Product Description

From elite bodybuilding competitors to gymnasts, from golfers to fitness gurus, anyone who works out with weights must own this book -- a book that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could write, a book that has earned its reputation as "the bible of bodybuilding."

Inside, Arnold covers the very latest advances in both weight training and bodybuilding competition, with new sections on diet and nutrition, sports psychology, the treatment and prevention of injuries, and methods of training, each illustrated with detailed photos of some of bodybuilding's newest stars.

Plus, all the features that have made this book a classic are here:

Customer Reviews (23)

Must buy
My roomate is a amatuer body builder who does contests and i went to school for personal training. He got the book first. I looked through one section and oredered it by the end of the week. I paid less online with shipping then he did at the store. This book is almost all you will need for weight training and a healthy lifestyle. Also check out "the worlds healthiest foods". Likely the only body building book i will ever need to buy.

Brilliant bodybuilding/lifting book!
This book is for anyone who wants to get into strength training and pack on some serious muscle. Robert Kennedy is one of the top bodybuilding experts in the world and has a unique approach to training that WORKS! I would recommend this book to anyone with any interest in strength training. It'll take you through the science of building muscle explained in laymans terms, give you insight on dietary needs, has over a hundred different types of exercises, and, has a year and a half of programs for the beginner, intermediate and advanced lifter. This book will meet all your muscle building needs!

Leroy Ford
Build Your Dream Body (Volume 1)

Not up to date
The book is published in 2008, but still some information is not up to date. For example the chapter on DOMS, the author seems to have completely missed the article "Re-evaluation of exercise-induced muscle soreness: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study" from 2003.

Get ripped!!
Good book with plenty of exercises and well based. The only problem is it's volume and weight, not convenient to carry to the gym.

Good information for reference, and informative of everything
I added this hardcover, and given a choice, I buy hardcover instead of softcover books, adding this excellent encyclopedia to my growing bodybuilding reference library, and I am glad I did buy it, since it has alot of informative sections on health and other issues, like the aging bodybuilder which is encouraging.Other areas are a must read, I believe information listed concerning what some have resorted to in order to build muscle, I guess for the allure of money winning contests(?), is absolutely astounding, I had no idea that there are some who would damage their health and/or risk death in minutes by "using" some commonly used prescription drugs other than sterioids, I had no idea of the scope of the extent to which some have gone, considering the deaths reported from such abuses.I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't read it and seen pictures of grotesque malformations caused by such abuses.
At first I was biased for big name books like the Bill Pearl books, Arnold books, among many I have, and almost passed on this sale price buy book and I am sure others may have as well, but I say to them just get this book and you will see it has a rather excellent glossary of defined terms, shocking sections on the aformentioned abuses, along with just plain ole good information even on how to lift weights.
As for myself, I am old school on "how to" books, and I would have preferred either diagrams or several pics of start to finish on how to do lifts, like in other books, but all is explained in detail in words and a simple picture pose of what is being talked about, like if talking about long bar barbell curls, then there is a pic of someone muscular doing that in one pic, unsure if there are some who need overly simple diagrams of simple step by step to do the particular action with like four pics each, which is why this book may actually cater to those who are really into weightlifting already even though there are beginning to advanced bodybuilding sections and meant to cater to all levels of lifting, though total beginners need this book especially, even if it is just for the references of what to avoid like dangerous actions and abuse that can cause injury of muscle or joints, or disfigure, or kill either immediately or in the short term, to long term.
I don't believe in the "if you only had to have one book, then such and such is it", since there is no such thing on any one subject, you need this book along with several or more other big ones to get the total picture, and you can even get a few used and underpriced like I did, though I bought this book on sale under $30 new, but knowing now what is inside I know it is worth the full price of $40 for sure if it were not on sale.
... Read more

Product Description
Sculpt your physique like you never thought possible! With full-color, detailed anatomical illustrations of exercises, combined with step-by-step instructions on how to perform them, Bodybuilding Anatomy is the ideal resource for gaining mass and defining your muscles.

Focusing on the primary muscle groups of shoulders, chest, back, arms, legs, and abdominals and targeting muscle zones and hard-to-work areas, Bodybuilding Anatomy can make the difference between bulking up and sculpting an award-winning physique. You will also learn how to modify exercise technique to influence results and individualize training programs according to your specific needs.

