User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great for ANY weight routine!
This book was recomended to me by my doctor. I am athleticly cut but no bodybuilder, and have done prior reserch to my regular routine. This book showed me how to pass that plateau I always hit, and made working out more enjoyable. It’s all about intensity and not overtraining, so my workouts are much harder yet shorter, and my gains are amazing. I cannot recomend this book highly enough.

5 Stars for the serious only
Every serious bodybuilder, or even just your average lifter can benefit from the info in this book. It covers everything from what to eat, to how to lift. Inside there is an article about a world renown trainer, in florida, that guaranteed one half inch gain in upper arms, in only two days. Reguardless of the size of the arm or the size of the trainee the results were a given. If you are serious about this sport or are tired of all work with no results, this book will change your workouts forever.

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Now in its third edition, Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning is the most comprehensive reference available for strength and conditioning professionals. In this text, 30 expert contributors explore the scientific principles, concepts, and theories of strength training and conditioning as well as their applications to athletic performance.

Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning is the most-preferred preparation text for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam. The research-based approach, extensive exercise technique section, and unbeatable accuracy of Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning make it the text readers have come to rely on for CSCS exam preparation.

The third edition presents the most current strength training and conditioning research and applications in a logical format designed for increased retention of key concepts. The text is organized into five sections. The first three sections provide a theoretical framework for application in section 4, the program design portion of the book. The final section offers practical strategies for administration and management of strength and conditioning facilities.

• Section 1 (chapters 1 through 10) presents key topics and current research in exercise physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, biomechanics, endocrinology, sport nutrition, and sport psychology and discusses applications for the design of safe and effective strength and conditioning programs.
• Section 2 (chapters 11 and 12) discusses testing and evaluation, including the principles of test selection and administration as well as the scoring and interpretation of results.
• Section 3 (chapters 13 and 14) provides techniques for warm-up, stretching, and resistance training exercises. For each exercise, accompanying photos and instructions guide readers in the correct execution and teaching of stretching and resistance training exercises. This section also includes a set of eight new dynamic stretching exercises.
• Section 4 examines the design of strength training and conditioning programs. The information is divided into three parts: anaerobic exercise prescription (chapters 15 through 17), aerobic endurance exercise prescription (chapter 18), and periodization and rehabilitation (chapters 19 and 20). Step-by-step guidelines for designing resistance, plyometric, speed, agility, and aerobic endurance training programs are shared. Section 4 also includes detailed descriptions of how principles of program design and periodization can be applied to athletes of various sports and experience levels. Within the text, special sidebars illustrate how program design variables can be applied to help athletes attain specific training goals.
• Section 5 (chapters 21 and 22) addresses organization and administration concerns of the strength training and conditioning facility manager, including facility design, scheduling, policies and procedures, maintenance, and risk management.

Chapter objectives, key points, key terms, and self-study questions provide a structure to help readers organize and conceptualize the information. Unique application sidebars demonstrate how scientific facts can be translated into principles that assist athletes in their strength training and conditioning goals.

Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning also offers new lecture preparation materials. A product specific Web site includes new student lab activities that instructors can assign to students. Students can visit this Web site to print the forms and charts for completing lab activities, or they can complete the activities electronically and email their results to the instructor. The instructor guide provides a course description and schedule, chapter objectives and outlines, chapter-specific Web sites and additional resources, definitions of primary key terms, application questions with recommended answers, and links to the lab activities. The presentation package and image bank, delivered in Microsoft PowerPoint, offers instructors a presentation package containing over 1,000 slides to help augment lectures and class discussions. In addition to outlines and key points, the resource also contains over 450 figures, tables, and photos from the textbook, which can be used as an image bank by instructors who need to customize their own presentations. Easy-to-follow instructions help guide instructors on how to reuse the images within their own PowerPoint templates. These tools can be downloaded online and are free to instructors who adopt the text for use in their courses.

Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, Third Edition, provides the latest and most comprehensive information on the structure and function of body systems, training adaptations, testing and evaluation, exercise techniques, program design, and organization and administration of facilities. Its accuracy and reliability make it not only the leading preparation resource for the CSCS exam but also the definitive reference that strength and conditioning professionals and sports medicine specialists depend on to fine-tune their practice.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great scientific background!
This book has deep scientific background backing up almost every paragraph. I found it a very complete material, ranging from cell level studies to nutrition to training methods. This book needs 40 pages on the back (in a close to ‘8′ true type font) in order to list all the bibliography references. Great material!

5 Stars Excellent
This is the textbook for the Strength Training class I am taking at Northern Kentucky University. I haven’t looked at any other texts on this subject, so I don’t know how it compares to others. I am a third of the way through it, and so far, it is excellent - well written, key points identified, tables summarizing points, etc. Very in depth, informative, and to the point (no wordiness).

A basic course in Anatomy and Physiology would be a useful pereq., as it gets into muscle physiology, hormones, energy systems, etc.

5 Stars CSCS Licensing
This book dumbs down complication in the strength and conditioning world. I love it. You read it…and you will love it.

5 Stars CSCS Study Materials
I purchased an edition of this book based on the need to study for a CSCS exam. The book was very helpful and useful. Of course the wardrobe is a little outdated, but that’s always funny!

Back to the content. All of the information is basic and easy to understand without much background with the exception of the biomechanical processes and some anatomy. However, it all can be learned with a little bit of time!

Take your time with this, give it a read, set your ground work. Enjoy!

[...]

5 Stars Perfect!
Perfect, ordered the book, they sent me an emai saying it would there in 10 days, it was! it was the right book and in great condition! all you can ask for!!

