The Good Soldier’s deadlift and the insignificance of bench press

In this blog post, I’m going to review the book “The Good Soldier” by Ford Madox Ford. But wait, what does a book have to do with lifting weights? Bear with me, as I will show you how this book can be relevant to your journey in the gym. As someone who is insecure about their bench press, I believe that deadlifts are the true test of strength. And just like how the characters in “The Good Soldier” navigate their relationships, we too must navigate our relationships with different lifts in the gym.

“The Good Soldier” is a story about two couples, the Ashburnhams and the Dowells, who meet at a German spa resort and form a complicated web of relationships. Narrated by the Dowell, the story unfolds as he reveals the secrets, betrayals, and hidden motives behind their seemingly perfect lives. The book is important because of the way it explores human nature, the fragility of marriage, and the unpredictability of consequences. It’s a study of how we perceive ourselves and others, and how our perceptions can be deceiving.

Now, you may ask, how does this relate to the gym? Just like how the characters in the book have their own perceptions and biases towards each other, we too have our own biases towards different lifts. For example, the bench press is often seen as the ultimate test of upper body strength, and those who can bench the most are deemed the strongest. But what if I told you that this perception is flawed? What if I told you that the deadlift is the true test of overall strength, because it involves not just the upper body, but also the lower body and the core? Would you still be so obsessed with your bench press numbers?

I’m not saying that the bench press is meaningless, just like how the characters in the book are not meaningless. Rather, I’m suggesting that we should question our biases and perceptions, and not let them dictate our actions in the gym. We should strive to be well-rounded lifters, and not just one-dimensional bench press specialists. Like how the characters in the book have to face the consequences of their actions, we too have to face the consequences of our training choices.

So why should you read “The Good Soldier”? Apart from its literary significance and its relevance to weightlifting, it’s also a beautifully written, complex, and thought-provoking book that will challenge your assumptions about human relationships. It’s a book that will make you reflect on your own life and the way you interact with others, both inside and outside the gym.

In conclusion, I invite you to comment on what you read today and what you did in the gym. Did you bench press like there’s no tomorrow, or did you deadlift with confidence? Or did you do something completely different? Share your thoughts and experiences, and let’s have a discussion about how we can be better lifters and better human beings.