Encyclopedia of Muscle & Strength
Encyclopedia of Muscle & Strength
Finally, a research-based book that covers all facets of optimizing the development of muscle and strength. Encyclopedia of Muscle & Strength is a comprehensive training guide and reference that provides
- definitions of key terms and concepts,
- evaluations of equipment options—including the top innovations,
- explanations of the role and importance of each muscle group,
- presentations of the best exercises for adding strength and mass, and
- descriptions and examples of many types of workouts and programs and their effects.
Choose from 277 exercises presented for 11 different muscle groups and the whole body. Proper technique for each exercise is tailored to the type of resistance used, be it free weights, weight machines, or body weight. Plus, each training program is rated according to workout duration, the projected timeframe for achieving measurable results, level of difficulty, and overall effectiveness.
Muscle & Fitness senior science editor Jim Stoppani covers each topic in detail. His clear advice will help you conquer any problem or plateau you encounter. So build your knowledge base to build a better body. Encyclopedia of Muscle & Strength is the ultimate resource for pinpointing and achieving the results you’re seeking.
From Kirkus Reports – Health & Fitness “Readers will appreciate the combination of plain facts and expert advice. Anyone looking to build muscle mass will appreciate this thorough, no-nonsense guide to proper strength-training technique.”
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great for personal trainers!
There are some exercises that I have never seen before and I have been in the fitness industry for 13 years. Also there are fitness programs that you can test for your self and then try it with your clients.
It’s worth the price.
5 Stars Best for Intermediate and above lifters
I’ll cover the drawbacks first:
As a previous reviewer pointed out, nutrition is not discussed. But, that’s because the focus of the book is on programs, routines, sets, and exercises. And it covers that material quite thouroughly. I would recommend a highly rated book on atheletic nutrition to supplement this information. I can’t recommend any specific one, since years ago I got ahold of a Weider/Muscle & Fitness book on that subject and that was all I needed.
The book doesn’t focus on proper *form* for the individual exercises. It’s very curse and rudimentary. Because of this, and the sheer density of the books coverage of other topics, I can’t recommend this for “beginners” with little knowledge of proper weight training techniques. It’s just too involved, even though there are some “beginner workouts”. If you’ve been lifting for several months, and reading Iron Man, Muscle & Fitness, or another magazine for at least six months, you’re probably ready for something this advanced. As far as getting some serious education on how to perform the exercises properly (to avoid injury), I’d recommend Strength Training Anatomy - 2nd Editionby Frederic Delavier. That covers the “proper form” subject in sufficient detail to get beginners started in the correct direction.
The best parts of this book are the concepts of building muscle mass, as opposed to building muscular strength, as opposed to building muscular stamina. These concepts were never sufficiently explained to me in the detailed manner that the auther covers in this book. This is advanced, thorough, and excellant. It can be, at times, a bit difficult reading though. It took me two passes through before I really understood the differences in training methods to accomplish the specific goals.
The coverage of the various programs that manipulate sets, reps, time, weight, rest, exercise selection, and training frequency are simply outstanding. Armed with this information, and supplemented by the ensuing chapters on Training Cycles, an intermediate, or more experienced lifter, will easily be able to plan their workout routines, and cycle them, to keep the muscles growing, gaining strength, or enhancing stamina.
When I want to change a workout or routine, this book is my “go to” book along with Strength Training Anatomy.
Five stars easy. It’s worth 3 times the price.
4 Stars Good Beginner Book
Purchased this while going through PTA School. Turned out being a great reference of what muscles for which exerises. Would be a good book for someone getting into lifting or as a reference before designing a new workout.
4 Stars Very good book
In a nutshell:
I think that the book is very good, covers many programs and techniques for increasing strength and muscle mass. What I found lacking is that it does not discuss nutrition at all, so if you wanna know all there is to know about gaining muscle mass (for example), you’ll have to read another book with it. Other than that, it’s very thorough. A good book.
1 Stars Other reviewers have been far too kind.
This book sucks.
This author doesn’t understand how to lift weights. He dedicates one page each to describing the form for squats, dead lifts and bench presses, and fails miserably. This book doesn’t describe how to identify and correct any faults in your lifts, and is short on safety advice. If you don’t already know how to do these exercises correctly (and there is a lot more to them than meets the eye) then this book is dangerous.
As an example of how crappy this book is, consider that his descriptions of each of the Olympic-style lifts include ONE photograph and just a few sentences to describe them! Generally speaking, the exercise descriptions in this book are worthless - unless you want to do curls all day.
Other concerns are that this author suggests that it is OK to substitute machine exercises for squats, such as leg presses, machine hack squats and many other types of garbage. He generally seems to think that there is no point in doing anything right.
I have read the bits on programming and can’t complain, there are some good ideas, and that seems to be the only positive thing I can say. But I won’t be trying them out myself.
I have read many books on strength training and find that the vast majority of them are worthless. This book is better than some but still provides useless instructions on how to perform the lifts safely and correctly (like most other books), and will leave you ignorant of proper form.
Don’t waste your money.
My favorite book by far is Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe. He covers form and technique much better than in any other book I have read (I haven’t read all books). This is the one that I recommend to family and friends.
Filed under: Bodybuilding Book Reviews
