Mike Mentzer (November 15, 1951, June 10, 2001) was a philosopher, bodybuilder, author, and businessman. Mentzer took the bodybuilding concepts developed by Arthur Jones and perfected them. Through years of study, observation, knowledge of stress physiology and the most up-to-date scientific information available, and careful use of his reasoning abilities, Mentzer was able to devise and successfully implement a theory of bodybuilding. Mentzer's theories are intended to help a person reach their full genetic potential in the shortest amount of time.
Mentzer was an avowed Objectivist, and he insisted that philosophy and bodybuilding are one and the same. "Man," he said, "is an indivisible entity, an integrated unit of mind and body." Thus, his books contain as much philosophy as they do bodybuilding information.
Heavy Duty II: Mind and Body, was Mentzer's ultimate work. In it, he detailed the principles of High Intensity Weight Training. Weight training, he insisted, has to be brief, infrequent, and intense to get the best results in the shortest amount of time. It is now generally accepted that this method of weight training is not the optimal method for all body types. Heavy Duty II also espouses critical thinking. In this book, Mentzer shows why people need to use their reasoning ability to live happy, mature, adult lives, and he shows readers how to go about doing so.
