been strength training for most of my adult life, and will read just about any book I come across on the topic. From the book's title, I was expecting to read some new research on strength training, or other interesting writing centering around weightlifting, training, and their related science and applications. Although there was some of that, it somewhat took a backseat to other writing. The finished product fell short of my expectations. More below.
Author Bonnie Tsui is an American writer and journalist of Hong Kong descent. She was born in New York, New York, graduated from Harvard University, and currently lives in Berkeley, California.
Bonnie Tsui:
She writes with a fairly decent style here, and this one shouldn't struggle to hold the reader's attention. She drops the quote at the start of this review, and it continues:
In this short quote she talks about the aim of the book:
The author talks quite a bit here about Jan Todd, an early trailblazing female powerlifter, who held many strength records. She mentions a funny clip of her on the Johnny Carson Show, where he tries to deadlift 415lbs. She also talks about Todd's incredible record-setting lifting of the famous Scottish Dinnie Stones. The Stones have a combined weight of 332.49kg / 733lbs. The larger of the 2 stones weighs 188.02kg / 414.5lbs whilst the smaller stone weighs in at 144.47kgs / 318.5lb.
The Dinnie Stones :
Sadly, although the book started off innocuously enough, it deteriorated as it went on. The first problem is its title. It should have been called something along the lines of: "A Feminist Memoir of Muscle; Stories From My Life."
She also has this habit of talking about people by saying "bodies" ad nauseum. "Bodies" that lift. "Inhabiting bodies that..." "occupying space as a body that..." and so on. Rinse and repeat. Over and over. And over again. And again. This was benign at first, then progressed to thoroughly irritate the shit out of me as the book went on.
Tsui starts by talking about women and weightlifting. She focuses on women being "kept out" of strength training by men. Women as the "poor victims" of men. There is a lot of leftist ideological jargon peppered liberally throughout the book - although she did somewhat dial it back for the last ~half of the book (thankfully). She uses derogatory language to talk about men here often. I found myself scratching my head numerous times. What is the purpose of this? There were lots of misandrist feminist rantings, as well as rants about the "evil white man." I wonder if she would think rantings about women and minorities would be appropriate in a book? Something tells me no.
The rantings about the evil white man ramped up when she included a chapter about a Native Indian man. She dials up the victimology when talking about him. She falsely states that the bodies of ~200+ children had been discovered in Canadian residential schools in 2021. This is not true. No bodies have been found. What happened is that researchers found "soil disturbances" in the ground using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). What are these soil disturbances? Inconclusive. FWIW, the areas scanned were church grounds and known grave sites. Many of the original wood crosses that marked older graves have now decomposed. The entire affair was a SNAFU that Canadians lost their minds over, but turned out to be a huge media lie, with virtually no aspect of the story being remotely true. Why this writing was included here is a mystery, as it is arguably not germane to the book at all.
More generally, the book lacks a central thesis and a narrative end goal. It doesn't know what it wants to be. It's not really a science book, and it's not a strength training guide. It is roughly 1 part memoir, 1 part short story, and 1 part Critical Theory/Feminist take. Although there were interesting tidbits scattered throughout here and there, I didn't find too much real substance or value, unfortunately.
********************
On Muscle did not meet my expectations. I wouldn't recommend it. Remind me to take a hard pass on anything else this author produces.
2 stars.
Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy On Muscle. I have been strength training for most of my adult life, and will read just about any book I come across on the topic. From the book's title, I was expecting to read some new research on strength training, or other interesting writing centering around weightlifting, training, and their related science and applications. Although there was some of that, it somewhat took a backseat to other writing. The finished product fell short of my expectations. More below.
Author Bonnie Tsui is an American writer and journalist of Hong Kong descent. She was born in New York, New York, graduated from Harvard University, and currently lives in Berkeley, California.
Bonnie Tsui:
She writes with a fairly decent style here, and this one shouldn't struggle to hold the reader's attention. She drops the quote at the start of this review, and it continues:
"...The biologist and biomechanics pioneer Steven Vogel wrote that “muscle has been our sole engine for most of our time on earth.” He pointed out that whether it’s the tiniest flea or the largest whale, what moves and propels creatures great and small is, well, “the same stuff.” Evidence of animals first flexing their muscles dates back 560 million years, to a recently discovered fossil of a cnidarian, an animal phylum that includes modern jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones. It has bundles of muscle fibers arranged in radial symmetry.
When we talk about what moves us as human beings—if you really want to get down to the heart of things, the meat of it, figuratively—it’s muscle, literally. Strongest and biggest muscles? In your heart and your jaw, and in your butt. (We’ll talk more about that later.) Smallest and weirdest?
