Bryant and Adam are the Brady and Belichek of Weight Training Authors
931000
This is possibly the best work of Josh Bryant and Adam BenShea to date, even after an absolute phenomenal Jailhouse Strong series. The saga of the tijuana barbell club tells a vivid colorful story that makes it very easy to understand the methods described in the book. The characters and different styles provided will add to anyone's workout programs regardless of individual differences. Even after a decade of personal training and weight training, I learned something completely brand new to me in Wave Loading. Can't wait to honor the men of the TBC and make gains! Thanks Josh and Adam!
815214
I bought this book after hearing about it via word of mouth. Dear God, is it great if you're interested in strength training.

I tried lifting weights the bodybuilding style according to Arnold's book. Didn't do it for me, even though I know some folks are into that. I always found it incredibly boring and could never find the time. A few years later, I got into a car accident and found myself down about 30 lbs. I was 6'2", 160lbs and honestly looked and felt like a junkie. I was physically weak and had massive strength deficits.

It was time to look into exercising again. I really wanted strength, and didn't care much about looking pretty, which is what bodybuilding is mostly about (even though I didn't really realize it until this book). Kubick gives you a strength routine based on his extensive studies of old time strongmen, classic weightlifters (rather than bodybuilders) and his own experience.

It's all about lifting heavy, grip strength, compound joint exercises, and abbreviated training. Personally, I started to find lifting doable, and even fun. The book itself is well-written and funny. Kubick has an awesome grasp of the history of strength athletes that I never really knew about as well as anatomy and even some great quotes from literature to open some of the chapters.

Thanks to this strength routine, taken together with yoga (give it a shot if you have mobility or flexibility or joint difficulty), I went from having difficulty walking to today - benching 225 and preparing for a physical for a paramilitary career. I'm not deluding myself into thinking that I'm Ronnie Coleman or anything, but this has made a big difference in my life. Exercise helps me stay centered too, so it's important I have a routine that works for me.

This stuff works. No ridiculous bodybuilding tips like do a hundred sets of flys to look pretty, but plenty of real tips for people that don't take steroids, don't have 10 hours a day to exercise, live in the real world, and want to be strong.

Incidentally, the book is still in print on the Kubick's website. That's where I got it. To boot, he's super-nice too and, unlike some of these gurus, actually keeps in touch with fans.

Highest possible recommendation. The only downside is that now I'm at the top of the call list when relatives need furniture moved.
3672947
If you ever use a dumbbell then buy this book! Not only does it contain dynamite exercises but it also gives the science behind the exercise. Great instructions! Easy to read and follow! Simply can't go wrong with this book! Guarantee you'll learn a thing or two even if you're a veteran of the Iron Game! Josh Bryant is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and in this book he teams up with one of his mentors, Fred Hatfield (Dr. Squat) and the two of these combined makes for an outstanding book that is very useful!
1975453
Don't quite know what to make of this book and of the author. The content is generally good and seems very well-researched (there are so many references for each of the principles). Everything he says makes sense, is very logical and is pretty simple. He defies common wisdom in ways I had not seen before. The workouts are pretty simple at the beginning before you have to step into the gym and use weights. At the point where one needs to get to the gym and use weights and resistance bands, this is where, to me, it becomes unsustainable for most people. Sure, the workouts themselves may be short, but the overhead of getting to a gym with weights is going to be a deal killer. And when you take into account the 30 minutes of walking, the warmup, the workout, the desk routine, the feet strengthening, etc. you get to more than 1% of the week. Thinking you can get fitness with 1% of your week is just silly and a marketing slogan.

Like any workout book, if you stick with it long enough, I have no doubt that you will see results, so the "does it work?" question is a silly one to ask. If you walk for 30 minutes every day and do weights 2 to 3 times a week, you will lose weight and be more fit, regardless of what exercises you actually do.

My main gripe with this book is the packaging, which is terrible (low quality images / pictures) and bad editing. The author also plugs his "other books" quite a bit in the text. The website is not that much better, without encryption for logging in.

The author also favors the use of a potty stand so that you can squat while going number 2, which is one of the many eyebrow raising you will find in the book and on the website.

