Brother Iron, Sister Steel

Reviewed by Bookideas.com

Rating: 10
"On my Top Ten List"
Reviewed by: Douglas Malcolm

I've put off writing this review for far too long. Laree Draper, wife of the author, contacted me months ago about Brother Iron, Sister Steel, and sent me a copy to peruse.

At first, I was skeptical. I know who Dave Draper is from following the bodybuilding scene in my youth (he has been Mr. America, Mr. Universe, and Mr. World), but I've been disappointed in the past at the actual writings of the champions, specifically a certain ex-Mr. Olympia who shall remain nameless due to the fact that he outweighs me by some 150 lbs of muscle. *cough*Dorian Yates*cough* ...did you hear something? Me? No, I didn't say anything.

So I sat down with this book feeling some trepidation, which gradually turned to incredulity the longer I read. I say this now, and for the record: Brother Iron, Sister Steel is simply the best book on training I have ever read. Bar none.

It's become one of those breakthrough books for me. What was unknown or murky or done by rote before suddenly all fell into place, and seems so obvious in retrospect. Don't you love when that happens? The mark of genius. Dave's writing style takes a little getting used to, but once I did, it was clear to me that I was reading the work of a phenomenal mind.

Here's an odd analogy about it, because it's rare to find someone into both lifting and science fiction, but here goes: In the TV series Babylon 5, there is this certain character G'Kar (alien, of course) who begins to write a book for himself one day. It contains his thoughts and philosophies - his views on life. The book was meant to be private, but unbeknownst to him, a copy makes it back to his home world. A few people read the book, and it moves them greatly enough that it is passed on. It begins to spread like wildfire thoroughout his world. Soon this book has become the dominant religious/spiritual book on the planet, and our original character G'Kar is besieged by followers, eager to learn at his feet. Essentially, that book became the "new bible" for that race.

Brother Iron, Sister Steel has had a similar effect on me. It has supplanted my entire bodybuilding library in importance, and I don't see how it can be outdone.

Yes, but how? By transcending the genre itself. There are routines in this book, but none that you are expected to follow blindly. This book is the embodiment of the old saying "If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, he eats for a lifetime." Dave has taught me how to fish. Specific training ideas, nutrition, exercises (and how to perform them), attitude adjusters, supplements, and so much more - it's all here, and he tells the why behind the how, so that you can judge entirely for yourself what will work for you. I now finally understand that nobody is a better judge of what my specific routine should be but me, and he has put down on paper the tools to design and modify that regimen as needed, along with a healthy dollop of practical advice and motivational thoughts... but that's not exactly it either. More like "motivational meta-thoughts". Thoughts that I can use as the basis for my own personal motivation. Philosophies. Attitudes. Things I wish I had said first. And it is all done in an extremely down-to-earth manner.

I feel like I've just discovered this "training uncle," a man very similar to myself in thought and deed, who has been walking the same path I have walked, but for much longer. This uncle is wise, kind, and gives freely of his knowledge, if only I have the intelligence to listen. One day I chose to listen, and lo! The scales fell from my eyes.

I'll never need another bodybuilding book again. Period.