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This popular text for is a comprehensive, practical guide to developing a personalized weight-training program with both free weights and machines. Weight training concepts and specific exercises are grouped by body region, and many photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and figures demonstrate proper technique and form.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars OK Book
Not as good as the Dummies series which has better written and illustrated books on this subject.

5 Stars well written and comprehensive
This book has just about all that you can ask of a book on basic weight training; programs, techniques, principles, cautions, etc. It’s also well-organized, printed on acid-free, recycled paper, and has several useful appendices, as well as a glossary and a comprehensive index after the text section. If you can buy just one weight training guide, this is a very good choice.

4 Stars Weight Training 101
In his 3rd edition of this book, exercise physiologist Tom Fahey , continues to present the basics of weight training and offers the latest information from some sports medicine and exercise physiology research. The book is simple and concise. It is recommended for the person who has limited or even no weight training experience or knowledge but who is interested in starting a weight lifting routine.

Chapters include information on muscle development, exercise mechanics and specfic chapters that will help you develop different areas of the body such as chest & shoulders, arms, abdominals, neck and back,and lower body. In addition to exercises with free weights, Fahey also includes routines using Universal Gym and Nautilus type equipment. A chapter on nutrition includes information on diet and performance, steroids and eating disorders.

This is a good primer for developing a beginner’s weight training program.

5 Stars Best Book Yet
I recently boought this book and read it in one sitting on a flight. It is the best I’ve seen yet. Not only does it have great weight training guidance with various kinds of equipment (barbell, dumbell, & various machines) but it gives variations and clear cautions. In addition it has the best nutrition & lifestyle discussion and getting started section I’ve ever seen. It also discusses the difference between strength, power and ensdurance and how to achieve them. Simply trhe best yet.

1 Stars Not worth it
Well I bought this book thinking it would be informational and helpful, but in fact it was a waste of money! The pictures are poorly illustrated, and they did not include variations of the exercise. Spend your money on a better book!

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars The concepts in this book can still be applied today
I’ve been an athlete (now Coach and Trainer) for 20 years. At one point, my 2 main passions were Martial Arts and Natural Body Building. With that said, I’ve read my share of books on the subject of Bodybuilding and Vince Gironda’s book the “Wild Physique” is one of the best (if not the best) books I’ve read on the subject. He was indeed a Master Trainer and way ahead of his time. The concepts in this book can still be applied today, not only to Body Building but Sports and Fitness in general. He is to Body Building what Bruce Lee is to Martial Arts … Legend has it that Bruce Lee studied Vince’s training principles. Vince Gironda was a visionary and one of a kind. If you what to learn from a Master, get this book.

4 Stars As Expected
This book was as expected although a little expenseive at the price ($30.00?). I, like one or two other reviewers, was puzzled by the number of pictures of quite obviously steroidal athletes, considering how anti-drug Vince was in his views. That said, he tells it to you straight, and years before anyone subscribed to higher fat, and high protein diets, Vince was out there advocating the consumption of whole eggs, cream and other saturated fats to gain lean muscle mass. He also leaves nothing to chance on the range and number of exercises listed, most of which I wouldn’t use, but that’s just a personal preference. Not quite worth the money, but Vince had interesting views and was years ahead of his time.

5 Stars Good Old Style Muscle Building
For anyone who is familiar with Vince Gironda, this book is a must have. If you are a body builder and you have not looked into Vince Gironda you are missing out on a lot of valuable insight into creating muscle. This book not only gives exercises the Gironda way, it shows body building the way it should be done, you against the iron. Gironda trained many of the best including Schwarzenegger. If you think you are tough, try out Gironda’s 8×8 routine, what he called the honest routine (not included in this book).

5 Stars Info not found else where…
Note: there are several versions of this book on amazon at widely varying prices from used book dealers. Buy the cheapest version…they’re all the same. if the title says “unavailable”, then search amazon for another version by another seller…it’s worth the trouble. Now for why i think this book is worth your reading (I only review excellent books…a small percentage of the books i read…why waste more time even talking about something that’s not excellent?)…

Mr. Gironda had some ideas that were ahead of his time and a few places where i think he may have been incorrect. Here’s the part you should study…

1. Go for symmetry instead of bulk. Unless you’re into a professional sport or occupation that requires great stregth (example…have friend who’s the first ATF agent through the door when making bust on crack house…he needs to be capable of brutality)..unless you need to be huge…extra weight can require more time in sleep and eating and slow you down. You can look plain fat in your clothes and most women are more attracted to the lean tarzan sort of look.

Don’t believe me? Get a copy of Men’s health and a copy of muscle and fitness…now ask the women you know which group of men (out of which magazine) would they want to choose their next vacation partner.

So if huge muscles make you more sleepy, less likely to get laid, less healthy, and require more time to maintain…I’d say a more lean tarzan look just works better all around.

Vince teaches this strategy (tarzan over hulk) and gives practical suggestions for pulling it off.

A let down was the fact that most of the photos in his book show people hulked out on steroids (not consistent with his philosophy). But if you look at photos of the author himself…he lived what he preached. In the photos in his clothes, he looks lean and not huge. With his clothes off he looks strong but not too bulky and the symmetry and vascualrity give him the “wild [and healthy] physique” of a Tarzan.

2. A few more extras…he gives a leaning up diet that is basically Atkins made better with it’s suggestion of a high carb meal every 3 to 5 days to reload the muscles with glycogen and avoid weakness. When i do this diet, i make friday and monday carb days and stay with raw eggs (mix 6 in blender with scoop of whey and a tablespoon of diet jello and handful of ice), sushi or steak for supper, occasional atkins bar, and a teaspoon of metamucil per day (to avoid the constipation of all meat/egg diet).