In your ear is the stapedius, just one millimeter long, controlling the vibrations of the stapes, a.k.a. the stirrup, the smallest bone in the body. And perhaps there are muscles you’ve never heard of, teeny ones in funny places —like the arrector pili, the little muscle fibers that give you goose bumps. Maybe you have them now, just picturing them."
In this short quote she talks about the aim of the book:
"This book is an invitation to explore the many ways that muscle is the vivid engine of our lives. Note that this is not an anatomy textbook; nor is it a guide to working out. What you will find, though, are stories about the stuff that moves us and why it matters.
When I reflect on why I wanted to write a book about muscle, I realize that a lot of it has to do with a longing for my dad. I found myself wanting to write about things I can talk to him about. To go deeper into the muscle inquiry and pull him back into my orbit. To recover some sense of that closeness we once had."
The author talks quite a bit here about Jan Todd, an early trailblazing female powerlifter, who held many strength records. She mentions a funny clip of her on the Johnny Carson Show, where he tries to deadlift 415lbs. She also talks about Todd's incredible record-setting lifting of the famous Scottish Dinnie Stones. The Stones have a combined weight of 332.49kg / 733lbs. The larger of the 2 stones weighs 188.02kg / 414.5lbs whilst the smaller stone weighs in at 144.47kgs / 318.5lb.
The Dinnie Stones :
Sadly, although the book started off innocuously enough, it deteriorated as it went on. The first problem is its title. It should have been called something along the lines of: "A Feminist Memoir of Muscle; Stories From My Life."
She also has this habit of talking about people by saying "bodies" ad nauseum. "Bodies" that lift. "Inhabiting bodies that..." "occupying space as a body that..." and so on. Rinse and repeat. Over and over. And over again. And again. This was benign at first, then progressed to thoroughly irritate the shit out of me as the book went on.
Tsui starts by talking about women and weightlifting. She focuses on women being "kept out" of strength training by men. Women as the "poor victims" of men. There is a lot of leftist ideological jargon peppered liberally throughout the book - although she did somewhat dial it back for the last ~half of the book (thankfully). She uses derogatory language to talk about men here often. I found myself scratching my head numerous times. What is the purpose of this? There were lots of misandrist feminist rantings, as well as rants about the "evil white man." I wonder if she would think rantings about women and minorities would be appropriate in a book? Something tells me no.
The rantings about the evil white man ramped up when she included a chapter about a Native Indian man. She dials up the victimology when talking about him. She falsely states that the bodies of ~200+ children had been discovered in Canadian residential schools in 2021. This is not true. No bodies have been found. What happened is that researchers found "soil disturbances" in the ground using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). What are these soil disturbances? Inconclusive. FWIW, the areas scanned were church grounds and known grave sites. Many of the original wood crosses that marked older graves have now decomposed. The entire affair was a SNAFU that Canadians lost their minds over, but turned out to be a huge media lie, with virtually no aspect of the story being remotely true. Why this writing was included here is a mystery, as it is arguably not germane to the book at all.
More generally, the book lacks a central thesis and a narrative end goal. It doesn't know what it wants to be. It's not really a science book, and it's not a strength training guide. It is roughly 1 part memoir, 1 part short story, and 1 part Critical Theory/Feminist take. Although there were interesting tidbits scattered throughout here and there, I didn't find too much real substance or value, unfortunately.
********************
On Muscle did not meet my expectations. I wouldn't recommend it. Remind me to take a hard pass on anything else this author produces.
2 stars.
April 22, 2025
I enjoyed this meditation on muscles - what they mean for us, the people we love, and for society as a whole.
I am not a muscly or sporty person, and I've long had a complicated relationship with my body and exercise, but I was drawn to this audiobook from the lovely art in the cover, and convinced to listen to it by the recommendation on it from Ed Yong, whose books I have loved.
Bonnie Tsui is a great narrator, and her passion for the stories she is telling really comes through. The diversity of perspectives keeps you listening for more, even as some sections don't seem to flow together perfectly.
I would have liked a bit more muscle science, but it became more philosophical and with touches of memoir that I didn't really expect from the blurb. All in all, pleasantly different from what I thought it would be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advance audio copy of this book.
I am not a muscly or sporty person, and I've long had a complicated relationship with my body and exercise, but I was drawn to this audiobook from the lovely art in the cover, and convinced to listen to it by the recommendation on it from Ed Yong, whose books I have loved.
