This was my introduction to Johnston’s writing. In this book, she discusses her experience with restrictive dieting vs eating well and lifting. Throughout, she brings in facts and history about lifting.

I really enjoyed this one. Personally, I grew up on bad diets of instant breakfast, special k cereal, and crash dieting so if you told me I could eat more and still be in shape I’d think it was a joke. I am a little scared to lift, but I know that strength training is so important, it really helps you as you age, and my doctor always suggests workouts for my ACL rather than jumping to surgery.

I think if you’re on the road to getting motivated to work out or are in your fitness journey, this is a good read for you.

“A Physical Education” by Casey Johnston will be published by Grand Central Publishing on May 6, 2025! Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of this book to review.

Trigger warning for eating disorders.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve read a lot of books about weight and diet. I’ve read memoirs and fiction and short stories and articles and self-help books, and I have NEVER connected with one the way that I connected with “A Physical Education” by Casey Johnston.

The biggest reason is broken down into statistics within the book itself.

“In 2008, right around the time I submitted myself to the 1200-calorie diet, SELF magazine ran a survey of four thousand of its readers on their eating habits. It found that about 10 percent of them qualified as having a full-blown eating disorder of some kind, consistent with the rates found in the general population. But a whopping 65 percent of them exhibited disordered behaviors and thought patterns, some of which we think of as necessary in pursuit of health; trying to lose weight at an already healthy weight; skipping meals; harboring concerns about what they are or weighed that interfered with their happiness; becoming ‘extremely upset’ if they gained even five pounds.”

The book went on to explain that these habits are signs of “atypical” anorexia, but despite the language there, three times as many people have atypical anorexia vs. “typical.”

I am one of these people who calls into the category of atypical anorexia and have spent chunks of my life cutting calories below what my body needed to function and blacking out at the gym. I was so focused on tracking calories that I used to track calories from Tylenol and Ibuprofen that I took (because of a headache that I definitely got from undereating.)

And yet, I don’t see my brand of eating disorder discussed a lot. My guess is that because atypical anorexia is often undiagnosed, people are unsure as to whether they can say they even have an eating disorder. It took me years to admit that I’d had an eating disorder, though I would occasionally admit that I had “disordered eating,” which felt like the only thing I could say without a diagnosis.

Once we move past the eating disorder portion of Casey’s journey, we get into the weight-lifting portion of her story. I started lifting weights about a year and a half ago at a boot camp-based gym, and it’s changed my view 100% on how I view myself in connection to strength. I think the pipeline from eating disorder to strength training is probably more common than we realize, as both are ways to assert some control over your body, though one is certainly healthier than the other.

But onto the story:

Casey had always been active, but it hadn’t always come easily to her. She was stuck in a cycle of extreme cardio and calorie restriction that made her both want to eat nothing and binge on a massive bowl of noodles. She didn’t find intuitive eating very intuitive and despite doing her best to live a healthy lifestyle, she had a toxic relationship with her body.

And then she discovered weightlifting. In 2023, Casey stumbled upon a link on a Reddit post called “What Happened to This Woman’s Body When She Lifted Weights.” In the same subreddit, she saw a thread from a woman who had been lifting weights for six months. The woman recounted her progress and shared her seemingly simple program where she only worked out three days a week, doing three movements per day at five sets of five reps, adding five pounds at the next session if she was successful.

This went against everything Casey understood about exercise and weight loss. She’d thought you needed to work out more, for longer, and minimize breaks to get the biggest results. The woman’s diet was also different from what Casey expected. She said that she would have been proud if she made it to 2 p.m. and hadn’t eaten anything that day, but this woman was doing her best to never skip meals and was eating more than what Casey was allowing herself.

And yet, in this woman’s progress photos, she was leaner and more toned than she’d been when she started. It blew Casey’s mind.

She found herself repeatedly going back to this woman’s post, especially after her regular runs were derailed by an injured Achilles. She dove deeper into the subreddit, learning vocabulary words like “bulking,” cutting,” macros,” and “bodybuilding.” She looked into the science behind weightlifting to better understand how these people were transforming their bodies so effectively. She became enthralled by the idea of being able to recomposition your body - the process of losing fat while putting on muscle.

One of the things that appealed to Casey about weightlifting was that it didn’t seem to be focused on critiquing parts of your body. Instead, it was about setting personal goals an pushing yourself to your own limits. Failing, something demoralizing in diet culture, was actually encouraged in weightlifting. It meant that you’d done your best and were working toward what would be best in the future.

