Skip to Content

75 Hard Book Review: Perfect for Fans, but Self Improvers Need More

THE QUICK 75 HARD BOOK VERDICT: ANDY FRISELLA FANS WILL LOVE IT; CURIOUS READERS LIKELY WON’T

Die-hard fans loved the 75 Hard book for its signature Andy Frisella style, crude and blunt approach to sharing his program for “building toughness” in 75 days.

However, many curious readers, new to Andy Frisella’s content and attracted by the allure of the 75 hard complained about both the content and quality of the 75 Hard book.

One reviewer described the 75 Hard book as “…basically a high school coach prep talking a JV team.” Many other readers complained that the book was rife with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes and that much of the book revolves around Andy and his life instead of focusing on the challenge, benefits, and how to approach it.

Bottom Line: Fans of the source podcast may be familiar with and enjoy the style of content in the book, but curious readers interested because of the 75 day challenge for self-improvement, may find the book difficult to enjoy.

If you are interested in this book for the potential improvement and benefit of the 75 day hard challenge and interested in the more refined alternative book, consider checking out the 75 Strong Challenge.

The 75 Strong challenge isn’t affiliated with 75 Hard or Andy Frisella, but was inspired by completing the challenge a desire to improve it

ABOUT THE 75 HARD BOOK

Andy Frisella, creator of the MFCEO podcast and the Real AF podcast, took the internet and Tik Tok by storm with the birth of his “75 hard” challenge. The 75 hard challenge was born of a bet to get under 10% body fat within a specific timeframe. Andy’s resulting process to achieve that goal became the 75 hard challenge, which he dubbed as a challenge designed to build toughness.

The 75 hard challenge, Andy’s process, involves following 5 specific tasks, the “75 Hard Rules,” every day for 75 days. If you miss a task on any day, you start back at day 1.

THE 75 HARD RULES

1. Follow a diet

2. Workout twice a day for at least 45 minutes with one workout outside

3. Drink 4 liters of water per day

4. Read 10 pages of nonfiction each day

5. Take a progress picture each day

REVIEWS OF THE 75 HARD BOOK: EITHER LOVED OR HATED.

Though the tasks listed and then intention of the book (self-improvement) and the challenge within appear to have potential, opinions of the 75 Hard book have been split relatively evenly. Reviewing readers seemed to either loved the book or hate it.

Those who loved the book acknowledged Andy Frisella’s coarse and crude approach to writing, similar to what readers expected based on Andy’s Real AF podcast and the now-ended MFCEO podcast. Many of the readers that rated the book highly mentioned already listening to and enjoying the podcasts.

Reviewing readers who disliked the book repeatedly referenced poor spelling and grammar, which made the text difficult to read and enjoy, a lack of grounding in the ideas shared. Additionally, reviewers cited that a significant portion of the book (~40 pages of 150) was about Frisella and his experiences instead of the challenge, which is what they were most interested in, to begin with.

Based on hundreds of reviews, whether you will love this book or feel underwhelmed seems heavily dependent on whether you already enjoy Frisella’s podcast and style of communication.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE 75 HARD BOOK

Good content is polarizing, and very few books are written to appeal to everyone and do so successfully. Andy Frisella’s “75 Hard” book is undoubtedly polarizing. Some will love it, and some simply won’t. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Additionally, I think exposure to varied, even radical ideas is good and promotes us to refine and define our own ideas, beliefs, and ethos – whether they align with or contradict the ideas we’ve newly been exposed to. For this reason, Andy Frisella’s opinions, experiences, and ideas do have a lot of value. However, the way they’re communicated and the unrefined and unedited (literally) content of the 75 Hard book makes the book a turnoff for me. Therefore, I would choose the podcasts over the book – as the animated and colorful presentation (on the podcast) make up for the crude content that can’t be compensated for in a book.

As for the challenge within the book, I love the idea of 75 days dedicated to self-improvement. However, as a fitness trainer, I find the fitness structure (2 workouts daily without rest over 75 days) unsustainable and a trap for injury if high-intensity workouts are the norm for you. This is definitely not something I would prescribe or program for a client.

Secondly, despite the challenge’s intentions with the tasks, it misses more development opportunities – mentally and emotionally. The challenge structure in the book is a great start, but there is lots of room for improvement.

THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE 75 HARD BOOK

IF YOU ARE ALREADY A FAN OF ANDY FRISELLA…

If you’re already ready a diehard fan of Andy Frisella, you will likely love the 75 Hard book, and your opinions of the book will mirror your opinions of the podcast.

IF YOU ARE AFTER SELF-IMPROVEMENT, AND PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN THE 75 DAY CHALLENGE…

If you’re interested in the 75 hard book specifically for the 75 day challenge and the self-development opportunity, not necessarily for Andry Frisella’s story and ethos, expect to be less satisfied than Andy’s raving fans.

If the 75 day challenge and self-development are what you’re interested in, I recommend considering the book 75 Strong instead.

Additionally, if you are after an enjoyable reading experience and well-written content, I highly recommend “75 Strong as an alternative.”

Click here to view a preview of the book on Amazon.

Or, click here to learn more about the 75 Strong Challenge…

75 STRONG: AN UPGRADED ALTERNATIVE TO THE 75 HARD BOOK

The book 75 Strong and the 75 Strong challenge are not affiliated with Andy Frisella or 75 hard.

75 HARD BOOK UPGRADED AND IMPROVED

75 Strong was inspired by following the frequently shared 75 day hard challenge rules for 75 days and annotating what worked as well as what could be done better. The end product was this – a 75 day program for holistic, lifelong strength built by ingraining positive habits.

The book 75 Strong breaks down how for 75 days, you’ll aim to complete 9 out of 10 beneficial actions each day that promote physical, mental, and emotional strength and health. At the end of the day, you will have performed every action at least 66 times, proven in clinical research as the average number of times to form a habit. The end result, after 75 days, is creating 10 new small but extremely significant habits that form the foundation of a stronger, better you.

THE 75 STRONG “DAILY 10” RULES

1. Be Thankful: List 20 things you are thankful for

2. Appreciate yourself: List 20 things you admire about yourself

3. Be Still: Sit quietly or meditate for 15 minutes

4. Move and mobilize: Exercise or stretch

5. Eat Healthily according to the guidelines provided

6. Skip Alcohol

7. Read a non-fiction book for 15 minutes

8. Learn a new concept or skill for 15 minutes

9. Do something you’re passionate about for 15 minutes

10. Record the process acknowledging your efforts

75 STRONG VS. THE 75 HARD CHALLENGE: WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU?

75 Hard is a challenge designed to test you, and with completion as its goal. It will be tough, you will improve, and you will have bragging at the end. However, once the challenge ends, it’s on you to figure out what’s next.

In contrast, the 75 Strong program aims to build strength – physically, mentally, and emotionally – by re-programming 10 foundational yet sustainable habits over 75 days. The primary goal isn’t the results on day 75. The primary goal is to automatize these actions, soon to be habits, by day 75, so the benefits continue long after the “challenge.”

This means that by day 75, you will be smarter, stronger, happier, and healthier, but the benefits and improvements will only continue and increase from there.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE 75 DAY CHALLENGE FOR SELF IMPROVEMENT, CONSIDER “75 STRONG” OVER THE 75 HARD BOOK

What next?

Click here to check out the 75 Strong challenge, as a healthier alternative to improvement, and a path to long term positive habits and success – a healthier, happier, and more successful life!