All in all, I love the theory / ideas in this book and I am giving it a fair shot. There are many helpful and practical things in there (the desk routine, the foot strengthening, the daily squats) and I love that the author takes a first principles / back to basics approach. But I'm holding off on the potty stand for now.
813980
I picked up the book for the first time a couple months after my dad bought it. Being a high school athlete I wanted to get bigger faster and stronger, and this book has done more than that for me. This book is the full package, you get a workout fit for an Olympian along with meal plans to follow to obtain your goals. Can't stress enough how much this book has done for me.
2422996
Quite simply THE book you need to get if you intend on beginning strength training, or lifting weights of any kind for that matter, whatever your level. Easy to read thanks to Mark's style of writing, with straight to the point quotes, with funny bits thrown in too. If you want to build big biceps and abs, this is not for you. If you want to be strong and uninjured for the rest of your life, buy it.
4800937
Great book.  Well written, funny and a fast read full of tips on nutrition, weightlifting and exercise.  I have completed 4 rounds of the 6 week workout and the results are great.  Now Joe, what else do you have?
889264
So, you fancy yourself a weightlifter? Do you even read Matt Foreman's blog posts on the Catalyst Athletics site? Oh, you do? Awesome! You should also get this book too! Bones of Iron is like a glimpse into the mind of Matt Foreman.. There's no shortage of his wit and humor and wealth of knowledge regarding the sport of Olympic weightlifting. I highly recommend this book as both a great read as well as another resource for your training.
3302986
I also read Michael's book "Muscle Myths" and this book was the perfect companion. It is such an easy read because he just simply knows how to write without filling the book with bs. Also, like in Muscle Myths he has references and citations for all the scientific studies he mentions. Which is another thing i love about his book, it's not fueled by Bro Science, which can be informative but he has the real facts from real studies. This book fills your head with the right information you have wanted. I love Michael Matthews as an author, I wish I was buddies with him so I could text him whenever I had workout/health questions. The end of the book includes a link to download a free one year workout and nutrition plan. You just can't beat that value. I'm starting the one year challenge workout plan next week, and I am the most excited I've ever been. A must read for anyone trying to get healthy and change their life.
3981168
Danny's a great writer and this book is packed with great instruction, advice and insight. A must for bodyweight strength training enthusiasts
2398665
I have this book in both paper and electronic form. The paper one I got more than a decade ago and its size is just unwieldy for bringing to the gym, plus finding just what you need quickly can be challenging. The Kindle version is perfect for that since it allows easy bookmarking and highlighting, and it is my gym companion these days.

The book is very well written, easy to read, and very comprehensive. Arnold leaves no stone unturned when it comes to bodybuilding.  Weight lifting exercises, nutrition, programs for beginners, intermediates and competition-grade experts. There are also plenty of photos of his glory days and interesting and funny anecdotes. The tone is very approachable and conversational.

After trying a couple of exercise fads lately, I am back to basics, and who could be a better teacher than Arnold? He covers a lot of ground and the exercises are illustrated and explained well.

The book is not without shortcomings: Arnold assumes that you would spend hours in the gym 6 days a week. Even the beginner series can easily take 2 hours a day (in my experience, at least, especially since I am new to some of these routines). After consulting other books, I decided to stick to his 6 days program and prune out some of the exercises which did not cover major muscle groups or were somewhat redundant to bring the duration of each workout down while still building strength. Lastly, this is not a general fitness or even weightlifting book: it is a bodybuilding book; Arnold assumes that your goal is to look like him and that photos of top bodybuilders would be motivating. While my goals are different, this book is still one of the best resources on strength training and associated nutrition.

Highly recommended in electronic format.
4846754
P. Tsatsouline's book on true power gains is a masterpiece of intelligent and insightful writing for the serious strength trainer. The techniques described in Power To The People will have you increasing your pounds lifted from the very first workout. Whether your goals are strength- or size-oriented, no matter your current level of fitness, this books is indespensible.
3839255
I'm an advance reviewer that have received an advance review copy of this book. The strength/bodybuilding world really needs a new book written by  Chuck Miller and Stuart McRobert pioneers regarding strength/bodybuilding training for vast majority of the training world. This book will once again enlighten the training approach which was the the same name as Stuart McRoberts great training magazine called Hardgainer. Nowadays the term hardgainer is used very frequently but this approach is the most productive what I've come across. For those whom are new to this training approach you're definitely in for a new way of training and reasoning about productive training. The book  provides us reader with no-nonsense drug-free information regarding.

The book is useful for beginners and more advance weight trainees. And I'm sure that this book will last with you throughout your training period and give you information you need to train productively with regular gains. You cannot expect quick fixes but long term result and every workout will build in to next workout. That's how I see it. Depending on what you did last workout will effect your next workout. For me, being a middle age man with family and working full time, Chuck's and Stuart's book really makes it possible to be able to train productively and still joggle my other life chores.

 The book starts with some background of both Stuart McRobert and Chuck Miller and then continues to discuss general training recommendations where the discussion how to outline a simple but productive routine including samples of routines. Next consideration will be ones genetics. We all have different genetics and here the book gives many parameters to consider and how to go about and find the most suited training method depending on your genetics. The next section the book deals with exercise selection with emphasis on priorities and substitutions. Since were're not build the same way some exercises are better suited for us than other exercises. The book gives plenty of advice regarding how to modify and personalized your routine with the exercises you can perform safely and productively.

In the following chapter Stuart McRobert speaks about his own training journey. And gives many very insightful advice he personally experienced during his training career. It includes what he would have done differently regarding training routines, exercise selection. A lot of information that the book discussed and brought up in earlier chapters of the book. Next chapter covers nutrition. Stuart McRobert will tell you about his current diet and nutritional guidelines. How he plans his meals today and what he has tried in the past. The following chapter brings up miscellaneous topics like conventional training and bodybuilding champions as role models. Also careers and life outside the gym and point therapy and active release techniques as injury treatment is touched upon.