Casey’s weightlifting journey truly kicked off when she purchased the book Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe (I believe this is the author. The version of the book that I read only gave the name.) Unlike other, trendier exercise books that Casey had seen, Starting Strength lacked the fancy photoshoots with gorgeous, toned people, but it more than made up for it with a density of information. There were diagrams on how to achieve the perfect squat, including how to position all parts of your body, including the feet, butt, and back. While Casey understood a squat to be a simple movement, the book broke it down into extreme specifics; More than 100 pages focused on squats alone. This left little room for misunderstanding and helped Casey to understand the motion long before she set foot in a gym.

At the back of the book, there was a suggested program, starting with three movements a day, three sets, and five reps per set. The program pushed the idea of taking rests between sets, something that had previously seemed counterproductive to Casey. But with weightlifting, rest was part of the process.

Casey entered a gym with the intent to lift weights for the first time in May 2014. She described the gym, called Ritchie’s as a “grimy independent gym, with barely comprehensible signage and metal grates covering the windows.” But it had the free weights she needed and only cost $25/month.

She was incredibly nervous to work out in front of what seemed to be a bunch of “gym bros” and there didn’t seem to be any women around. She made a few mistakes right off the bat; She picked up a weight that was too heavy but was too embarrassed to put it back, so she attempted a lift with it and smashed the weight into her sternum. She was mortified, especially when a man with a thick accent approached her. But instead of critiquing her, he simply offered to spot her by keeping two fingers below the barbell to catch it in case of failure. She left the gym that day after doing plenty of things she hoped she wouldn’t have to do, like interacting with someone and looking like an idiot, but she’d done it.

As Casey progressed in her weightlifting, she also progressed with her diet. She was no longer hoping to eat as few calories as possible to become as small as possible, but rather fueling her body to help her accomplish building strength and helping her body with functional movement, like carrying her cat’s heavy litter, something that had been nearly impossible before. She learned to view food as fuel rather than something to be restricted.

“Through all this, the old compulsions I feared might be triggered by dieting, by tracking, by weighing - in hopes of weight loss - did not show up. Eating less did not make me feel compelled to eat even less still; knowing that it would hurt to try and hurry the process, and that the process was working exactly as quickly as it should - which was actually pretty slowly - kept me on the path.”

Today, Casey runs “She’s A Beast,” a free weekly newsletter on strength training with paid subscription options for those who want them. She also runs a discord channel that offers form checks, advice, and community and offers her own strength training program.

“A Physical Education” is a must-read for anyone interested in weightlifting, regardless of history, gender, strength level, etc. Casey isn’t only a strong human, but a strong writer, pulling in stories from her life and relating them to her weightlifting journey. It’s a great book for beginners because it shows a clear way to enter into the world of lifting and breaks down exercise and diet in a way that seems achievable.

While I may have been Casey’s ideal audience (I have signed up for her newsletter and shared the book with my gym’s Facebook group), I know that people whose stories don’t align as strongly with Casey’s will find value and entertainment in this book.

This memoir combines the author's own body image and strength training journeys with history and social commentary about weight lifting in the United States.

I loved reading about how Johnston transformed from an undereating waif of a runner, struggling with injury to a powerful weight lifter. Along with physical strength came a much healthier approach to eating and the ability to stand up for herself at work and in her personal life.

I didn't love the parts of the book that discussed the history of exercise and weight lifting in the United States. But overall, this was an interesting read and an inspiring story.

Casey Johnston’s A Physical Education is an inspiring glimpse into one woman’s quest to find herself. Johnston blends memoir-style writing with the latest science on weight lifting and fitness, with the end-game being strength and autonomy, and not chasing after some (likely unattainable) Instagram body goal. This is not a diet book, not a workout plan (although there is plenty of info) but a guide to using fitness as a way to care for oneself and build confidence

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for ARC.

not something i'd typically reach for, but something i really enjoyed! this gave such good insight to the empowerment of weightlifting, and i love how it did so in a way that did not encourage the toxicity that is diet culture and the weight loss industry

I've followed Casey since her Ask a Swole Woman column in Vice. In this memoir, she shares more about her personal weightlifting journey as well as lots of technical information about the sport. I deeply related to her early mindset about weight and exercise, and wish I could start some training again (I stopped when my son was born over 3 years ago). I especially recommend this book for women who have or aspire to any type of fitness routine.

Casey Johnston’s A Physical Education is a fascinating and empowering blend of memoir and practical advice that redefines fitness for the modern woman. Based on the themes of her popular newsletter She’s a Beast, this book isn’t just about how to lift weights—it’s about how to lift yourself out of the restrictive narratives imposed by society on women’s bodies and their worth. It’s part personal journey, part manifesto, and entirely inspiring.

