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I have spent the entirety of the 53-plus years I’ve been on this Earth immune to the lure of inspirational self-help books.
When it comes to inspiration to be better, I tend to respond with “Nah, I’m good.”
I’m a secure, well-adjusted human — or maybe I’m just lazy. Either way, the outcome is the same.
But a veritable flood of 2023 books by Peloton instructors has me reconsidering my no self-help books stance because I cannot deny my fascination with these people who talk to me through the screen, encouraging me on my “fitness journey” just about every day.
Yes, friends, after years of indifferent exercise following my high school and college (club) sports careers, I am in the midst of a 129-week streak of Peloton workouts. In 2023 I’m on track to log more than 20,000 minutes of activity on the platform.
The most current release is Cody Rigsby’s “XOXO, Cody: An Opinionated Homosexual’s Guide to Self-Love, Relationships, and Tactful Pettiness,” a title that well reflects Rigsby’s Peloton persona. Judging from the imperfect (but still useful) metric of Instagram followers (1.3 million), Rigsby is the most famous Peloton instructor, a genuine B-list celebrity who previously appeared on “Dancing with the Stars.”
The thing that makes Rigsby so popular on the platform, his nonstop monologue of jokes, commentary and anecdotes that let you into his inner life, is too distracting for me, exercise-wise, but also perhaps makes him the most likely Peloton instructor to produce an entertaining book.
Earlier this year, Rigsby’s opposite in terms of approach to virtual fitness coaching, Ben Alldis released “Raise the Bar: How to Push Beyond Your Limits and Build a Stronger Future You.” Unlike Rigsby, Alldis is all fitness all the time, a relentlessly positive presence encouraging you to “bring the fire” while exposing you to a playlist of dance club “bangers.” Watching the pleasure he seems to take in doing raises, curls and squats, you think there has to be some hidden depths not apparent during his fitness classes. Maybe it comes out in the book. I have to admit, I’m curious.
Emma Lovewell’s catchphrase, “progress not perfection,” shows up in her book, “Live Learn Love Well: Lessons from a Life of Progress Not Perfection” and it’s a good indicator of why she’s one of my favorite instructors. She provides a mix of Alldis’ positivity with a bit of the hard case gym coach who also has a taste in music close to my own. Lovewell’s book appears to be something of a whole lifestyle guide, literally how to live your best life as a model beautiful fitness instructor with a large organic garden at your country home, like Martha Stewart with a six pack. (I’m afraid that ship has sailed for yours truly on multiple fronts.)
Finally, October will see the release of Alex Toussaint’s “Activate Your Greatness.” Toussaint is a favorite of celebrities and is most known for grueling rides that are supposed to make you the best you can be, but that have left me feeling nauseous and wondering why I did that. I avoid his classes like the plague, but to each their own.
Looking at the array of books perhaps illustrates why Peloton has become so popular. There’s a connection to be had for everyone. Rigsby is your friend, Aldiss your coach, Lovewell your inspiration and Toussaint your drill instructor.
Considering I’ve spent over 200 hours with these folks this year alone, obviously, what these people are selling, I’m buying. Maybe it’s time to go past the screen and spend time with them on the page.
John Warner is the author of “Why They Can’t Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities.”
Book recommendations from the Biblioracle
John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books you’ve read.
1. “Heroines of Mercy Street: The Real Nurses of the Civil War” by Pamela Toler
2. “Moloka’I” by Alan Brennert
3. “Rest is Resistance” by Tricia Hersey
4. “Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People” by Tracy Kidder
5. “I Have Some Questions for You” by Rebecca Makkai
— Cindy N., LaGrange
For Cindy, I’m recommending a book fundamentally about healing in all of its dimensions because that seems to fit her list, “The English Patient” by Michael Ondaatje.
1. “The Color of Water” by James McBride
2. “The Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett
3. “Foster” by Claire Keegan
4. “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” by Benjamin Stevenson
5. “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett
— Jenna P., Chicago
For Jenna, a beautiful, but also intense family drama, “Flight” by Lynn Steger Strong.
1. “It Starts with Us” by Colleen Hoover
2. “Hell and Back” by Craig Johnson
3. “Bittersweet” by Colleen McCullough
4. “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano
5. “Salthouse Place” by Jamie Lee Sogn
— Willa R., Orland Park
Every so often I like to find someone who might not have read Larry McMurtry’s all-time classic “Lonesome Dove” and recommend it because, really, it’s a book probably everyone should read.
Get a reading from the Biblioracle
Send a list of the last five books you’ve read and your hometown to biblioracle@gmail.com