The Spiritual Journey Of Joseph Greenstein
Although I love history I’ve never been much of a biography kind of guy. This book, “The Spiritual Journey Of Joseph Greenstein” was something I looked forward to reading every weekend if got the opportunity. I say, “Opportunity” because at the time I was living in Okinawa Japan as a Marine so my weekends could either be taken up with duty, or typhoons that mysteriously never came during the weekdays.
But when I had free Saturday morning and the weather was beautiful outside I would grab this book, hop in my beat-up 2003 Toyota Duet, and drive down to my favorite pancake/breakfast spot.
What Makes A Good Biography?
The most important element of a biography, I believe, is something that motivates you to become better. You read about the subject of the book going from weakness and poverty to the heights of fame and strength. To read about somebody that had everything handed to them and accomplished some things is not all that impressive. Or, to read about a fictional character that was born with a bunch of powers and little time spent developing them.
We yearn to see them go through challenges and come out on top because it shows us that nothing is hopeless. That there can be fruit out of the pain we endure. With the right attitude, we can make something out of nothing.
Now The Story
The book follows Joseph Greenstein(The Mighty Atom) who was a famous strongman during the 20th century. He would stop planes from taking off with the strength of his hair, bend steel, and break steal chains. The book follows him from the start and although he didn’t have money and was sickly/had labored breathing but he yearned to become strong. During his younger years, he followed along with a circus and was mentored by a famous wrestler at the time by the name of Volanko. With his expert teaching and mentorship, he helped Joseph to conduct a complete 180 on his constitution. No longer was it difficult for him to breathe or perform hard work and what was impossible was now a breeze.
His adult years would be spent between marriage, raising kids, manual labor, wrestling, and martial arts. He was not only improving himself in physical ways but in moral and mental as well. His ability to support his family, seek opportunities, and ultimately become a strongman is a testament to his willpower.
The feats of strength he performed with metal, chains, planes, and vehicles were exhilarating to read. I would be on the edge of my seat reading about his exploits while eating pancakes. The author, Ed Speilman , used excellent imagery when describing Joseph Greenstein’s feats of strength. Like many of the other strongmen of his time, he believed the mind would make the biggest determinant of all when it came to acquiring and exerting strength.
“But If a man wanted to badly enough, could he learn to override the governor and use the mind to make the body obey and go forward past it’s learned limits? If he could cleanse all other thoughts and fears and use enough mental concentration, might he be able to focus the whole of himself through his hands?
“A life and death situation clears the mind of self-imposed limits,”Joe theorized. “But if a man has the capacity to do these things, why does he need an outside stimulus, a danger to make him react? Why couldn’t the motivation come from within?” (56, Speilman)
What’s more impressive about him is that he maintained this level of strength well into old age. This is something I’ve seen consistent with some of the old-time strongmen and physical culturists. They developed impressive physiques or massive strength and kept that as their hair became grey. This influenced me to look at training not only as something that could benefit me in the short term, but aid in my functionality for the long term. It would be nice to get huge/strong off of a bunch of chemicals in the short term but they won’t help me when I’m on the verge of hitting up life alert. Therefore, whatever training modality we choose needs to be one that we can utilize no matter what our age and that counteracts the effects of our aging such as
Bone Strength/Density
Connective Tissue Strength
Mobility
Neuromuscular Efficiency
Our Mental Concentration
An Entrepreneur
One thing I noticed more now than back then was his entrepreneurial spirit. He did not settle for the nine-to-five and thought outside the box. Not only did he make money off of bending steal he also researched, made, and sold some medicines.
Holistic
“The Wrestler produced his pocket watch and chain. Flipping it open the back of the timepiece, he revealed a ticking maze a tiny wheels and springs. “Look inside, Yosselle. Look how fine…” He tapped the boy’s chest with a thick finger. “Inside your body is a machine a million times more fine and more important. What if I were to grind a handful of dirt into this timepiece?” “Disgusting, no? Terrible. Like this watch, you don’t put in your body what is unclean and bad for it.” (8, Speilman)
Despite reading this book while at a pancake shop(and I still eat sweets), this book started my journey to being more conscious about the things I eat. I believe there is more than enough evidence to demonstrate that most of our problems in modernity are due to, “Foods” and “Ingredients” that have crept into the things we consume on a daily basis. I do most of my shopping on the outside of the grocery store and only come in between the isles for a few things here and there.
Key Takeaways
One’s economic status in life is not fixed
Health and strength can be improved with the right information and focus
Think outside the box
Be courageous about what you believe in
Thank you for making it to the end and comments are below.
“He sat with a steel spike and from time to time would flex his hands against it, and exercise for the mind more than a test of strength, as his hands were not equal to bending it. Sometimes he would hear a voice from within say, “You can…you will…” and the feeling came over him, an inspiration born on Volanko’s promise that there was nothing beyond doing if only one had the courage and the patience. In these rare moments, when he flexed his hands, the spike gave ever so slightly.” (36, Speilman)
Until Next Time…