The book explores Johnston’s own fitness journey, revealing how she found confidence and self-assurance through weightlifting. She shares moments of vulnerability, reflecting on the challenges she faced in confronting the pervasive influence of the male gaze and the internalized judgments so many women carry. These moments make the book deeply relatable, as Johnston doesn’t shy away from acknowledging how society pressures women to prioritize appearance over health. Her message is clear: fitness isn’t about achieving the “perfect body” but about reclaiming strength and autonomy in a world that often denies women both.

What sets A Physical Education apart is Johnston’s ability to seamlessly blend personal storytelling with science-backed insights and practical advice. Her humor and wit shine through as she breaks down the basics of strength training, making the book accessible and unintimidating for beginners while still offering valuable insights for seasoned lifters. Johnston demystifies weightlifting, dismantling the idea that it’s a male-dominated space or an unattainable goal. Instead, she positions it as an act of self-care and empowerment, showing readers how lifting can improve not just physical fitness but mental resilience, confidence, and overall well-being.

The title itself, A Physical Education, is a clever nod to how Johnston reimagines what it means to be "educated" about fitness. This is not a book about crash diets or punishing exercise routines. It’s a holistic approach that emphasizes sustainability, body positivity, and the importance of meeting yourself where you are. Johnston encourages readers to reject the toxic “no pain, no gain” mindset and embrace a kinder, more intuitive way of building strength.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is how Johnston frames fitness as more than just a physical act—it’s a way of reclaiming control over your narrative. The act of lifting weights becomes a metaphor for life itself: learning to carry what once felt impossible, breaking down barriers, and proving to yourself that you are capable of so much more than you imagined. This thematic depth gives the book an emotional resonance that will stick with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

The book also challenges cultural norms around beauty, strength, and health, encouraging readers to see fitness not as a means to shrink themselves but as a way to expand their possibilities. Johnston’s reflections on how women are taught to judge themselves through the lens of societal expectations are both searing and thought-provoking. Her ability to address these heavy topics with humor and authenticity makes the book a joy to read.

Whether you’re someone who’s never set foot in a gym or a seasoned athlete, A Physical Education offers something for everyone. It’s equal parts informative, entertaining, and deeply motivational, reminding readers that strength—both physical and emotional—is something worth striving for, no matter where you’re starting from.

If you’ve ever wanted a fitness book that prioritizes health, empowerment, and joy over rigid rules or harmful ideals, A Physical Education is it. Casey Johnston’s voice is a powerful reminder that fitness is for everyone, and that the journey to strength begins with believing in yourself. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to transform their relationship with their body, fitness, and self-worth.
#grandcentralpublishing #caseyjohnston #shesabeast #aphysicaleducation

This book is so much more than I thought it would be. I was expecting practical lifting advice and a bit on the author's personal journey, but there's also fascinating histories on how lifting came to the United States and how it's been coopted by a certain segment of the population, cultural commentary, feminist criticism, AND excellent writing about the physical and mental side of lifting. There's also science writing throughout, which I truly appreciate. I'll be buying this in hard copy when it comes out for myself and a few friends—what a surprising, educational (it was in the title, lol) and delightful read! Bravo to Casey Johnston.

I really enjoyed this, it found me at exactly the right moment. I found the blending of light memoir and science really well done. The feminist lens (which I share!) could have been overbearing and hokey but it was perfectly applied. Johnston really means what she writes, it's not lip service. Having very very recently started courting strength I found this book helpful both in information and inspiration. It's not prescriptive but instead encouraging, communicating a hard won understanding of Johnston's own body and the way most women struggle with our bodies in relation to exercise and food, whether we admit it or not. The idea that so many of us are operating every day on a calorie deficit really got me thinking... and more excited about getting ripped. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

I'm the last person who is qualified to review a book about strength building, but I enjoyed Casey Johnston's A Physical Education a lot. The author's uses of personal narrative and story to make the science more digestible, and I found myself really intrigued by the history of weight and strength training in the US, in terms of political action and community building. I found Johnston's experience inspiring and motivating, and I think it's probably even more so helpful if you're actually into fitness... but maybe the ultimate review is I actually try it....

Casey Johnston’s “She’s a Beast” is one of the only newsletters I open and read as soon as it hits my inbox. Her takes on weight lifting, movement, and eating have changed my feelings toward all of those for the better. Her first book, “Liftoff: Couch to Barbell” is a how to guide for weightlifting and helped me feel comfortable getting back into the gym and repeatedly picking up and putting down heavy(-ish) things.

