The Golden Era of Bodybuilding (2013?)
By Ric Drasin
277 pp. (Memoir)
Available at RicDrasin.com
Ric Drasin has a fascinating story to tell. As part of the Venice Beach physique scene during the 1960s and 70s, Drasin knew and worked out with all of the era's great bodybuilders. He was featured in countless magazines, ads and television shows. He even designed the Gold's Gym logo. And all that's putting aside his pro wrestling achievements, and his outstanding current work on the "Ric's Corner" YouTube interview and commentary series. I have nothing but respect for the man.
Which is why The Golden Era of Bodybuilding is such a complete disappointment. Even apart from the constant typos, the book is hurried, rambling, and confused, as though dictated and published with no further thought.
By Ric Drasin
277 pp. (Memoir)
Available at RicDrasin.com
Ric Drasin has a fascinating story to tell. As part of the Venice Beach physique scene during the 1960s and 70s, Drasin knew and worked out with all of the era's great bodybuilders. He was featured in countless magazines, ads and television shows. He even designed the Gold's Gym logo. And all that's putting aside his pro wrestling achievements, and his outstanding current work on the "Ric's Corner" YouTube interview and commentary series. I have nothing but respect for the man.
Which is why The Golden Era of Bodybuilding is such a complete disappointment. Even apart from the constant typos, the book is hurried, rambling, and confused, as though dictated and published with no further thought.
But even worse is how boring it is. Rather than telling the reader his stories, Drasin simply asserts how much fun he had. He'll say that his time at a gym, or on the set of a TV show, or hanging out with a particular athlete, was filled with wild experiences…and then just move on. Even when he goes into more detail, his stories are flat, bare-bones accounts that rarely extend beyond a short paragraph. There's no excitement, no atmosphere, no story-telling craft here. By far the best part of the book are the extensive pictures, which illustrate the bodybuilding and wrestling worlds far more than the text ever does.
I truly hope Drasin tries again (or connects with a cowriter) one day. His capable hosting on "Ric's Corner" shows that Drasin knows how to tell a story, and I have no doubt that his life could form the basis of an informative (and hilarious, and shocking) book. Unfortunately, The Golden Era of Bodybuilding most certainly is not it.
I truly hope Drasin tries again (or connects with a cowriter) one day. His capable hosting on "Ric's Corner" shows that Drasin knows how to tell a story, and I have no doubt that his life could form the basis of an informative (and hilarious, and shocking) book. Unfortunately, The Golden Era of Bodybuilding most certainly is not it.
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