Bonnie Tsui is a great narrator, and her passion for the stories she is telling really comes through. The diversity of perspectives keeps you listening for more, even as some sections don't seem to flow together perfectly.
I would have liked a bit more muscle science, but it became more philosophical and with touches of memoir that I didn't really expect from the blurb. All in all, pleasantly different from what I thought it would be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advance audio copy of this book.
April 26, 2025
Part memoir, part science, part culture book, mostly memoir. This is the first of two memoirs that I have been "tricked" into reading. I don't mind reading memoirs but only if that was what I wanted to do. I really wanted more of a science book. It wasn't bad, just not what I wanted to begin with.
Some good thoughts about muscle and its impact on women in particular.
Some good thoughts about muscle and its impact on women in particular.
March 30, 2025
Such a great book that has a perfect balance of science, emotions, and memoir to discuss muscles! Loved it!!
April 29, 2025
With an intriguing blend of deep research, memoir-like passages, and expert interviews/anecdotes/quotes, all around a topic most of us don't often think about, this book definitely made an impact. Tsui covers the body from head to toe, inside (muscle science) to outside (societal expectations), physical to spiritual, and still manages to make it fun to read/listen to.
As someone who came to long distance running in mid-life, and only then really focused on my body and what it could do, I appreciated the multiple perspectives from which muscles are explored. From body building to surfing, yoga to running, and even what muscles mean for someone who is paralyzed, she casts a wide net. The author's personal experiences, as well as those of multiple people she interviewed, really enhanced my appreciation and ability to soak up the knowledge she shares.
I listened to this on audio, but will likely get a physical book because I feel the need to re-read and highlight so many of the passages and specific information.
Please note: I received an advanced listening copy from NetGalley & Hachette Audio in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
As someone who came to long distance running in mid-life, and only then really focused on my body and what it could do, I appreciated the multiple perspectives from which muscles are explored. From body building to surfing, yoga to running, and even what muscles mean for someone who is paralyzed, she casts a wide net. The author's personal experiences, as well as those of multiple people she interviewed, really enhanced my appreciation and ability to soak up the knowledge she shares.
I listened to this on audio, but will likely get a physical book because I feel the need to re-read and highlight so many of the passages and specific information.
Please note: I received an advanced listening copy from NetGalley & Hachette Audio in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
March 29, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and algonquin books for the egalley of this title.
The premise based on the title, cover,and subtitle is a but misleading as this seems more like a set of essays. The writing is beautiful, but the text isn't sure what it wants to be and struggles for continuity. Some books pull of the combo of memoir/narrative nonfiction/science, but unfortunately, this one struggled to find a focus.
Her research and writing skills can't be denied- they are great it just felt like they book found different pathes very easily in each chapter.
The premise based on the title, cover,and subtitle is a but misleading as this seems more like a set of essays. The writing is beautiful, but the text isn't sure what it wants to be and struggles for continuity. Some books pull of the combo of memoir/narrative nonfiction/science, but unfortunately, this one struggled to find a focus.
Her research and writing skills can't be denied- they are great it just felt like they book found different pathes very easily in each chapter.
March 10, 2025
4.5 ⭐ rounded down
First, thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the eARC of this book!!
I LOVED reading this one! I thought it was educational both on a high level of just understanding better how muscles allow our body to function and deeper with the ways in which they move us; it was also incredibly interesting to see how she tied it in with anthropology and the ways muscles and bodies are seen in differing cultures and people groups. I did competitive powerlifting for a big portion of my adolescence and the first part of the book, focusing on Jan Todd, was my favorite. Reading Jan's story was great! I'd read anything she's involved in hahaha! All of this was especially intriguing to me as an athlete and historian. 🤪
I'd recommend this read to really anyone with any interest in the human body--the literal physical version, the idealized version that varies based upon who and where you are on the globe, and how muscles impact our understanding of both bodies and the world around them. This will be a wonderful addition to any library!
First, thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the eARC of this book!!
I LOVED reading this one! I thought it was educational both on a high level of just understanding better how muscles allow our body to function and deeper with the ways in which they move us; it was also incredibly interesting to see how she tied it in with anthropology and the ways muscles and bodies are seen in differing cultures and people groups. I did competitive powerlifting for a big portion of my adolescence and the first part of the book, focusing on Jan Todd, was my favorite. Reading Jan's story was great! I'd read anything she's involved in hahaha! All of this was especially intriguing to me as an athlete and historian. 🤪
I'd recommend this read to really anyone with any interest in the human body--the literal physical version, the idealized version that varies based upon who and where you are on the globe, and how muscles impact our understanding of both bodies and the world around them. This will be a wonderful addition to any library!
