Frank Zane Mind, Body, Spirit: Review by Steve Holman, IRONMAN Jul '98

Leave it to Frank Zane, former Mr. Olympia, to do something completely unique in the realm of bodybuilding— again. A teacher by profession, Zane has always been fascinated with the mind and with the idea of opening up its vast potential to enable the human spirit to soar. That was his goal with his numerous mind-expanding audiotapes, and now his new book Mind, Body, Spirit continues on that path.

While the 320-page work is basically a year out of Zane’s training diary, it’s much more than a how-to workout book. On almost every page you’ll find a poem, a dream sequence, a recollection—of training with Arnold, for example—or an observation on life through the eyes of this philosophical athlete. Here’s an example from page 48, “Bodhibuilding.”

A friend Ken O’Neil told me the name
“Bodhibuilding,” the sound of which I liked.
Bodhi is the tree the Buddha sat under to gain enlightenment.
Building is the process of creating by turning energy into matter.
Bodhi is a tree, a structure, like a building that grows upward into the sky.
Why bodhibuilding could be called the framework I
use to turn dream stuff into a towering body,
exemplifying an enlightened self.

As for the workouts, every one is a detailed snapshot of the way Zane trains, from breaking in after a layoff to all-out muscle-building sessions similar to ones he used during his competitive years. He lists exact weights, reps and sets for almost every session, and at the end of the book there are start and finish photos of many of the exercises.

If you understand that bodybuilding is about much more than developing muscle, you’ll cherish this book and refer to it again and again. If you haven’t made that connection yet, this may be the thing that enlightens you about using it as a tool for spiritual awakening and mental sharpening as well as body chiseling.

Pros: A unique perspective on bodybuilding, spirituality and the human spirit and how they intertwine—along with plenty of interesting workout information.

Cons: Not enough photos of the Zane physique at its best.