Books & Literature

Audiobook Review: The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation, by Michael Matthews

Fitness expert Mike Matthews provides a practical and motivational self-help book for radical transformation, inside and outside the gym, using personal stories, scientific research, and time-proven tactics.

The myth of the self-made man is one of the fables challenged as Michael Matthew narrates his own book about motivation. The lesson, like most of his research, is as applicable to life in general as it is to hitting the gym.

Matthews analyses the age-old challenge of motivation using evidence-based knowledge instead of marketing hype. His audiobook is accompanied by additional resources, tools, a reference guide, meal plans and more that can be downloaded from a URL mentioned in the book.

He’s a great motivational speaker and instils trust in the listener after the first 10 minutes of self-promotion and praise. Once you get past the self-indulgent opening, Matthew’s ideas begin to shine. He sets out and succeeds in showing that health and fitness is a lot simpler to obtain than some industry bodies would like us to believe.

His focus is on principles, not processes, because a process that works for one person may not work for another. The emotional and psychological benefits of short-term gratification, the psychology of advertising, and the power of formulating, prioritising and accomplishing your own goals are all open for discussion. At heart, this is a book that helps us to understand ourselves better, and the things that make us tick.

Matthews is a positive and encouraging influencer who acknowledges that no one achieves anything alone. The importance of giving, sharing and being accountable is as important as it is to reach out for help. He discusses the 40% rule too – the belief that when you think you are done, you have only reached 40% of what you’re actually capable of.

There’s a plethora of self-help, motivational and workout books flooding the marketplace but this one stands out because of Matthew’s refreshingly positive attitude that goes beyond a simple can-do pep talk. His personal experiences, combined with research, adds additional dimensions that encourages the listener and helps them push beyond their self-imposed limitations.

The audiobook of The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation runs almost five and half hours, with the audio edition being ideal to listen to in the gym or during a few long walks. It was released by Oculus Publishers in August 2018 and is available through Audible.com.au.

Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet

Rating out of 10:  8

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