September 4, 2025
aaaah idk didn't catch my attention as much as I expected
July 22, 2025
A mix of personal experience and interviews with researchers / muscle experts. It was good that the chapters were short because it kept inspiring me to get up and move!
June 8, 2025
Having been stuck in a little exercise rut, I saw this book and thought it would be an interesting read to get me back to the gym. While I must admit, I also picked it to get the “Heritage Reads” bookmark in the reading challenges, I was intrigued by the title and the notion of learning about the muscles of the body. What I did not expect was to be entertained and moved by anecdotal stories about the power of movement.
The book gave me similar vibes to Amy Tan and her stories of growing up ABC. I loved how the authors childhood stories of time spent with her father, cultivating her love of both exercise and art were woven seamlessly between the pages, not all unlike muscles are woven between bone and tendon. The chapters covered everything from anatomy to purpose to spirituality. I was pleasantly surprised, not only by how much I learned, but also by how much I cared and was inspired.
I am definitely taking a lot of great information from this book, both academic and of the heart. I find myself reinvigorated and motivated to get back out into the world. Whether by walking, swimming, or even just plain jumping, I plan on giving my muscles the love (and workout) they deserve.
The book gave me similar vibes to Amy Tan and her stories of growing up ABC. I loved how the authors childhood stories of time spent with her father, cultivating her love of both exercise and art were woven seamlessly between the pages, not all unlike muscles are woven between bone and tendon. The chapters covered everything from anatomy to purpose to spirituality. I was pleasantly surprised, not only by how much I learned, but also by how much I cared and was inspired.
I am definitely taking a lot of great information from this book, both academic and of the heart. I find myself reinvigorated and motivated to get back out into the world. Whether by walking, swimming, or even just plain jumping, I plan on giving my muscles the love (and workout) they deserve.
May 28, 2025
I really wanted to love this book. The subject matter—the science, the stories, the relationship with her father—had so much potential, and I found the author herself compelling. But I ended up feeling a bit teased. Each thread offered something interesting, but just as it started to draw me in, it moved on.
It felt like the book was trying to do too much at once, and in the end, didn’t fully decide what it wanted to be.
That said, there were still moments I connected with, and I shed a tear at the end.
It felt like the book was trying to do too much at once, and in the end, didn’t fully decide what it wanted to be.
That said, there were still moments I connected with, and I shed a tear at the end.
June 25, 2025
This was interesting enough. I love learning about the human body and exercise. Narration kinda bored me. Felt like it needed an edit as well
April 1, 2025
On Muscle is a work looking at the role muscles play in not only our body, but in society and what they mean to us. Tsui uses an immersive narration style where she inserts anecdotes about her own childhood and the importance of muscle in it. I particularly enjoyed the way she uses her interviews and experiences with the experts she interacts with to paint a picture of muscles.
This style of immersive narration is one of my favorites since it helps me to connect better with the information presented and is overall a really good strategy to enjoy nonfiction novels. 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This style of immersive narration is one of my favorites since it helps me to connect better with the information presented and is overall a really good strategy to enjoy nonfiction novels. 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 22, 2025
As a person who's been struggling with my sense of my body and its capabilities since my youth, with a concrete diagnosis of the source of my disabilities only in my late 30s, this book was fascinating.
Tsui manages to connect the personal, the scientific, the philosophical, and the physical in illuminating ways. I've been treating myself with yoga for over a decade, so the chapters on the use of yoga were especially intriguing for me, but some of the most inspiring chapters discussed things that I hope never to experience, like extreme distance running.
While listening is my preferred method for nonfiction in general, I will likely acquire a print copy of this book because I want to go back and look at specific portions more closely and apply them as I grow in my own muscle-practice (even if this absolutely isn't a guidebook).
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Tsui manages to connect the personal, the scientific, the philosophical, and the physical in illuminating ways. I've been treating myself with yoga for over a decade, so the chapters on the use of yoga were especially intriguing for me, but some of the most inspiring chapters discussed things that I hope never to experience, like extreme distance running.
While listening is my preferred method for nonfiction in general, I will likely acquire a print copy of this book because I want to go back and look at specific portions more closely and apply them as I grow in my own muscle-practice (even if this absolutely isn't a guidebook).
ARC provided by NetGalley.
April 24, 2025
You're using your eyes to read this, as well as everything you do. On Muscles is a smart, funny, eloquent exploration of what it means to move. Deeply researched, and peppered with poets and artists and Tsui's personal experience, this book covers topics from body building and lifting, to long distance running, yoga and is a fun read. I have recommended it a TON already. Loved it.
