exercise Archives - Awful Library Books

Sissy Squats

March 31, 2022 Holly Sports, Games, and Exercise 3 comments

Bruce Jenner’s The Athletic Body: A Complete Fitness Guide for Teenagers
Jenner and Cobbins
1984

Submitter: This book was weeded from a suburban high school in Georgia. Really everything about this book, including the exercises & title, is outdated. I wonder if Caitlyn would cringe about the ‘sissy’ squats terminology? It could be considered a little offensive in today’s world. My favorite part of the book is the dedication page to “all the future Jenner kids”… who knew there would be so many Kardashian ones as well?!

Holly: Sissy squats? That’s awful! What’s with the kids’ pants on the cover, too? They’re HUGE!

Women and Beauty from Sophia Loren

November 9, 2020 Mary Kelly Looking Good 5 comments

Women and Beauty
Loren
1984

I am a big fan of Sophia Loren, and my parents introduced me to the movie Houseboat (1958) with Cary Grant. She always seemed ageless to me and I would imagine this book to be a good choice in the early 1980s. I think the publishers were after a book that would show that even though you might be over 40 (gasp!), you can still look good.

No Pants Yoga

June 19, 2020 Holly Sports, Games, and Exercise 10 comments

Illustrated Color Guide to Healthful Yoga
Donat
1974

Submitter: In cleaning up a collection, we found this Awful Library gem… Illustrated Color Guide to Healthful Yoga. I think the pictures speak for themselves – who does yoga in their underwear? Found in an academic library. The cover really doesn’t do the book justice – it’s what’s inside.

Holly: Dear readers, feast your eyes on this!

Leisure Suit Lotus

October 4, 2018 Holly Sports, Games, and Exercise 11 comments

Yoga: The 8 steps to health and peace Hittleman 1975 Submitter: I have a submission for a book I just weeded from our collection. We are a suburban community college located outside of Philadelphia. I found this gem in the

Don’t kill your husband!

January 19, 2018 Mary Kelly Health and Safety, Ladies only! 18 comments

How Not to Kill Your Husband Hutchin 1962 Ladies, your husband is a busy man and can’t be responsible to make good health decisions. Your inattention to his health could LITERALLY KILL HIM! Fortunately, this book will save you. This

A Perfect Figure in 15 Minutes a Day

November 2, 2017 Mary Kelly Looking Good 6 comments

Debbie Drake’s Easy Way to a Perfect Figure and Glowing Health Drake 1961 Debbie Drake was featured on our site back in 2011 with this exact book. The book’s condition was pretty sad and my scans weren’t very good. It

Workout at the Office

September 15, 2016 Holly Sports, Games, and Exercise 15 comments

Quick Workouts: Fitness Anytime, Anywhere
Time-Life Books
1987

Submitter: This book is currently on the shelves at a local public library. Who knew people in the 1980’s were so busy that they had to fit in exercise while waiting for the commuter train or even an elevator? I guess I just assumed that they stayed fit & trim by lifting over-sized mobile phones. While a book on this topic could be useful to our modern day inactive office workers, it would really need updated pictures… it’s hard to take a good stretching technique seriously when the demonstrator is wearing giant should pads or a sleeveless sweater.

Cat Flexing

March 11, 2016 Mary Kelly Critters, Sports, Games, and Exercise 19 comments

Cat Flexing
A Catlover’s Guide to Weight Training, Aerobics and Stretching
Jackson
1993

What’s not to love? Cats and exercise!

I am trying to imagine ANY of the cats I know that would ALLOW this kind of human behavior and I am coming up empty. I am certain that there is probably a cat out there that just doesn’t give a crap as long as food is available, but I haven’t met him/her. Maybe chasing a cat to put it in the cat carrier for a vet trip could qualify as aerobic exercise.

On a side note: I think this could be a wonderful ALA program proposal.