Tearing / Ripping a Phone Book in Half - Video

Ripping a phone book in half is not easy under almost any circumstances. You can rip a phone book in half horizontally through the binding, or vertically from top to bottom. However, of the two main ways to perform this feat of strength, ripping from top to bottom is ever so slightly harder than the other way - but also more impressive.

The technique is similar either way (vertical or horizontal), but tearing through the binding is usually easier for two reasons. First, because a phonebook is longer than it is wide, you have more leverage when you grip wide on the book. Second, if you are able to break the binding, then you have already created the initial rip in the book that is the key to tearing the book in half. This is much easier to do by breaking the binding than when you have to do it with your bare hands. Because no one wants to do something "the easy way," we feature here the harder and more impressive way - tearing a phonebook in half from top to bottom.

In the coming weeks, we will show you how to train your fingers, hands, and wrists specifically for this type of activity. In the mean time, fee free to check out the video below that shows someone ripping a 2 5/8 inch St. Louis phone book in half. We also offer step-by-step pictoral instructions here.

Video of Ripping a Phone Book in Half

(10.9 MB Quicktime Movie)