Although this is a memoir, it’s so much more than that. Casey contextualizes her personal history with diets and exercise, which we do learn a lot about, within a much larger scope. Did you know that there was a socialist organization in the mid 1800s called the Turners that believed a strong, healthy population was an essential aspect of collective care and enabled the population to better stand against exploitation and that they built a huge network of public gyms to empower more people in their promotion of health as a public good? Me neither.

I also learned so much about how food restriction impacts not just our bodies but also our brains in ways that absolutely make sense but I hadn’t put together before.

Her discussion about the utility of failure is something I’m still thinking about, weeks after reading that last page.

Probably the only caveat I’d give before handing this book over to a friend is that there is a lot of talk about food. It’s largely in the context of how weight lifting requires you to eat more and what that looks like, but I could see it being a little much for some folks.

A big thank you to @netgalley for this ARC!

Dive into a powerful blend of memoir and science with A Physical Education. Written by Casey Johnston, the creator of the “She’s a Beast” newsletter, this inspiring book takes readers on an emotional and transformative journey of rejecting diet culture and embracing the empowering world of strength training.

📚 Why You Need to Read This:
• A Relatable Journey: Casey’s raw honesty about calorie restriction, cardio obsession, and self-image struggles hits home for anyone battling with body expectations.
• The Power of Lifting: Witness how picking up weights not only made Casey physically stronger but also helped her reclaim her spirit and redefine her self-worth.
• Thought-Provoking Insight: Explore how societal messages about women’s bodies seep into every facet of life—and how to challenge them.
• Wit & Wisdom: Casey combines sharp humor, personal anecdotes, and an investigative lens to create a book that’s both engaging and enlightening.

✨ Who Should Read It?
If you’ve ever felt at odds with your body, questioned diet culture, or wondered how to truly feel strong—inside and out—this book is for you. It’s a rallying cry to rethink what strength means and to find joy in moving your body for you.

🌟 Key Takeaways:
• Strength is about more than appearance; it’s about capability, resilience, and self-love.
• Challenging societal norms can lead to discovering your authentic self.
• Lifting weights isn’t just exercise—it’s a revolution.

📖 Final Thoughts:
This is a love letter to strength, resilience, and the journey back to yourself. Whether you’re a seasoned lifter or a beginner considering stepping into the weight room, Casey Johnston’s story will inspire you to take that first step toward owning your power.

💬 Let’s talk: Have you read A Physical Education yet? How has lifting changed your life?

🏋️‍♀️ #APhysicalEducation #CaseyJohnston #SheIsABeast #StrengthTraining #LiftHeavy #BodyPositivity #DietCultureDropout #MemoirLovers #InspirationReads #WellnessJourney #StrongWomen #BookstagramReads

An inspiring memoir, a testament to learning to love our bodies and a clarion call to heal our relationship to body image and fitness.

A very easy read, the information and stories are clear and enjoyable, though the momentum of the book seems to flag at the very end, with the final chapter feeling slightly tacked on, as the book searched for a finale.

Reading this book felt like seeing my own life, my own struggles, the struggles that so many of us live with the way that our culture pushes and pushes and pushes. It was informative, empowering, and emotive as it showed Casey's journey, but also another way for so many of us trapped in this endless cycle. It was about strength in more ways than one. I turned around and immediately recommended it to multiple people.

Ok this book was so inspiring. As a competitive powerlifter/bodybuilder I love hearing women’s journeys into strength training. I can’t wait to buy this book for my mom and the cover is beautiful

An interesting memoir-cum-bodybuilding exploration. I follow Johnston online and was excited to read this memoir. I enjoyed the journey and exploration of Johnston's evolution into weightlifting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and I'm so glad that I did. Casey's weight/exercise journey mirrors mine somewhat so I was easily able to relate to her story. Her writing style is engaging and it easily flows so that I was finished with the book before I wanted to be. Casey sends us on a journey through exercise history: I had never heard of the Turners or the class implications of having muscles. She also, in easily understandable language, describes how muscles are built. Building a strength routine doesn't have to be hard, you won't bulk up unless you're really intentional about it, and being strong is so much better than being skinny. These are my takeaways from A Physical Education. If you have screwed up dieting tendencies, you'll get a lot out of this book.

Johnston's book spoke to me. I just wrote about diet culture and how it has been part of my life since I was a young girl. I read a lot about this topic. I thought her story was interesting and authentic. Her writing style is enjoyable, and I felt I really got a sense of her struggles and healing. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.