Good To Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery
Published February 5, 2019 by W.W. Norton & Company
Publisher’s Weekly named GOOD TO GO to its Spring 2019 top 10 list for lifestyle titles.
Kirkus Review calls it “A smart, engaging book” and a “spry narrative, which makes a good guide for those contemplating adding recovery to their routines.”
The Wall Street Journal said, “Deeply researched and artfully written. . . . A must-read for all athletes.”
During our extended Fresh Air interview, Terry Gross told me that “this book is for anyone who has a muscle.”
Find out where to buy the book and refer to my schedule to find out where I’ll be speaking next.
Reviews
“A useful introduction to how scientific research works — and why, in sports science, it often doesn’t. Such insights make Good to Go appealing to more than just gym rats and weekend warriors. It’s for anyone who wonders how scientific studies happen, and how they influence the claims on products found in grocery stores and athletic stores alike.” — Bethany Brookshire, Science News. “
“Teach a man that Tom Brady’s infrared pajamas don’t make you better at sports, and he can make fun of Tom Brady, a perfectly noble thing. But teach a man why TB12’s IRPJ’s don’t work, and he’ll never get suckered by athletic quack science again.” — Dennis Young, The Outline.
“Aschwanden’s persuasive science and snappy writing helped me relinquish some recovery beliefs I’d been holding for years.” — Cyan James, Science.
“An intelligent and entertaining tour of fitness research for anyone who exercises, with clear advice on what actually works to aid recovery.”—Julia Belluz, Vox.
“Absorbing . . . Aschwanden separates the facts from the hype in the realm of athletic recovery, dispensing welcome doses of common sense.”—David Takami, Seattle Times.
“The question of how to best adapt to and benefit from training is still fraught with confusion. FiveThirtyEight science writer Christie Aschwanden offers much-needed clarity on the subject in Good to Go.” — Becky Wade, Runner’s World.
“What exactly are recovery aids aiming to accomplish, and do they deliver on their promises? These are the questions that science writer Christie Aschwanden takes on… and the answers she delivers are less straightforward that either true believers or hardened cynics might expect.” —Alex Hutchinson, The Globe and Mail.
“Aschwanden advocates for common sense over flash, arguing that, whether it’s a question of getting more sleep or drinking when we’re thirsty, our own bodies may be the best recovery tools we have.” –Tik Root, Outside.
“An amusing and exhaustive takedown of the recovery products and trends that fitness enthusiasts have transformed into a multibillion-dollar industry.” — Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American.
“Aschwanden… never loses sight of the gap between anecdote and randomized trial. Ultimately, she pins her conclusions on the best studies in each field, as well as her interviews with highly-regarded researchers.” — Amby Burfoot, Runner’s World
Media Interviews
Fresh Air, with Terry Gross, The ‘Strange Science’ Behind The Big Business Of Exercise Recovery.
Science Friday with Ira Flatow, What’s The Best Way To Recover After A Workout?
KATU TV 2, Portland television interview.
KPCW Utah, live interview on The Mountain Life with Lynn Ware Peek and Tim Henney.
Tulsa Public Radio interview.
KGNU radio’s How On Earth, interview with Susan Moran.
Booktalk at KGNU, interview with Diana Korte.
Radio New Zealand interview on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan.
Aspen Public Radio interview with Zoë Rom.
The Horn 104.9 & AM 1260 interview with Trey Elling.
Outside podcast interview with Peter Frick-Wright.
Longform Podcast interview with Evan Ratliff.
Excerpts
You Don’t Need A Sports Drink to Stay Hydrated, FiveThirtyEight.
Athletes love icing sore muscles, but that cold therapy might make things worse Washington Post.
The Workout Recovery Mistakes You Might Not Realize You’re Making, Men’s Health.
O, the Oprah Magazine, February 2019 issue.
American Way (in flight magazine), February 2019 issue
Q&As
What really works when it comes to sports recovery? Q&A with Angela Chen at The Verge.
The Psychological Appeal of Snake Oil, a Q&A with Jonathan Wai Psychology Today.
Q&A with Jen A. Miller at The New York Times.
Media Mentions
Can a Beer Help You Recover After Exercise?, by William Bostwick, Wall Street Journal.
The secrets of sports recovery, by Nic Fleming, The Guardian.
Author separates fact from fiction in athletic recovery, Aspen Times.
Why icing a sprain doesn’t help, and could slow recovery, Washington Post
Christie Aschwanden 
[…] When you finish a hard run, do you immediately immerse your lower body into an ice bath, cringing but nonetheless telling yourself you’ll feel better afterwards? Or do you chug a protein shake after a long run to help you recover? Are you a big fan of sports compression clothing? Have you ever wondered if any of the multitude of recovery products and services really “work” meaning they truly help your body recover faster or more efficiently? If so, you might enjoy reading Christie Aschwanden’s book, “Good To Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn From the Strange Science of Recovery.R… […]