Over the course of the last year, I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Randy Roach as a contributor to Volume II of Muscle, Smoke & Mirrors. And I am proud to have been one of the few people that have seen this volume as both a work in progress and as […]
I’m a hundred pages or so into Vol.2 & enjoying it enormously. You really have done a great job with that fascinating, complicated, politically-charged, big ego time. Your handling of the story is calm, fair, big-hearted even, and the writing is very good indeed. Many, many congratulations to you on a fine, fine job. I […]
For many years I have always said that someone should write the “REAL” book of bodybuilding, the “REAL” stories. At the time I believed that only two people were capable of doing that, one was Artie Zeller, the other person was Wayne DeMilia. Artie, passed away a few years ago, Wayne has no interest in […]
I’ve never realized what an exquisite writer Randy is. The book is magnificent and while I’m only into the second chapter so far, I did something else I normally don’t do, and that’s I began reading it from the front cover on. From the Dedication right through. Its a superb piece of literature and I […]
Muscle, Smoke & Mirrors II Review by Brian D. Johnston Purely addictive! One does not have to be a physical culture aficionado to both appreciate and be swept away in the torrent of tales and history within the covers of this book; but for those who are, Randy Roach takes no prisoners and you will […]
Muscle, Smoke & Mirrors, Volume II, The Pumping Iron Years…Nautilus Emerges, SURPRISING, EYE-OPENING, SURPASSES ALL EXPECTATIONS! As a martial artist, I have an interest in health and strength development. Having no prior knowledge of the “Iron Game”, I found Volume I thoroughly enjoyable, and anxiously awaited the release of Volume II. Volume II is outstanding! […]
With pinpoint accuracy and razor sharp attention to detail, Randy Roach has masterfully and entertainingly encapsulated the numerous critical events that have formed what is commonly referred to as the Iron Game and variously described as Physical Culture, bodybuilding and the strength training industry.
Today’s universal obsession with a tight athletic body and performance can be traced back to bodybuilding. In fact what we’re going through today was conceived and delivered many decades ago in a sport that is so cutting edge that it took the world almost a century to catch up. Just how it all evolved is […]
“Muscle, Smoke & Mirrors” is the definitive resource for anyone interested in Physical Culture, bodybuilding and allied subjects. Exhaustively researched, brilliantly written and with rare historical photographs. Randy Roach has produced the ‘go to’ book, the complete chronicle of the Iron Game. – Ed Spielman, Creator of “KUNG FU”, ABC-TV Series, Author of “The […]
I can’t say enough good things about “Muscle, Smoke & Mirrors.” It’s a fabulous read of the Iron Game, synthesized as never before. Randy Roach hit a home run. I returned home from a 20-hour plane ride (with stops) from China last night intending to immediately hit the sack. I made the mistake of cracking […]