June 10, 2025
Strength 💪
This is a great explanation of muscle, movement, and strength that can speak to anyone... novice or scientist. I also appreciated the incorporation of the importance of movement and building strength for our emotional and cognitive health as well as our physical health. Even at 60, I am motivated to become stronger. Thank you for the inspiration.
This is a great explanation of muscle, movement, and strength that can speak to anyone... novice or scientist. I also appreciated the incorporation of the importance of movement and building strength for our emotional and cognitive health as well as our physical health. Even at 60, I am motivated to become stronger. Thank you for the inspiration.
April 21, 2025
I really loved the way this book wove together science and memoir. I found the vignettes in each chapter to be fascinating and caused me to do multiple deep dives (my favorite part of reading non-fiction!)
Thank you to Libro.fm for my copy.
Thank you to Libro.fm for my copy.
June 22, 2025
I did not expect to cry as much and as hard as I did throughout a book about muscles, but Bonnie has a way with words and sentimentality, weaving the beauty of life's most wonderful, simple things into every story. Bonnie, I feel lucky to call you a friend. You've outdone yourself.
August 18, 2025
I like this woman's books. Swimming, surfing, yoga have had their times for me, weightlifting has been a constant, surely that explains part of the appeal. But what really sold me on her was learning that she too is a repeat offender at Surf Simply.
July 7, 2025
Interesting balance between personal stories and scientific studies about your muscles.
May 19, 2025
Unlike how its title and subtitle presentation, the book is more of collection of stories that are arbitrarily structured. In this sense, the book lacks a clear representation of a thesis and/or specific conclusions/messages.
June 8, 2025
I don’t quite have the words to express the power and beauty of ON MUSCLE, a stunning meditation on body, strength, and movement. Tsui brings nitty-gritty anatomy to life through real-world stories—from a double-dutch club and a boy’s 50-mile escape from a Native boarding school to her own reflections on how her father shaped her understanding of physical strength. And don’t worry—this book isn’t just for athletes. It's for anyone who wants to learn or reflect on the human body.
May 30, 2025
A personal and well-researched homage to muscle—the author, Bonnie Tsui, has been a lifelong swimmer and exerciser, starting in her childhood. She had been thinking about muscle for years, about how the use of our muscles can affect our lives, and how women’s exercise in particular can strengthen our bodies and minds and provide confidence and independence, despite a society that often sends women the message that we should rely on the strength of men.
Tsui writes about her childhood and then interviews different women and men who participate in different uses of muscle—Jan Todd, a woman who was never encouraged to be strong by her family but was—so strong that she could flip a car and after meeting her husband, a weightlifter and bodybuilder, she arguably became the strongest woman in the world in the 1970s and 1980s. Others interviewed are sports scientists, anatomists, runners and a yogi who found his way to yoga as he looked for ways to stay strong after becoming a paraplegic.
I love books like this that are hybrids of memoir, science nonfiction and introductions to amazing people I might never have met. This book is similar to Tsui’s earlier book, Why We Swim, in which the author traveled around the world to learn about different types and purposes for swimming, as well as extraordinary human beings who swim.
This examination of muscle gives us the ability to learn and understand people who are motivated to run, lift, and flex. Fascinating and inspirational—as owners of bodies, it’s crucial that we keep strengthening so that we aren’t incapable of movement and healthy lives as we grow older.
Tsui writes about her childhood and then interviews different women and men who participate in different uses of muscle—Jan Todd, a woman who was never encouraged to be strong by her family but was—so strong that she could flip a car and after meeting her husband, a weightlifter and bodybuilder, she arguably became the strongest woman in the world in the 1970s and 1980s. Others interviewed are sports scientists, anatomists, runners and a yogi who found his way to yoga as he looked for ways to stay strong after becoming a paraplegic.
I love books like this that are hybrids of memoir, science nonfiction and introductions to amazing people I might never have met. This book is similar to Tsui’s earlier book, Why We Swim, in which the author traveled around the world to learn about different types and purposes for swimming, as well as extraordinary human beings who swim.
This examination of muscle gives us the ability to learn and understand people who are motivated to run, lift, and flex. Fascinating and inspirational—as owners of bodies, it’s crucial that we keep strengthening so that we aren’t incapable of movement and healthy lives as we grow older.
July 25, 2025
"بوسیدن زمین در اعتدال کامل روی دستها و نوک انگشتان پا". این توصیفِ بامزه، قدیمیترین سند باقیمانده ست از نامگذاری برای حرکت پوشآپ.
