On Muscle explores the physical and emotional power of strength, blending memoir with cultural commentary. Tsui focuses on women's experiences with muscle, touching on how movement can be transformative—especially for people with disabilities, who often feel whole through movement even when society sees them as broken. While the book includes some science, it leans more anecdotal, offering personal stories over deep research.

If you're interested in the intersection of strength, identity, and resilience, this is a thought-provoking and engaging read.

Thanks to Algonquin Books for the advance review copy.

A fascinating and accessible exploration of muscles -we use them, how they're shaped, how we became obsessed with them.

I requested this book because I enjoyed WHY WE SWIM. On Muscle is associative and surprising, just as good nonfiction should be. The combination of the personal and the public, the scientific and the emotional, narrative and research, is highly engaging. It made me want to pick up my kettlebells.

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!

This book combines approachable science, memoir and essay about one of the most important parts of the human body (the heart is a muscle after all). The author has been into fitness all her life and, in this volume, she explores what it means to “make a muscle”. There is a well-researched historical component, as well as the stories of many people who study or have made them part of their daily lives. How some have overcome adversity and disability to flourish (a yoga teacher in a wheelchair, for instance). It is well written and entertaining. It was just not so much what I was expecting. I wanted more science. These parts about human anatomy satisfied me, but there is so much more here. Readers who look for human stories and those who enjoy memoirs will probably love it. This was not my usual read, but it is definitely fascinating.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Algonquin Books.

When I saw this author had published a new book, I was eager to read it because I had enjoyed reading "Why We Swim," published in 2020. Both books are excellent for amateur athletes and people who want to understand more about how our bodies operate.

Informative work of science writing - the reporting is particularly engaging. Complements Michael Joseph Gross related new book, Stronger: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives.

This book is fascinating! Bonnie Tsui tackles the science and culture of muscle in a fresh, interdisciplinary way, mixing in biology, anthropology, history, and personal stories. The ability to cover topics like the history of muscle as a beauty ideal, the mental and physical impact of muscle health, and even the exploration of resilience and endurance gives the book a well-rounded appeal.