When I heard that Joe Manganiello from “True Blood” and “Magic Mike” fame was going to be in Harvard Square this past Tuesday night, I was admittedly a little giddy. Joe’s portrayal of Alcide makes him one of the only characters that’s even remotely tolerable on “True Blood” anymore, and I enjoyed whistling in the theater with the other women who attended screenings of “Magic Mike” on opening night (no shame, ladies- that was a lot of fun.)

Then when I heard that Joe’s appearance in Cambridge was to promote his new book, “Evolution,” centered around fitness, my curiosity was piqued. While I consider myself to be in decent shape (there’s always room for improvement, of course,) I’m not exactly savvy when it comes to muscle sculpting- and considering how jacked Joe looks in movies and television, I wanted to know exactly how much time and dedication it takes for him to stay that way.

I headed down to The Coop after meeting up with my good friend Evan, who is also a fitness enthusiast, and it turns out that Joe is just as huge in person as he is on screen. He’s also very funny, charming, motivational, and sweet. Also- handsome. He’s really, really handsome. That needs to be said.

I’ve thumbed through the book since picking up a copy, and sure enough as one would guess- getting and maintaining Joe’s type of physique takes a ton of dedication and hard work. I think it’s a decent read for anyone out there looking for a no bullshit and no shortcuts approach to fitness and who is willing to put in the hours and self-discipline. I haven’t finished it yet, but it’s honest and humorous and has really good tips and exercises. There’s plenty of pictures, too- which is always a bonus.

I don’t anticipate having biceps like Joe’s anytime soon, but I could manage the abs. Definitely.

My 2013 Christmas Card. Hi mom.