I can’t officially reocmmend the raw eggs (ask your own doctor…and don’t have your lawyer even think of calling me if you get a stomach ache), but the way i do it is buy fresh eggs and just keep them cold until i’m ready to eat them. I’ve been eating raw eggs almost daily for about 30 years and never got sick from them (and keep a total cholesterol around 160…but i eat very very few sweets, don’t drink any alcohol at all, and i exercise once almost every day and most days two times a day).

Then on carb loading days i have a salad, fruit, and even some pizza or something crazy to reload.

Anyway, sorry, don’t won’t to write a book just telling you a way to apply his all egg and meat diet (which he wrote way before atkins wrote his book).

3. The other ideas about training after 40 are excellent (i’ll soon be 47 so i’m relating more to these chapters).

***What to ignore…he’s not a fan of aerobic exercise. DEAD WRONG. Weights will not substitute the health benefits of walking. Do both..or do you not think you’re worth it?

***Read more on my website and read my reviews and get healthy (guess what the people you’re taking care of and using as an exuse for not working out…like your family and friends and customers…remember them? Guess what? you’ll take better care of them if you’re healthy).

Buy this book, throw away the sugary poison that’s in your pantry…the stuff that you wouldn’t feed to your dog, and go workout. Vince is right…it’s 85% diet but the diet becomes easier if you’re doing the workouts…it takes both.

Peace & health to you.

5 Stars Inspiring: great addition to BB book collection
I’m not sure if this is the best BB book ever, but I would rank it very highly, partly because it contains information you may not find any other place. BTW, I waited to write this review until I had read the entire book.

Gironda makes it clear that his ideas were criticized in his day. Bodybuilders were laughed at when he first started, but he didn’t let that stop him. His low carb, high protein diets must have seemed really weird back then. However, not so much in the post-Atkins world.

Then again, his recommendation to consume raw eggs and raw meat sounds like an invitation to food poisoning. Also, I am concerned that if I followed his advice to use dessicated liver tablets, I might be consuming too much iron and increasing my risk of heart disease. In fact, he recommends using a ton of supplements, and I’m not sure that this is necessary or that I could afford it.

Although he gives several different diet plans, they are actually for people who are already in good shape. He says he has no patience for fat. To lose fat, he says “eat less”. He expected people coming to his gym to already be in good condition before they came asking for his advice. Of course, if you are out of shape, that doesn’t mean you can’t get something from this book. Just don’t expect it to give you a lot of guidance on weight loss.

Also, don’t expect it to be a book about getting huge. Gironda’s idea of bodybuilding was not about that. He was really into the V shape.

He discourages heavy back squats, becuase he says it can make the gluts and waist too big, thereby detracting from the V shape. He also mentions that a guy with a short neck should not work the traps specifically. He even mentions that some bodybuilders look fat when they have their clothes on, because they have gotten big in the wrong places.

One interesting idea I picked up from this book is the use of hyperventilation. The idea is to take several deep breaths before beginning an exercise to get oxygen circulating so the muscles don’t give out too soon. I found this very useful when doing high rep sets. I was able to get through the set more easily.

I think it is definitely worth following his advice on back development, given that he had one of the widest backs of his day.

Finally, he includes a chapter for bodybuilders over 40, which I particularly appreciated since I just turned 40.

I’m not sure what Kennedy’s contribution was to this book. Probably some editing and choice of pictures. It was originally published under a slightly different title with only Gironda’s name on it.

In Kennedy’s book, Beef It!, he promotes the use of heavy, high rep squats, especially for those with a slow metabolism. Also, he argues against the idea that bodybuilders need a lot more protein than the average person. Instead, he recommends a high carb diet low in sugar, salt, and processed foods. He does not seem to think that a lot of supplements are necessary except maybe just before a contest.

Anyway, I don’t know why Kennedy would want his name to be used on a book which clearly disagrees with his own ideas, so I suppose it had to be more of a business deal rather than a true collaboration. Of course, Kennedy is a self-described hardgainer, so I don’t think he ever had the kind of personal bodybuilding success that Gironda did. He is, however, a very successful publisher and author.

I’m generally not all that impressed by pictures. There are books out there with great pictures and little information. However, for such a slim book, the author has included a wealth of information. And since the book is not so huge, there is no excuse not to read it all.

This is definitely a classic, and I’m surprised that it went out of print. I think it is one of the few bodybuilding books written about this time which has appreciated in value. I think that it will continue to do so as it becomes more rare, so get your copy sooner than later.

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No-nonsense workouts to build a lean, strong, eye-catching physique. 

Every guy is looking for an edge, some way to get single women his age to notice him more than they do now. 

Unfortunately, most guys have absolutely no idea what kind of body automatically flips a girl’s attraction switch. Nate Green does.

Built for Show is the first fitness book to address young men on the prowl. It’s not just written for them; it’s written by one of them. Green, who’s just twenty-three years old, is already a veteran fitness professional who’s been quoted in Men’s Health and Maximum Fitness magazines. Green offers four twelve-week workout programs, each with a seasonal theme. The fall and winter workouts add muscle size and strength that’ll show even under layers of clothing. The spring and summer workouts burn fat and chisel the showpiece muscles—creating a lean, cut, beach-ready physique.

But Built for Show is more than just a workout book. It also provides:
· Realistic nutrition advice to feed the muscles and starve the fat without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen
· Tips on dressing right, looking the part, improving your social status, and settling into your new lifestyle
· Quick ways to assess posture, with useful exercises to fix flaws and improve self-presentation, no matter the situation.

The detailed programs include over fifty exercises, illustrated with over one hundred original photos.

