Ultimate Fitness: The Quest for Truth about Health and Exercise (Abridged)

The bestselling science reporter from The New York Times tells us what works and what doesn't when we work out

Ultimate Fitness is Gina Kolata's compelling journey into the world of American physical fitness over the past thirty years. It is a funny, eye-opening, brow-sweating investigation into fads, fiction, and the science and hucksterism of fitness training.

From the early days of jogging, championed by Jim Fixx--who later died of a heart attack--to stretching, cycling, aerobics, and Spi...