سرتاسر کتاب پُره از این جور اطلاعات بامزه، داستانهای شخصی نویسنده از رابطه با پدرش، مقالات و مطالعات علمی و گزارش از اشخاصی که جای تاسفه اسم هیچ کدومشونو نشنیدیم.
نثر تسویی روان و خوشریتمه. بار احساسی متن بهدرستی با محتوای علمی و مستند تراز شده، و از همون ابتدا روشنه که نویسنده پیشنیازهای تحقیقاتی کتابو پاس کرده.
تسویی تونسته از یه موضوع بیولوژیک (عضله) یک بحث انسانی و فرهنگی دربیاره. موضوعی که میتونست بهسادگی کتابو پر از تستسترون و رقابت مردانه کنه، با انتخابهای آگاهانهی نویسنده ازجمله تمرکز بر زنان قویِ ورزشکار، یا حتی زنانی با بدنهایی بهظاهر ناتوان اما ارادههایی الهام بخش، به اثری متوازن و چندبُعدی تبدیل شده. این نگاه، حتی برای من که به قدرت فیزیکی از زاویهای سنتی نگاه میکنم، نکات تازهای داشت و افق فکریمو گسترش داد.
با این حال، بخشهایی از کتاب هست که تسویی سلیقه شخصی و identity politics رُ وارد بحثهای اجتماعی و سیاسی میکند و اینجا ست که کتاب کمی از مسیر اصلی خودش دور میشه و بهجای روشنتر کردن ذهن مخاطب، نوعی فضاسازی ایدئولوژیک پیدا میکنه. خوشبختانه این لحظات معدودند و تسویی هیچ وقت دچار افراط نمیشه؛ نه به چاقی و سستی مشروعیت میده، نه در دام شعارهای توخالی عدالتطلبی و پروگرسیوهای رادیکال مد روز میافته.
کتاب کوتاهه اما محتوایش عمیق. وارد بحثهای تخصصی سنگین نمیشه ولی به شعور و دانش پایهای خواننده احترام میذاره. لحنش صادقانه ست و خاطرات شخصیاش نه فقط برای رنگآمیزی متن، بلکه بهعنوان بخشی از استخوانبندی فکری کتاب اومدن.
اگر به دنبال کتابی هستید که هم از آن چیزی یاد بگیرید، هم شما رُ به فکر فرو ببره و هم لحظاتی از صمیمیت و تأمل انسانی به شما هدیه بده، On Muscle پیشنهاد من به شما ست.
سرتاسر کتاب پُره از این جور اطلاعات بامزه، داستانهای شخصی نویسنده از رابطه با پدرش، مقالات و مطالعات علمی و گزارش از اشخاصی که جای تاسفه اسم هیچ کدومشونو نشنیدیم.
نثر تسویی روان و خوشریتمه. بار احساسی متن بهدرستی با محتوای علمی و مستند تراز شده، و از همون ابتدا روشنه که نویسنده پیشنیازهای تحقیقاتی کتابو پاس کرده.
تسویی تونسته از یه موضوع بیولوژیک (عضله) یک بحث انسانی و فرهنگی دربیاره. موضوعی که میتونست بهسادگی کتابو پر از تستسترون و رقابت مردانه کنه، با انتخابهای آگاهانهی نویسنده ازجمله تمرکز بر زنان قویِ ورزشکار، یا حتی زنانی با بدنهایی بهظاهر ناتوان اما ارادههایی الهام بخش، به اثری متوازن و چندبُعدی تبدیل شده. این نگاه، حتی برای من که به قدرت فیزیکی از زاویهای سنتی نگاه میکنم، نکات تازهای داشت و افق فکریمو گسترش داد.
با این حال، بخشهایی از کتاب هست که تسویی سلیقه شخصی و identity politics رُ وارد بحثهای اجتماعی و سیاسی میکند و اینجا ست که کتاب کمی از مسیر اصلی خودش دور میشه و بهجای روشنتر کردن ذهن مخاطب، نوعی فضاسازی ایدئولوژیک پیدا میکنه. خوشبختانه این لحظات معدودند و تسویی هیچ وقت دچار افراط نمیشه؛ نه به چاقی و سستی مشروعیت میده، نه در دام شعارهای توخالی عدالتطلبی و پروگرسیوهای رادیکال مد روز میافته.
کتاب کوتاهه اما محتوایش عمیق. وارد بحثهای تخصصی سنگین نمیشه ولی به شعور و دانش پایهای خواننده احترام میذاره. لحنش صادقانه ست و خاطرات شخصیاش نه فقط برای رنگآمیزی متن، بلکه بهعنوان بخشی از استخوانبندی فکری کتاب اومدن.
