Gain

For far too long, muscle mass has been viewed as a side effect of exercise rather than a cornerstone of lifelong health. In Gain, pioneering nutritional scientist and two-time world champion powerlifter Dr. Layne Norton reframes muscle as a vital organ in its own right, as deserving of attention as the heart or brain. He explains why muscle matters, covering both the science of building more muscle and the demystification of exactly how to go about strength training. And Dr. Norton covers all the topics that are on your mind, like protein (it isn’t as complicated as you think), calories (endless dieting isn’t the best way to build muscle), GLP-1s (you’ll need strength training whether you stay on them indefinitely or want to go off), supplements (spoiler, creatine is the best one), and every aspect of creating an individualized to you, efficient, and effective muscle and strength-building training program.

Norton wrote Gain to help you not only live longer, but live better. It turns out that muscle contributes to a number of health-improving factors, such as how much energy you have, how even-keeled you feel, how much discomfort you experience, your libido, and your processing speed (and also helps prevent wrinkles). But the true benefit extends well beyond the physiological. Because muscles are freedom: the freedom to participate in life, exactly as you want, with less pain and without second thought. To start a new hobby or sport, to travel, to pick up your kids or grandkids, to sleep well. To say “yes.”

Whether you’re in the gym every day or haven’t touched a weight before, Gain is an accessible blueprint for building and maintaining strength at any age.