The story of the life and career of a unique and colourful 20th-century American showman who anticipated many of our present-day interests in body building, exercise, health foods, and sexual freedom. Following in the footsteps of P.T.Barnum, Bernarr Macfadden (1868-1955), was the self-acclaimed "father of physical culture". For most of the first half of the 20th century, Macfadden was perhaps America's greatest promoter and proponent of much that is in vogue today: health foods; exercise; walking; pure water; and abstention from smoking, alcohol, and drugs. In 1898 he founded "Physical Culture". Within three years, the magazine had a circulation of 550,000 readers. Macfadden also ran highly successful "beautiful body" contests both in the United States and overseas. His publishing success led him to start many other popular magazines. His magazines broke new ground by using photographs as illustrations. Some of these photos brought him libel suits, fines, and even arrest. Macfadden quickly became a wealthy man and invested much of his money to found health and exercise centres, some promoting his beliefs in nudity. His marriages and child-rearing practices were conducted according to his physical-culture philosophy. For over half a century Bernarr Macfadden was the health guru of America, always ready to preach his philosophy to anyone who would listen. This book will appeal to those interested in health and fitness, American social history, magazine publishing, and popular culture.