اگر به دنبال کتابی هستید که هم از آن چیزی یاد بگیرید، هم شما رُ به فکر فرو ببره و هم لحظاتی از صمیمیت و تأمل انسانی به شما هدیه بده، On Muscle پیشنهاد من به شما ست.
June 18, 2025
This book dives into the fascinating world of muscles through the lenses of science, culture, and personal narrative. She examines cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscles, revealing how these tissues power everything from heartbeats to movement, while also tracing their significance throughout history. The book takes readers from runs in the Nevada desert to cutting-edge research in Oslo on muscle recovery and longevity. Interwoven throughout are stories about Tsui's relationship with her Chinese immigrant father, a martial artist who established their own "Muscle Academy" at home. Through encounters with weightlifters, Double Dutch champions, and adaptive yoga practitioners, Tsui highlights how muscles connect us to our physical capabilities and shared humanity.
This book completely captivated me! I found it hard to sit still while reading. What surprised me most was how deeply emotional this exploration became, particularly her poignant relationship with her father and the touching scene involving her father-in-law, who has ALS. I also enjoyed learning about Matt Sanford's adaptive yoga work and how the body holds wisdom even after experiencing trauma. Tsui's ability to blend hard science with personal storytelling is masterful—every chapter felt like both a biology lesson and a life metaphor. This book has changed how I think about my own body and what is possible when we truly understand the poetry of the physical form.
To listen to my interview with the author, visit my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
This book completely captivated me! I found it hard to sit still while reading. What surprised me most was how deeply emotional this exploration became, particularly her poignant relationship with her father and the touching scene involving her father-in-law, who has ALS. I also enjoyed learning about Matt Sanford's adaptive yoga work and how the body holds wisdom even after experiencing trauma. Tsui's ability to blend hard science with personal storytelling is masterful—every chapter felt like both a biology lesson and a life metaphor. This book has changed how I think about my own body and what is possible when we truly understand the poetry of the physical form.
To listen to my interview with the author, visit my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
July 26, 2025
Just finished On Muscle by Bonnie Tsui — and I’m honestly in awe.
If you’ve read Why We Swim, you know Tsui has a rare way of blending science, storytelling, and emotion. On Muscle takes that magic even further. She explores not just the biology of our muscles — cardiac, smooth, skeletal — but also how they shape our history, identity, resilience, and endurance.
As a former water polo goalie in high school and college, and now an outdoor runner (with some strength training thanks to my son’s persistent encouragement), I felt such a personal connection to everything Tsui wrote. This book made me think about my body in a new way — not just what it can do, but what it remembers, what it endures, and how it connects us to who we are.
Listening to the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, made the experience even richer. Tsui’s voice is clear, warm, and engaging — it honestly felt like having a conversation with a brilliant friend who just gets it.
I kept pausing the audiobook just to savor certain lines, and more than once I found myself googling the people, places, and histories she introduces. To me, that’s the sign of great nonfiction: it doesn’t end when you finish the last chapter. It leaves you curious, open, moving in more ways than one.
If you’re looking for nonfiction that’s intellectually fascinating and emotionally resonant, On Muscle is one to add to your list. It’s not just about strength — it’s about memory, healing, resilience, and the poetry of being alive in a body that carries us through the world.
If you’ve read Why We Swim, you know Tsui has a rare way of blending science, storytelling, and emotion. On Muscle takes that magic even further. She explores not just the biology of our muscles — cardiac, smooth, skeletal — but also how they shape our history, identity, resilience, and endurance.
As a former water polo goalie in high school and college, and now an outdoor runner (with some strength training thanks to my son’s persistent encouragement), I felt such a personal connection to everything Tsui wrote. This book made me think about my body in a new way — not just what it can do, but what it remembers, what it endures, and how it connects us to who we are.
Listening to the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, made the experience even richer. Tsui’s voice is clear, warm, and engaging — it honestly felt like having a conversation with a brilliant friend who just gets it.
I kept pausing the audiobook just to savor certain lines, and more than once I found myself googling the people, places, and histories she introduces. To me, that’s the sign of great nonfiction: it doesn’t end when you finish the last chapter. It leaves you curious, open, moving in more ways than one.
If you’re looking for nonfiction that’s intellectually fascinating and emotionally resonant, On Muscle is one to add to your list. It’s not just about strength — it’s about memory, healing, resilience, and the poetry of being alive in a body that carries us through the world.
