Activate your greatness

Alex Toussaint

Book - 2023

"Alex Toussaint is known for his grueling workouts where he promises "to kick your ass"--yet thousands keep coming back for more. Why? Because he might be the most motivational teacher out there right now. His mantra is "Feel good, Look Good, Do Better." He expects more from you, and from himself. Yet so much of what he talks about is NOT about the bike. Alex's enthusiasm for life is infectious--"You woke up today!" "Breathe in confidence, exhale doubt." Because Alex knows what it is like to be overlooked and undervalued, to be the underdog. He knows what it's like to not expect the best from yourself. The child of Haitian immigrants who sacrificed so much to give him an education, he k...nows what it is like to be one of the few Black kids growing up in East Hampton. After a turbulent adolescence that saw him being sent to military school, Toussaint dropped out of college and was mopping floors at a gym. A few years later, he's one of the most iconic cycling instructors on Peloton, helping thousands of users along their fitness journeys through his inspirational workouts. Finally, Alex gets off the bike to help readers activate their own greatness in every aspect of their lives. Part self-help, part memoir, Activate Your Greatness details Toussaint's mental and physical practices, on and off the bike, that have influenced his daily habits, fueled his motivation, and that have ultimately contributed to his astronomical success and shows readers how they can do the same"--

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Subjects
Genres
Self-help publications
Autobiographies
Published
New York : Henry Holt and Company 2023.
Language
English
Main Author
Alex Toussaint (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
245 pages ; 24 cm
ISBN
9781250852038
  • Introduction
  • Part 1. Feel Good
  • Chapter 1. Preparing to Fail
  • Chapter 2. This Ain't Day Care
  • Chapter 3. The Path
  • Chapter 4. Stop Existing, Start Living
  • Chapter 5. Outwork
  • Part 2. Look Good
  • Chapter 6. The Journey and the Destination
  • Chapter 7. Discipline over Distractions
  • Chapter 8. Make Your Free Throws
  • Chapter 9. Do Not Outsource Your Greatness
  • Chapter 10. Vibe Check
  • Part 3. Do Better
  • Chapter 11. Seeing a Light in Others
  • Chapter 12. Can't Quarantine the Hustle
  • Chapter 13. It's Not About Me, It's About We
  • Chapter 14. I Can't Breathe
  • Chapter 15. Validation
  • Chapter 16. Cooldown
  • Acknowledgments
Review by Booklist Review

Life wasn't easy for popular Peloton instructor Toussaint, the child of Haitian immigrants. Kicked out of schools, from preschool through military school, caught up in bad crowds, and headed for a life of crime, he also suffered physical and mental abuse, and his relationship with his father was a disaster. As he struggled to find his place and calling, Toussaint decided to turn his pain into success. He found a job as a janitor at Flywheel, a fitness center offering spin classes. Mentored by the company's owner, Toussaint began to take pride in his work, eventually moving up to instructor. His key to getting ahead centers on three steps, "Feel good," "Look good," and "Do Better." Toussaint stresses believing in yourself, letting the inner light shine, and helping others. He offers many upbeat slogans: "If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail." "Inhale your confidence and exhale your doubt." "Stop existing and start living." Bolstered by positive energy and working his heart out, Toussaint moved on to Peloton and became a top instructor. When COVID-19 hit and the Black Lives Matter movement intensified and grew, Toussaint stepped up and used his platform to call for change. Told with humility and gratitude, Toussaint's mix of memoir and self-help is sure to inspire a wide range of readers.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Peloton star Toussaint has many celebrity fans and all will have high praise for his motivational book.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A deep dive into what drives a senior Peloton instructor. Alex Toussaint sets the stage with a vivid depiction of the moment when his parents left him at military school. First generation American, Toussaint describes the ups and downs of his childhood and teenage years, centering around his relationship with his dad abruptly changing as a child. Feeling confused and angry, Toussaint explains how he found himself kicked out of schools, landing at what he describes as his dad's only option- military school - where he spent four years. Toussaint opens up about his struggles with what he thinks is his dad's lack of belief in him early in life, and his inability to activate his own greatness from within. Toussaint explores his heart-wrenching low moments where his feelings of self- worth and self- doubt were high. His journey from rock bottom was hard fought with grit and determination to do better. Landing his first job as a janitor at a spin studio, he "outworked" the role. His grit and hustle put him in a position to be noticed. Reading this book feels like you are on a long ride with Toussaint as he takes you through his lessons learned as they shaped his life and hopeful perspective. Step-by-step he leads you along with him to want to "feel good, look good, and do better" his mantra and mission. He explains the importance of believing in yourself, looking good "about the inside, that internal light that radiates out into the world" and how to shine that light outward to pay it forward. An authentic story that will leave readers wanting to hustle for the greater good. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.