MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, SECOND EDITION
ISBN-13: 9780736072472
Description: 2009, Paper Book 216 pages

Authors: BESS H. MARCUS and LEIGHANN H. FORSYTH

Reviewer: Lisa Kent

I cannot recommend the book, Motivating People to Be Physically Active, Second Edition, strongly enough! It is one of the greatest resources I have in my Physical Education library. The book is a great field resource guide to overcoming the mental obstacles in place for people living a sedentary lifestyle. The book informs and inspires people to make behavior changes, while providing tools and instruments to address and assess the readiness of people’s motivation for change.

The book offers a natural progression by first laying the foundation of theory and relevant information. It builds with the addition of applied concepts to evaluate and analyze habits. It culminates with specific case examples of implementing programs in different venues of work, community, fitness class, and personal training situations. I found the best value of the book to be in the questionnaires and scoring tools that were offered to gauge motivational readiness of behavior change.

The authors do an amazing job of addressing the data, research, theories, and concepts of behavior change as it specifically relates to physical activity. It allows the reader to identify obstacles that will occur in obtaining a fit lifestyle. Additionally, it offers ways to implement strategies and techniques that allow an individual to meet guidelines for a physically active lifestyle. The book is also helpful in addressing group programs and ways to develop, execute, and evaluate such programs. The reader will walk away understanding what his or her motivational readiness to behavior change is, as well as the strategies necessary for change to occur.

The book offers clear and concise suggestions for professionals in the industry trying to help others improve their physical activity levels and overall fitness. Physical educators can specifically benefit from the group theories for addressing behavior change. It is a quick and easy read, well worth the time and money investment. I truly found the book helpful in my practice and worthy to mention to others. It’s hard to find a book that moves through the stages of theory, application, and evidence to provide a sense of full circle closure and new learning. This book is top shelf!