April 15, 2025
In "On Muscle", Bonnie Tsui is to physical performance as Malcolm Gladwell is to psychology and Siddhartha Mukherjee is to physiology/medicine.
However, by these comparisons, this book falls short in its research grounding. I wish she went a bit deeper into the science. It's clear that she researches well-- this book took her all over the world to meet with academic and professional experts and her ability to weave narrative into real life studies and experiences is very strong.
I will say that while the author did weave a lot of approaches on muscle (hehe) into this, from micro to macro, from stem cells to martial arts, painting and Highland games-- sometimes the chapters felt a little disjointed. Regardless, all chapters were all well written, compelling and could stand alone for a quick read at any point.
Given the gamut of topics covered, while still being relatively brief, this would make a great book club pick.
Beautiful illustrations on the cover and within! Plus, any book with references/resources at the end is an automatic "need-to-own!"
**This review is based on an ARC.
However, by these comparisons, this book falls short in its research grounding. I wish she went a bit deeper into the science. It's clear that she researches well-- this book took her all over the world to meet with academic and professional experts and her ability to weave narrative into real life studies and experiences is very strong.
I will say that while the author did weave a lot of approaches on muscle (hehe) into this, from micro to macro, from stem cells to martial arts, painting and Highland games-- sometimes the chapters felt a little disjointed. Regardless, all chapters were all well written, compelling and could stand alone for a quick read at any point.
Given the gamut of topics covered, while still being relatively brief, this would make a great book club pick.
Beautiful illustrations on the cover and within! Plus, any book with references/resources at the end is an automatic "need-to-own!"
**This review is based on an ARC.
April 25, 2025
Very calm, positive, almost meditatve voice of Bonnie Tsui was an absolute pleasure to listen to. She spoke about very important topics, her personal life and trauma, people’s injuries, diseases and death… But regardless what was the story, she talked about it so peaceful and grounded that you never step on the negative spectrum of emotions. Instead, Bonnie consistently highlighted the opportunities our bodies still present to us, even when the worst possible scenario happens. With that, you come to realise that our bodies are always there for us and we have to nurture and praise them.
The stories of differrent athletes and regular people exploring their bodies and physical limits were inspirational and heart-warming. I especially loved when Bonnie talked about on sports as something that unites people and creates a unique sense of community that’s hard to find elsewhere. She also beatufully reflected on locker room experience, on seeing human bodies as they are and connections that naturally form, while we are the most exposed. It was something I’d never thought about before, but was so true.
I’m very glad I had a chance to experience this book and find the inspiration, while not exactly looking for it.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley.
The stories of differrent athletes and regular people exploring their bodies and physical limits were inspirational and heart-warming. I especially loved when Bonnie talked about on sports as something that unites people and creates a unique sense of community that’s hard to find elsewhere. She also beatufully reflected on locker room experience, on seeing human bodies as they are and connections that naturally form, while we are the most exposed. It was something I’d never thought about before, but was so true.
I’m very glad I had a chance to experience this book and find the inspiration, while not exactly looking for it.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley.
August 25, 2025
Bonnie Tsui’s On Muscle is a fascinating meditation on strength both physical and metaphorical. She weaves together science, history, and personal narrative to explore what muscle means in our bodies and our lives. I loved how she connected the purely biological with the deeply human, asking us to think about strength not just as something we build in the gym, but as resilience, memory, and even identity.
What stood out most to me was Tsui’s lens as a BIPOC woman and the way she highlighted bodies and stories that fall outside the typical “white, male athlete” mold. From Indigenous running traditions to finding movement and strength after life-changing experiences, and her reflections on Asian culture, the book celebrates strength in its many forms. As a BIPOC woman myself, I felt seen, understood, and deeply affirmed by these narratives.
Her writing makes complex ideas approachable and personal. On Muscle is not a how-to fitness book. It is something much richer — a cultural and personal exploration that lingers long after you finish. I’m excited to continue diving into the topics she presented with my own research and understanding of the concepts she discusses.
What stood out most to me was Tsui’s lens as a BIPOC woman and the way she highlighted bodies and stories that fall outside the typical “white, male athlete” mold. From Indigenous running traditions to finding movement and strength after life-changing experiences, and her reflections on Asian culture, the book celebrates strength in its many forms. As a BIPOC woman myself, I felt seen, understood, and deeply affirmed by these narratives.
Her writing makes complex ideas approachable and personal. On Muscle is not a how-to fitness book. It is something much richer — a cultural and personal exploration that lingers long after you finish. I’m excited to continue diving into the topics she presented with my own research and understanding of the concepts she discusses.
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