Neither a weight-loss guide nor a body-building manual, Built for Show instead reveals to guys exactly what they need to build the body they – and women – want.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Solid Basics Bargin
This book is actually funny at times and the style tips are legit.The workouts tips are on and the workouts are basic and do able for most first timers out there.

If you want to get in shape and weed through most of the b*ll**it that is in the mags then start here.

I was actually suprised by the book and it is a solid pick up.

2 Stars Best workout book ever *IF* you are an out-of-shape complete loser moron.
I have to admit that using the possibility that you might actually get laid to motivate out-of-shape losers to exercise and eat right is not a bad idea, and Nate is definitely cashing in on this. Unfortunately however the basis for his global workout strategy is overly vague and non-scientific, while at the same time his actual exercise plan is overly detailed, sort of a bad combination. I think that most guys who are reasonably smart and healthy and active will gain little from this book except confirmation that yes, they work out just to look better to women (hopefully not a news flash for most of the population). Probably better books out there. [and I'm not just jealous; I'm definitely built for show thanks to my own workout strategy.]

5 Stars Great for people who want to look good
I’ve been training for years, and got very serious about it last year. I never miss a workout and eat the best diet I can. I needed something to send my muscle growth, strength, and fat loss through the roof. Nate’s book is the answer. I’ve been on a ton of strength, I’m getting compliments from girls (and more ;)…) and most importantly, I feel great. And this is from someone who’s been training hard for a long time already. The book is easy to follow, but the workouts are very challenging. After each one, you’ll feel good. But remember, don’t go criticizing the book if you don’t see gains. As with any workout plan, it requires dedication to achieve your goals.

The only criticism I have is that Nate often tries to be funny, and the jokes fall flat. But I will say this: I commend him for attempting it, and making a usually flat, humorless topic enjoyable. It takes nothing away from the workouts, it’s just sort of annoying sometimes. I like it much better when he writes from the heart. Nate explains his early days working out, and how weak and tiny he was. It’s very inspiring.

Get this book. It will change your workouts.

4 Stars Very good book but specifics are missing
I bought this book two weeks ago, read through it, and have started on the first workout program Nate’s recommended. I have to say it’s well-written and organized in a very easy-to-read manner. It should not take you more than 2-3 days to finish it. The hard part is understanding the breakdown of the workouts themselves. It gets complicated trying to figure out which set-rep combination you need to use on a particular day. I e-mailed him about this but he has not gotten back to yet. Once you start on his program you will understand what I am talking about, because he employs a method called “undulating periodization”.

Nate’s information is general enough for us to understand why we wants us doing something a certain way. His explanation on exercise form is good and tells us what NOT to do, which is key. I was somewhat disappointed for a couple of reasons though: first, he doesn’t really get into one of the key tenets of muscle-building - which is the principle of progressive overload. Other literature will say that there always needs to be that one set in an exercise which you go all out and push the muscle past its previous threshold. Some people will even venture to say that any sets past this “all-out” set is useless and a waste of energy. I would have liked some more explanation on this theory. Secondly, I would have wanted some information on stretching and preventing injury. Nate does show use mobility exercises, but I would have liked some info on post-workout stretching and such.

Overall, this is a very good book. Nate may be young, about the same age as me, but he seems to know his stuff. I suggest getting this and reading other stuff out there as well, such as Vince Delmonte’s “No Nonsense Muscle Building”.

EDIT — 06/20/09

It’s been a full two weeks since I have gone on Nate’s program and there are some caveats you should be aware of:

1. If you are in the least bit top heavy, the T push-ups he recommends you doing for joint mobility may do more harm than good. I’ve done them for every workout as a warmup and both my shoulders feel like they are about to fall off - elbows and shoulders are cracking/popping now. Shoulders especially feel very weak. Read below for more..

2. The neutral grip shoulder press may also do more harm than good. I find it puts a lot of strain on your anterior shoulder area. Everyone’s body is different so if this feels like it’s hurting you, then go back to your regular overhand grip.

3. The front squats he recommends you doing will put a lot of strain on your wrist area. Again, if you find your body is not tolerant of that type of exercises’s range of motion or flexibility, stop it.

There is a common pattern here: Nate recommends a lot of lesser-known exercises (e.g., Bulgarian split squat, goblet squat, dumbbell hang snatch, etc.) - maybe he wanted his program to stick out from the rest of the books out there, or maybe he truly believes they will work. All I can say is that you need to listen to your body anytime you go through someone’s program. If your body is telling you to stop, then stop doing that exercise, evaluate why, revise the form, and if it still hurts then don’t do it anymore. The last thing you want is an injury. I will definitely take some of Nate’s principles and apply them to my workout, but I think I will go back to my original routine and make some modifications. I’ve found it has worked for me in the past, the only reason why I never got real results was due to my nutrition.

My weekly routine goes something like this:

Monday - Chest (three exercises), triceps (1-2 exercises), abs (2-3 exercises)

Tuesday - 30-60 minutes of high intensity interval training

Wednesday - Back, biceps, abs

Thursday - 30-60 minutes of high intensity interval training

Friday - Shoulders, legs, abs

Saturday - 30-60 minutes of high intensity interval training

Sunday - off

p.s. - I am no fitness expert but no slouch either - 6′3″, 200 lbs, played football in high school and college.

4 Stars Excellent!
I’m only through the first of four phases right now, so I’ll give four stars out of five, because I can’t say yet how effective the year long program is overall.

I’m giving this book four stars though for the excellent workouts provided. My own workout routine had long since become stale and not very challenging. I was extremely happy to find myself challenged by the workouts in this book. More importantly, I find myself really looking forward to going to the gym and looking ahead to the workouts in the next phases. That was huuuuuge. Thanks!

