Chaline, Eric: The Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym

Eric Chaline offers the first proper consideration of the gym's complex, layered history and the influence it has had on the development of Western individualism, society, education, and politics.

In addition to being a historian and writer, Eric Chaline is a qualified personal trainer, yoga teacher, weightlifting instructor, and swimming coach. He is the author of several books, including History's Lost Treasures and Fifty Minerals that Changed the Course of History. He lives in London.