.

.

.

.

Hello and welcome to Behind the News.

My name is Doug Hinwoods.

Two segments today.

You'll be shocked to learn.

Natalia Petrizela will talk about the history of fitness culture in the U.S.

and the sociologist Paolo Girbato will explore the weakness of the Italian bourgeoisie

in what makes the country so susceptible to fascism.

Time is tight, so I'll keep my comments short.

My first guest, Natalia Mailman Petrizela, is making a return appearance on Behind the News.

She was on just over a year ago to talk about why our schools are such politically fraught places.

The topic of her first book, Classroom Wars.

Now she's about to publish a new book, Fit Nation, the pains and gains of America's exercise obsession

from the University of Chicago Press.

It was supposed to be out already, but production delays are forced pushing back the publication date to January.

It's a history of fitness culture for the late 19th century, when it was part of the circus's display of human oddities

until now, when everyone wants to go to the gym, but only about 20% of us actually do.

Natalia Mailman Petrizela teaches history at the new school for social research,

an institution with a distinguished progressive history that's treating its adjunct teaching staff very badly,

...