Some of this book is fluff and just not very interesting to me. Not really interested in the whole pickup or womanizing aspect. I really liked Nate’s tips on eating better though. I’m not going to eat a plain chicken breast and a protein shake every day. Nate’s chapter on nutrition provides some really good advice on how to eat like a normal human being in a healthier manner and not overdo it. I really appreciated those tips.

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The definitive guide for building muscle: Training for Mass is a comprehensive, intelligent guide for constructing effective and efficient weight training workouts. It also offers a scientific analysis of current popular weight training strategies, and demonstrates how the vast majority of workout routines are neither scientific nor effective.

Based on observations about how the human body responds to exercise, Training for Mass advocates a less-is-more approach, and shows how spending endless hours in the gym is counterproductive and even harmful–debunking the myth that building muscle requires a great investment of time.

Training for Mass is not a picture book; rather, it is filled with useful information. Nor is it a rigid scientific journal or text book; the author draws upon unusual examples and provides uncommon insight into the factors required for success in weight training.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A Classical Understanding of Bodybuilding
Of the 20-30 books I have read on weight training, this is the best and in a class of its own. It is very philosophical in spirit, though not in style or language, and so it is not at all difficult to read. It is admirable that the author can display a large vocabulary and use it well, while speaking so obviously ‘from the heart’ that the reader feels that he is having a conversation between sets with his buddy in the gym and always knows what is trying to say.

Many readers will want another book (or the internet) for some photographs and more details about particular exercises. But any young weight trainer would do well to read this early in his training and learn to exercise his mind in training as well as his body.

A student once reported having heard Arnold say, ‘[The philosopher] Plato teaches that happiness lies in a balance of the life of the body and the life of the mind. I believe I have reached that balance.’ We both laughed at the thought. Mr. LaVelle’s book is the first and only evidence I have seen of a step in the direction of that balance. The rest of this review will elaborate on this position.

I am a philosopher (doctorate from Notre Dame) and teach at a small Catholic liberal arts college that uses ‘great books’ (Thomas Aquinas College). My reading of Plato and Aristotle led me to begin some effort at fitness, after more than 30 years of books, music, and poetry. Plato taught that ‘dressing up stands to gymnastics as rhetoric to legislation’. Aristotle, in his Ethics, states that ‘just as we blame some men for the state of their bodies, we must blame some men for the state of their souls.’ I finally got myself to the gym.

These comments by the two very greatest philosophers reflect the comprehensive character of Greek culture. They not only understood (and bequeathed to Western civilization) the life of the intellect but also the ideal of physical beauty. Much of Western art and even modern bodybuilding are an elaboration, development, and perhaps some corruption of this Greek ideal.

But modern bodybuilding has isolated this ideal from the intellectual life fostered among the best Greeks. (There are some buff dopes in Plato’s dialogues.) Though he does not turn to the Greek philosophers, Mr. LaVelle’s book exhibits this man’s effort (quite on his own!) to reintegrate the life of the intellect and the training of his body.

Mr. LaVelle does this in three ways that I will focus on: a philosophical approach, appreciation of the role of the intellect in working out, and a sense of the moral dimension.

The book defends high-intensity training (HIT) against volume-training. In doing so, he identifies and defends the principles involved in HIT. He explains how these cause muscle growth. But he also allows the opposing position to have its say, in the tradition begun by Socrates in his conversations. This is done by examining and identifying the principles of volume-training, showing the strengths, but ultimate inconsistency, of the method. I do not think anyone who defends volume-training has done anything comparable to clarify and defend their position. They owe some thanks to Mr. LaVelle (if they can read his work and still propose volume-training). I could go on at length about Mr. LaVelle’s achievement here. (In answer to an objection in another review, let me say that the book does not try to supplant the role of ‘biomechanics’. Rather it teaches you how to judge training as it affects the man rather than the cell. This judgment must be made from what the man who trains can observe.)

Mr. LaVelle has a section on the ‘role of philosophy’ in his book. But throughout the book one recognizes that he is promoting (perhaps more than he is conscious of) a approach to weight training that does not begin by turning the intellect off. This involves training with a plan, thoughtfully applying the principles in training, and use of an intense concentration that only the intellect can produce. Again, I refrain from saying more.

A section on ‘intangibles’ is provided in the book. Mr. LaVelle himself may not be aware that much of what he is speaking about here is moral character. Weight training cannot bring about moral character, but it can be an instrument in developing the virtue of courage and the parts of courage recognized by the Greeks: high-mindedness, patience, magnificence, and perseverance. Mr. LaVelle speaks of courage, determination, and discipline. But through these words he is encouraging us to develop these ‘parts’ of courage. If a young trainer, especially a young man, could with the help of this book begin to train with the recognition that training is by its nature an instrument in becoming courageous (and ignore the drug-infested, sex-saturated industry), he would profit immensely.

A second moral aspect to Mr. LaVelle’s work is that he recognizes there is a life outside the gym and not just the sexual life. As he suggests, until we see weight training as part of an integrated life, it will continue in the direction of the ‘freak show’.

All this talk about the Greeks in my review may lead one to ask, without any reference to the book in question, didn’t the Greeks let their ideal of male beauty lead them into immorality. In fact, this was an upper-class phenomenon, and the Greek philosophers held the highest moral precepts. Plato teaches that ‘between men affection should never cross what is decent between a father and his son.’

Let me recognize with another reviewer that there are many typos, a few words (usually prepositions) left out. These are an unfortunate symptom of our computer age. They don’t cause any particular confusion here.

