Mental Fitness by Ant Middleton

 Mental Fitness by Ant Middleton is a book going through various rules to strengthen one's mind and body, based on Middleton's life experiences in the armed forces and beyond. Covering topics such as confidence, failure, lies and emotions as well as individuality, this book allows the reader to see the part that each of these rules has played in Middleton's life and helps the reader to take action to build their own mental fitness.

I liked this book for a few reasons. Firstly, the stories from Middleton's own life were for the most part really interesting and this holds true for both the stories he tells from his time in the military as well as the stories he tells from civilian life. Moments in Middleton's life are just like a thriller which adds to the enjoyment of this book. I also enjoyed the different rules and aspects of mental fitness which are actually rarely spoken about but are all really important topics which can pose real difficulties to people in their varying lives. This does not just hold true for middle-aged adults, but also for teenagers and everyone in between. Everyone will be in positions where they experience failure or need to learn to control their emotions.

This book could have been improved if there was more to do with mental fitness as at times it may have gone slightly off-topic or maybe just wasn't as relevant to me as a reader. This may indicate that some chapters will be better suited to some readers than others. I also miss the alternative perspectives such as those offered by Middleton's wife Emillie which were present in Middleton's book Zero Negativity. I did however enjoy the slightly shorter chapters in Mental Fitness and continue to enjoy the lesson summary pages at the end of each chapter.

Altogether, I rate this book 3 stars as it was a good book with some really interesting and exciting stories and some really helpful, valuable and informative advice which is relevant for so many people. I would definitely recommend this book, particularly for people going through challenging times such as preparing for examinations or getting ready for a physical challenge such as running a marathon or an ultra marathon or similar. Middleton successfully draws on his own experiences and provides many of the details you need to build your mental fitness.