Product Description
A Dave Draper Memoir Collection
by Dave Draper
Foreword by Dan John
This is a compilation of Dave’s iron history articles
With his passion for training intact, Dave Draper takes a glimpse in his rear view to bring us the stories that make up the foundation of Golden Era bodybuilding. Dave’s unique writing style and spectacular insight allows us to feel like we were there, leaning against the dumbbell rack in Joe Gold’s gym in the morning, then soaking up the golden sun of Santa Monica in the afternoon.
In this collection of Dave Draper’s quirky memory columns, we get to sit next to the Blond Bomber as he weaves his tales from the East Coast to the West. Over 60 years under the iron surrounded by some of the world’s top bodybuilding personalities in gyms around the world provides a lot of fodder for an unusual wordsmith to mold into a most enjoyable book.
Dan John, author of 40 Years with a Whistle, writes:
A Glimpse in the Rear View puts us in the passenger seat as Dave Draper pulls away from Muscle Beach and from the stage of Mr. Universe. He takes us into the dungeon, brings us out to the movie set and lets us help open a gym with the Austrian Oak. He pulls the weight set from under the bed for us and leads us in sets of dips on kitchen chairs. We meet people from all over who love the iron. We bury some of them as time moves along, and others just fade from sight.
This isn’t once upon a time; these are real stories. Life can be sad. Life can be cruel. Dave protects us; he cushions us in his mighty arms. ~ Dan John
A Dave Draper Bodybuilding Memoir
A Glimpse in the Rear View is 275 pages—with a foreword by Dan John, who adds,
“Dave is a master craftsman of body, wood and words.”
Note: To those asking about signed copies, yes, Dave will be happy to sign that for you. Simply mail it to him at P O Box 1335, Aptos, CA 95001 (media mail will cost about $3). Add a note to tell him if you’d like that personalized or just autographed.
Note: To our international customers: International shipping is super expensive, like 10 times as much as domestic shipping. This book is set up with Amazon International, so check your local Amazon first….faster and MUCH cheaper.
“I love Dave Draper’s books. The Blond Bomber is not only a legend of the iron game but also one of its finest writers. Warmth, wisdom, passion, irony, style—he has it all. Reading A Glimpse in the Rear View feels like meeting an old friend.”
—Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman, StrongFirst, Inc.
“Dave is a master storyteller with a great sense of humor. I love his honesty. I’m not sure I could be this honest about some of the things I was thinking when I was younger. Get ready to read between the lines, because Dave offers an abundance of training advice without really revealing anything that specific, but it’s all there. No magic formulas, just some serious hard work and singleminded focus. The book has inspired me to remember to keep it simple, push a little harder, do a little extra and be patient.”
—Anthony Renna, author of Be Like the Best
Dave Draper
Dave Draper is a former pro bodybuilding champion who now spends his time encouraging people to simply get to the gym and put in the work. Once called by a reviewer “The Pied Piper of Bodybuilding,” Dave is the author of six books and wrote his weekly article from 1999 to 2019, which you can find on his website, davedraper.com.
Guy Miller –
Past the chemistry, past the styles, past the plethora of methods….. if you want the heart and soul of muscle building and want to hear it in an honest and poetic form, any book written by Dave Draper is a treasure. “A Glimpse in the Rear View Mirror” is a 60 gram super protein shake after an hour blasting session…..you know you need it and it so enjoyable!
Ken Croner (verified owner) –
“A Glimpse In The Rear View ” is a wonderful book. Dave shares stories about his experiences as a bodybuilder and about all that he has gone through in his life. He speaks from the heart and his stories are not only entertaining but enlightening as well. Dave has a tremendous ability to express his thoughts in such a way that you will not only want to get the most out of each training session going forward but in every day life as well. I found this book to be highly inspiring. Dave is all about doing the basic things really well and his writing expresses this. I highly recommend this book. It will help you in so many ways!
Jerry Casey (verified owner) –
A great trip down memory lane. Dave is a good writer, and his style is straight-forward and entertaining.
Futureman EIU ’79 (verified owner) –
Another great Draper book! Man, I wish I knew Dave back in the day. I read it in one sitting and got off my butt and “built” a Roman Chair. If like bodybuilding and want to know hot it really was and probably should still be – you will love this book.
Anthony Renna –
I received it a few days ago and I haven’t put in down yet.
So many cool stories and an inside view from a legend who was part of the Golden Age of bodybuilding.
Dave is a master storyteller with a great sense of humor.
I love his honesty. I’m not sure I could be this honest about some of the things I was thinking when I was younger.
Get ready to read between the lines, because Dave offers an abundance of training advice without really revealing anything that specific- but it’s all there. No magic formulas, just some serious hard work and singleminded focus.
The book has inspired me to remember to keep it simple, push a little harder, do a little extra and be patient.
I have actually tried to slow my reading down and limit it to 1 or 2 chapters/stories per day, just to make it last a little bit longer.
Lots of fun, Highly recommended.