One last comment: Mr. LaVelle’s purity of purpose is nowhere more evident than in the fact that he has kept photos of his own magnificent physique out of the book. If I had such a physique, I would find it difficult not to put a few photos even on the back cover of a book of philosophy.

5 Stars I can’t wait to go to the gym!
If you lift weights, you need to get this book TODAY. I got it about 2 months ago after reading Mike Mentzer’s last book - High-Intensity Training - and was absolutely hooked on HIT.

Most of my life I have enjoyed lifting weights, but now I am a student of it and can’t wait to get to the gym because of the perspective Lavelle has given me.

Even better, I have made some obvious physical gains in a very short time by implementing what the book says to do.

As for the content of this book, Gordon’s writing style is much more concise, and I would say clearer than Mentzer’s was. And the fact that it is all about training and has no pictures to distract you from the subject, will make it hard for you to put it down!

In summary, if the great Mike Mentzer was the messenger for HIT training before, Gordon Lavelle now holds the torch.

Well done Gordon, well done!

3 Stars Contains some good information, but I still need a another book to answer many questions about lifting.
First of all, it’s not often i read a professional published book that has not one, not two, but multiple typos. Granted, typos won’t keep me from lifting, but it does indicate a certain degree of carelessness that doesn’t bode well for the book.

On one had, it has advice for beginners, but on the other, it assumes the reader knows how to perform every exercise mentioned simply by a sometimes obscure name, without the aid of a single picture. Frankly, i bought the book because of its good reviews, and i feel a bit cheated. It’s not a great book.

5 Stars All You Need
All you need is in this book; eliminate unneccesary workouts that are not good mass builders and abandon high volume marathon sessions that are ruinous to your joints and free time. This is unlike anything you’ve ever read. An intellectual approach that explains WHY a high intensity routine is effective. I love it.

5 Stars Well Worth Reading
I can think of few topics outside of politics and religion that are more divisive than the subject of effective bodybuilding techniques. Mr. LaVelle, however, offers a well-reasoned and well-written contribution to the debate.

If your goal is to be most efficient with the time you spend in the gym and you want to avoid setbacks caused by injuries and over-training, you owe it to yourself to read Mr. LaVelle’s book. If on the other hand, you get some sort of validation from being able to talk about how much time you spend working out, then, by all means, keep doing what you are doing.

I would caution you, though, read the book carefully. The author is quick to point out that his methods need to be tailored to the individual. This is not a “do exactly what I tell you” cookbook. I believe that when you read the book you will find, as I did, that the author’s ideas are not only well supported but also seem intuitively right.

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With more than 70 exercises accompanied by photographs and anatomical drawings, Kinesiology of Exercise is one of the most comprehensive books on strength training currently available. Written by Dr. Michael Yessis, a recognized authority in this field, Kinesiology of Exercise is essential for coaches, athletes, fitness enthusiasts, physical therapists, bodybuilders–virtually everyone interested in performing strength training exercises safely and effectively. “Dr. Yessis has done it again! . . . I consider this book an invaluable tool in updating my knowledge of and ability to teach exercises that are crucial for pro football players, both for injury prevention and performance enhancement.” — Johnny Parket Head Strength Coach, New York Giants “All bodybuilders and athletes should use this book in order to correctly perform all of the bodybuilding and strength exercises, and they will experience maximum growth without the risk of injury by using this book as a guideline.’ — Chuck Williams, bodybuilder National Light Heavyweight Winner, 1983 World Champion, 1983 “This book is a must for all personal trainers and strength and aerobic instructors. The great illustrations show clearly how each exercise should be done and the muscles involved The information in this book shows everyone how they can develop the body most effectively and safely.” — Kevin Miller Owner and General Manager, The Fitness Clubs “KinesioIogy of Exercise is a detailed, clearly illustrated text that will benefit all levels of athletic expertise, from the elite coach to the age group coach. This is a fine reference tool that belongs in every coach’s and athlete’s library.” — Randy Huntington Coach for Long Jump World Record Holder Mike Powell Dr. Michael Yessis has served as training and technique consultant to several Olympic and professional sports teams, including the L.A. Rams and L.A. Raiders football clubs and the U.S. Men’s Volleyball Team. The author of more than 2,000 articles on fitness and sports training, Dr. Yessis has also written three other books and produced four videos. He is also the president of Sports Training, Inc., a diverse sports and fitness company.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Good basic book
I’m a Physical Therapist Assistant, a Nurse, and an ACSM cert Health Fitness Instructor. Yessis goes over basic kinesiology as well as how to perform these exercises with safe form. He also goes into reasons WHY bad form is harmful, how to avoid as well as why certain exercises can be beneficial in certain sports. This is a great book to become familiarized with muscles, actions, and strict form. I recommend it for any trainer or athlete. I often give it as a gift to my clients when they complete training with me.

5 Stars Good book for the beginner
I’ve read about a half a dozen or so books on strength training. The worst thing for the beginner is getting injured, which is very easy to do, and could stop further training for fear of getting injured again. This book describes in detail the movements involved in the lifts and injury prevention. For this alone, it’s worth it to get the book. Then, if you wish to continue there are other books to buy, such as “Weight Training-2nd: Steps to Success” which gives you workout plans and why to exercise opposing muscle groups, etc.

1 Stars Incomplete
You could find the information in this book in any number of places online. Not only would the information at a good Kinesiology website be more complete but you would also get moving gifs to show you proper form.

I don’t think I got even one useful thing out of this book.

2 Stars This book is unsound.
While the book features a variety of exercises, it advocates strength training methods that have been proven to be dangerous, and that by mere logic seem wrong. First, the author instructs you to hold you breath during each move, claiming this is proper breathing technique. Also, he condones explosive training which is detrimental to the muskuloskeletal system. Along with other flaws, this book was a waste of money. Your money is better spent buying books such as “A Practical Approach to Strength Training.” This book is one that is backed up scientifically and teaches you the safest and most effective way to exercise.