During the last chapter both Stuart McRobert and Chuck Miller are talking about the legacy they're showing the strength/bodybuilding world. Chuck Miller describes his legacy how he transformed himself from a 170 pound weakling to a 220 strong and muscular man whom achieved raw elite powerlifting totals in two different weight classes. Chuck Miller also talks about how basic and abbreviated training can get you big and strong opposite to what many people believe.

I can very highly recommend this book to anyone who's interested in reaching ones highest potential regarding both strength and muscles.

Per Hedberg
4190469
I have been a long time follower of Steven Low's blog [...] and an avid student of gymnastics and bodyweight training.  My favorite thing about the book is the progressions.  Often times I find that many other authors have progressions that are too fast or difficult to follow.  But in Overcoming Gravity, the progressions are in much smaller steps which allows for the reader to pick up at his or her ability easily and immediately begin developing their strength.  This book does not require that you must already have a foundation in gymnastics or bodyweight training which makes it a fantastic resource for beginners, but beyond that, it's also an amazing resource for even advanced gymnasts as the progressions continue on to even the most demanding movements like inverted crosses or elevators.

Overall, it is a plethora of information, almost too much information to retain from a single reading.  But that shouldn't stop you from using it as a reference tool.  If you're debating between buying Overcoming Gravity and Building the Gymnastic Body, Overcoming Gravity is the definite winner.  It is more in depth, more complete, and easier to follow as well as actually implement.  I started playing around with the various progressions the first day the book arrived.  My brother started following the planche progressions the week after Christmas, and he's already close to holding a straddle planche in less than 2 months.  If you purchased Building the Gymnastic Body and felt you were left hanging by the lack of programming discussion, this is your solution as well.

Steven Low does an excellent job of thoroughly covering programming to the point where you can build your own routine without requiring the assistance of a coach.  The book covers so much ground it's remarkable.  There is physiology, injury prevention, injury rehab, skill development, program design, nutrition, lifestyle, and so much more.  This book is probably the best book on fitness and health that I have read in the past year, maybe even longer.  Definitely something you'll want to add to your collection.
4865507
Catt Tripoli is self made through curiosity and self exploration. Her intuition and experimentation have been confirmed and validated by science and years of experience. She is truly gifted in her technique. I admire her willingness to take on the daunting task of translating such complex concepts into a book. This is a MEATY book that is peppered with gems.

She demonstrates how we can get stronger as we age instead of weaker by learning the anatomy of our bodies and applying that to bodybuilding. This is important because it is not how you exercise, but how you use your body to exercise. Bodybuilding is about building a strong body.

For those new to fitness you will find incentives to get fit. For the gym rat, you will be challenged to take your fitness to a much deeper level by shifting your focus. One of the reasons I love weightlifting so much is because it is a mental sport. The authors concepts will be mechanical at first, but over time as you become stronger and stronger, the concepts will become more and more internalized. The challenge is to stay mentally engaged not only for every exercise throughout your workout, but in all aspects of your life.

The sooner the concepts in this book are embraced, the sooner you can preempt serious health issues and can actually begin to reverse the affects of age/injury no matter how old you are or new to exercising.

If you get nothing else from this book other than to take an active role in your health, this book accomplished what it set out to accomplish.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King Jr.

I have gotten to know the older gentleman mentioned in Catt Tripolis book. He joined the gym, for the first time in his life, in his 80s. James is proof that we are not as limited by our bodies as we are by our minds. I am blessed to share his review of Catt Tripolis book:

To read Catt Tripolis new book, Conscious Fitness is to enter into partnership with Catts strength training program. Her book is perhaps a potent and influential evolution on strength training of our time. The seeds of successful strength fitness are amply distributed in the book for the discovery of the unlimited inner power, that is within every trainee.

Perhaps, Conscious Fitness is the hidden masterpiece which must be discovered only when one enters into the larger life of fitness.
2354400
I first read and implemented the work out routines in Supermen.  This book is like an add-on to&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Supermen-Building-Maximum-Muscle-for-a-Lifetime/dp/0984741410/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Supermen: Building Maximum Muscle for a Lifetime</a>, it gives insight and perspective to as to how modern day weight training came to be.  It details the different work out routines throughout history.  As some one who has worked out at a gym for over 20 years, I appreciated the history of this sport.  This book is more text book than Supermen, I could see it being part of a Gym Major's required reading.  If you are serious about weight lifting I recommend this book and Supermen by the same author.
1411140
I can't believe all the bad reviews this book is getting. Ive been into fitness for 12 years and seen far, far worse efforts by self-styled "experts".

 I'm aware that power lifting is hard on the joints. So is every sport I can think of. Sad to say, as a weightlifter and martial artist, my sports have a lot of envy and gossip. The author is a professor of Physical Ed at a Virginia University. What are the qualifications of his critics?

If you want a book that shows real strengh training, get this one. It's about ten dollars used and twenty new. You won't be sorry.