Topic: Matt Foreman's new book, 'Bones of Iron'

[Mark Cannella]

In 1993 I met Matt Foreman, a soon to be roommate of mine, while he was eating a plate of orange Danish that he was consuming like the last supper.   To say this guy has done everything large is an understatement.  His second book, Bones of Iron, reminds me that he hasn’t lost a thing on telling you how it is, just like back in the day when Matt created two large holes in his coach’s gym/garage one day after a bad training session. 
 
My training time with Matt was relatively brief, considering how long our careers were in lifting and like Matt, I’ve gone into coaching with the desire to bring athletes to the next level.   

Matt’s new book offers insights into an athlete’s perspective, but then also turns the bumper plate around to offer to you as a coach, other perspectives that really get you thinking about how to improve your athletes and your own abilities. 
 
If I could tell you one thing about how well Matt is with the craft of prose, it would be the chapter that he writes in his book called, ‘Lessons from Romania’. 
 
Folks, I could read this particular chapter to the day I die and never get tired of it!  It typifies everything I enjoy reading about lifting and the lessons learned of youth and hopefully gleaned from an athlete that trains at the highest level in Nicu Vlad.  For this story alone, it is worth buying and placing strategically in your bathroom to enjoy in solitude. 
 
I read this book on the airplane from beginning to end and have to admit that the person next to me gave me snide looks the entire trip as I would burst out laughing periodically at Matt’s insightful quips as each chapter bit the dust until I closed the book cover as the mountains revealed themselves outside the plane window into the descent towards the West Coast.
 
Mark Cannella
Head Coach and President of Columbus Weightlifting