2 Stars Not satisfactory
I expected a more through book on exercises and their effects on the body. Maybe a good book for beginners but not for experienced athletes.

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Must Have !! Will lead you in the right path for gains.
I honestly can say that Weider’s Principles and Bodybuilding System WORKS !!
The structure of the book and visual charts and pictures really go a long way to help you structure your own workouts. It’s like having a personal trainer all the way, easily referrenced material and you must try the principles outlined to then go ahead and break any rules. But trust me, you will always come back to this system, and will learn to incorporate it automatically in your mind as you advance into your training workouts.
The beauty of this system is that it teaches you the TRUE ESSENCE of what bodybuilding and weight training is about (wether you need that little extra fitness, or you want to compete at pro level), there is no boring waste of time going into explicit detail of things you won’t or don’t want to know anyway.
There are many workout routines already tried and tested that are provided in the book, and you will actually enjoy them while being able to motivate and keep on track with your goals. This system makes your gains fun, and you will definately improve in the areas you want to concentrate on.
It helps to create a mentality of achievement by following a system. It also is a way of providing discipline which really is the main factor behind motivation.
For visual encouragement the charts are very detailed and great in your own personal gym, they also serve to remind you of what you have read and help you apply it incase you lose concentration during a workout.

5 Stars Excellent reference for the beiginning bodybuilder.
This book is one of the best out there on bodybuilding. If you want to get in shape, the guidelines in this book give you a precise program to follow. This book isn’t just for beiginners but is also for intermediate and advanced bodybulders. Programs are giving for all stages of bodybuilding. The charts provided are nice because you can take them along to the gym and they show you which exercises to perform on what day. Bodybuilding history and nutrition are also nicely covered in this book.

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What was I thinking? Another autobiography? A third? Who did I think I was, Winston Churchill? Why would I want to set my pen loose on hundreds of sheets of notebook paper unless I really felt I had something worth writing about?

Besides, I had a wrestling comeback to prepare for, mentally and physically, provided I could get Vince McMahon and the WWE creative staff to embrace what I was sure was the single greatest storyline of my career.

Then it hit me: the storyline. I would give WWE fans unprecedented access to World Wrestling Entertainment, covering everything from conception to completion. I would recount how I felt about specific interviews and matches, whether they helped or hurt. I would expose the backstage politics, shed some light on my rocky relationship with Vince McMahon, offer insights into my personal dealings with WWE Superstars, and tell stories about my favorite Divas.

But I wasn’t interested in writing just a wrestling book. I wanted to share moments from my personal life as well, from a humorous look at my unlikely dinner with polarizing neocon Paul Wolfowitz, to my haunting meeting with a severely burned boy in Afghanistan, to my peculiar obsession with a certain jolly old elf.

I knew I could make the fans care about this storyline, provided I could once again find the passion to make the story come to life in arenas around the country and on television sets around the world.

Most importantly, I had to ask myself a vital question, one upon which this whole idea, and therefore the book you hold, hinges: Was I willing to become the first voluntary member of the Vince McMahon “Kiss My Ass Club”? I sat on the idea for a few days, to let the idea ripen and mature in my mind, like a fine vintage wine, and to figure out if I was really willing to kiss his ass. I mean, literally kiss a man’s ass. Sure, I’d been kissing the same guy’s ass figuratively for a decade. But this was different. Did I really have the testicular fortitude required for such a task? In front of millions? Including my wife and kids?

I made the call.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Probably would have been better served as blog entries
I hate writing negative reviews on Amazon. I especially hate writing a negative review about a product that I know somebody put a lot of time and energy into (plus I know how hard writing something interesting can be). Adding to my frustration here is the fact I like Mick Foley the entertainer - he is a wrestler who has given me countless great memories in the ring and he truly seems like a nice guy who is devoted to his family. That being said, this book fails to recapture the magic his first two autobiographies had and, even worse, was torture to finish.

The basic premise of The Hardcore Diaries is a good one. Mick Foley came up with a wrestling angle (storyline) and this book was to be written in diary fashion documenting Mick’s thoughts as the angle played out in the WWE. I believe this could make for an exceptionally compelling read for wrestling and non-wrestling fans a like, if done right. Especially when being written by a brilliant man who is a very gifted writer. There is a major problem right away though - the storyline only takes about 6 weeks from start to finish. Even with production meetings before each show, there is only so much Foley can write about. Compounding the issue, Foley wasn’t traveling day-to-day with the WWE at this point so his “backstage” stories are going to be limited. To fill 300 pages or so, filler is going to be needed (in this case, lots and lots and lots and lots of filler).

So we get pages upon pages dedicated to Mick’s family, meeting Katie Couric, rubber chicken dinners, visiting sick children and veterans, softball and little league games, church, etc… Making matters even worse is the fact that it’s not even in diary fashion - we start jumping years at a time. By about the midway point I couldn’t even remember the stupid angle this book was supposed to be about in the first place. By the end, I was seriously telling myself that the book is going in the “later” pile if he tells one more story about visiting a veteran’s hospital. It’s really hard to completely blame Mick here though - there is just not enough meat on the bone with this one wrestling storyline to fill-up an entire book and we already have two other books on Foley, so his fresh stories are going to be very limited.

That’s not to say this book doesn’t have its pluses. When he does concentrate on the “here-and-now” entries it is a very good read. His proposed wrestling storyline gets changed so much by the WWE, and to read about his frustrations to this is interesting and really adds a human element to him. Even when he is talking about the family in these parts things don’t seem so contrived since the events are happening in “real time” so to speak.

Overall, this book is only a must buy for die-hard Foley fans who want to know everything about him. Causal fans of the guy or non-wrestling fans should pick-up his first two autobiographies - those are great reads.

2 Stars Skip it
I was lucky enough to grow up in the 80s, seeing every major current star and the ones starting to retire (Flair/Savage), in their primes.

Mick became a favorite of mine when he returned with the Mankind gimmick. I knew him as Cactus Jack, but didn’t remember him being that special on the microphone or in the ring at that time. I do have Have a Nice Day and enjoyed it 100%. I missed the rest of the books as life got in the way, kids, marriage, divorce, marriage etc..

Now that life has settled back down for me, I stumbled across this book at a major bookstore on a bargain table. Though I still watch wrestling with our son, I’m not as much into it as I used to be, which I think is understandable.

I take the book home and start reading. Disappointment would be an understatement. I’m not a scholarly writer or person, so it isn’t about amateur writing level or anything like that. I like the fact that Mick doesn’t try to be the next Issac Asimov or Ayn Rand. His first book was one of those you could just sit back and enjoy, it probably isn’t making you any smarter or improving your culture awareness, but hey, it was fun to read.

Where this book fails is first in the title, Hardcore, to a wrestling fan that means chairs, tables, ECW in Philly, Funk, Sheik and so on. I don’t know if Mick is trying to be clever with the title that the stories within are more hardcore than wrestling is, but either way, you audience, Mick, is wrestling fans. Like the Rock used to say, “Know your role”.

The book has a few wrestling stories here and there. It also has numerous mentions of how Katie Couric held his baby and how incredible it was to be on her show. I work in the daytime so I had to look her up, not kidding. Had no clue who she was. So Mick, here are the wrestling fans, ask them if they think Mick Foley, the hardcore legend, the icon, the man who flew off the cell is a bigger star than Katie Couric is. See what I mean? It is to the point that I wanted to reach into the book and smack Mick across the head, “You’re a huge star, Mick!” Maybe he is using that part to show that he is still the “every man”?

Either way, it is annoying. Then he continues this by talking about all the charities he works with and how he met former baseball players and Olympic competitors. I don’t care Mick. I really don’t. I help build houses through my company for poor families, but I’m not writing a book about it.

So there Mick, a pat on your back. You made millions of dollars and now you share some of it and some of your time with people less fortunate than you.

The wrestling stories are scattered about. Including the same focus on Ric Flair and how Flair hates him, so what if he talked about you in his book, you talked about him first you big crybaby.

Seriously, my mood by the end of the book was to go find Mick and throw him off a cell, hoping it would knock some sense back into him.

Audience: Wrestling fans, blood loving, violence loving, fighting, kicking and wrasslin’ loving fans, not someone who think Katie is a bigger star than Foley. Failed there.

Stories: Less than half are about wrestling, book written by a wrestler, with 50% of the stories about what a saint he is. Failed there.

Sorry Mick, you’ll always be a favorite, but I no longer think you are America’s best kept secret in storytellers. I’ll put this book under my Cactus Jack shirt in the closet, so no one will read it.

5 Stars hardcore Diaries
Book came wrapped and in perfect condition. It’s a present, so i haven’t read it, but the transaction went flawlessly.

5 Stars One of the best wrestling books, ever!
I love reading wrestling books to gain insight into a business that so little is known backstage. Mick Foley has always given one of the more honest insights, also more down to earth. This one chronicles his journey to ECW’s One Night Stand and all the bumps in the road to. Some of the stories he shares with us really touch me when he talks about burn victims and children’s hospitals, to his own child choking. Moments like those (and so many more I don’t wanna give away) turn this hardcore legend into a true legend. Read this if you’re a fan of the business, read this if you just want insight into a man’s life with so many connections.

3 Stars Foley takes a new approach to his third biography, unfortunately it’s not an instant classic like his previous works
WWE superstar and hardcore legend, Mick Foley is no stranger to writing. Aside from writing two #1 New York Times bestselling memoirs (Have a Nice Day and Foley is Good), Mick Foley has also wrote multiple children books and fiction novels. Hardcore Diaries is Foley’s third volume of memoirs, which has a lot to live up to his two aforementioned autobiographies.

Foley’s last book finishes up shortly after he retired from wrestling in 2000. This one covers up until mid 2006 of Foley’s life and career. Hardcore Diaries has a unique way of detailing those six years. Instead of starting straight from where Foley last left off, the whole book is wrapped around Foley’s involvement in coming up with his One Night Stand 2006 match where he teamed with Edge against Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer.

Every few chapters Foley comes back to this angle on how the creative process runs behind the scenes in WWE and how his initial vision for the storyline went though many political compromises and unwelcome changes. In between the chapters of the creative plan for the ECW angle, a smaller than expected section is devoted to the angles and returns to the ring Foley was involved in the previous six years, and a larger than expected section is devoted to his family and many charity contributions.

This all doesn’t come together too nicely. Nothing against Foley’s many charity contributions and his commitment to being a family man, but those chapters seemingly went on forever. They are still interesting to read about, but after awhile I forgot I was reading a wrestler’s autobiography. They ended up interrupting the flow of the book, as throughout Hardcore Diaries it never felt like it was going in full gear.

I’ll give Foley credit for trying something new for this book, but it just didn’t work out in the end. With that said Hardcore Diaries is a disappointment and easily ranks as the lowest of his three autobiographies, but it is still better than many other wrestler biographies out on the market right now. If you liked the first two Foley books, you will probably still enjoy this, but to a much lesser extent.

The Hardcore Diaries

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