Combining the expertise of MuscleMag International columnist, bodybuilder, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nick Evans with the talent of acclaimed bodybuilding artist Bill Hamilton, Bodybuilding Anatomy is the ultimate training guide for bodybuilders and dedicated strength trainers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The best body building anatomy book
This is the best body building anatomy book. Much better than Strength Training Anatomy-3rd Edition (Sports Anatomy). The diagrams are uncluttered, focus on one area at a time and provide multiple view points. This makes it possible for a layman to understand the musculo-skeletal system.

The exercise descriptions pack just the information you need atthe gym. The anatomy focus sections are outstanding. A must have for any one lifting weights.

Excellent
This is the book that any individual, who wants to work out, should read.It is simple, yet informative & an unbeatable resource.

Great book but bad TOC in Kindle Edition
This is a great book for anyone who wants to get into shape the gym or at home. It lists each body section and details the muscle groups. Each section shows exercise options for that body section using free weights, exercise machines and body exercises. each exercise is completely detailed and accompanied with excellent illustrations. I had the paperback copy and then added the Kindle edition to have on my iPhone while in the gym. My only complaint is that the table of contents in the Kindle edition is completely useless to find specific exercises and you are forced to search through the pages until you find what you want.

Clearly Straight-forward
Each exercise is clearly illustrated with color to show the precise muscles being trained. Chaptered by body part with an index by exercise. Some chapters show relationship between muscle and bone, eg:arms,chest. Some chapters show impact of varying your foot position, eg:upper and lower legs. Variations of each exercise are offered. Clear, straight-forward, not over-whelmed with too much informative but confusing detail.

Review Bodybuilding Anatomy
A real good book to have. This book was very helpful in my CPT classes. ... Read more

Product Description
Here for the first time in one volume are all the basic and revolutionary concepts on exercise, training principles, contest preparation, diet and nutrition that have evolved into modern bodybuilding from the man who stands at the forefront of the sport. The "Encyclopaedia of modern bodybuilding" will answer every question any dedicated bodybuilder of bodybuilding enthusiast could ever think to ask. It is an exhaustive reference and instructional manual covering every conceivable aspect of the sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding
The book was in very good shape when I recieved it.The seller was very prompt in sending the book. I was pleased with the overall process.

One Word: Revolutionary
This is a late review but there is only a few reasons to go out of your way to get this version. I can draw some political connotations this day in February but I'll hold back. There is some information that the Governor cut out from the 2nd edition The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised and can only be found in here. It's not really necessary to have this because of the revised 2nd edition but if your curious in how the Governor helped disadvantaged citizens it's all in here. And some other information for the Arnold fan and historian. See my other review on the 2nd edition.

Must-Have If You Love Bodybuilding
This book is worth every penny for the pictures alone. The "trouble spot" training section is great too, as it goes into a detail on an enormous number of movements.

Great Reference
This is a goldmine of information for bodybuilders or anyone who trains with weights.

It presents an incredibly wide range of exercises for every body part complete with descriptions and pictures.It is worth the money for that alone.

I have had this book for over 20 years and have often used it as a reference. It will give one many different exercises for any given body part to keep training fresh and effective.

As the book was written in the 1980s, some of the information is dated.In the area of nutrition, there is a lot more current information.Also the split routines used by Arnold would constitute overtraining for most people.I used that approach many years ago and have gotten far away from that.I am a believer that less is more in terms of training.In spite of that, there is a lot of great information in this book.When combined with other approaches, the knowledge that one can gain from this book is invaluable.

#1 BBS Manual: "Training to Failure" - D.I.Y Hercules for Everybody
*Note* There is a revised edition of this book.

The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding is the largest tome of bodybuilding information found in any publication, finishing up at around 800 pages with approximately 1000 pictures and weighing in at a whopping 5.8lbs, making it the only book that gives you a workout while reading it. Arnold divides his massive manuscript into a number of sections, starting with the history of bodybuilding, competitions, the gym experience and training techniques (the core exercises) before rounding up with various poses and additional information on bodybuilding supplements and diets. Arnold advocates trying to find pictures of a bodybuilder who fits your size and figure and then aiming to replicate their results. Arnold himself used Reg Park as a model for his first teenage foray in the gym while in subsequent years built each body part up using different bodybuilding models to achieve his own unique juggernaut definition. This is but a tiny fraction of the kind of good quality recommendations that the Encyclopedia comes up with. Bodybuilders (bbs) everywhere refer to the `encyclopedia' for its awesome display of photographs of superhuman bbs throughout the ages. There is no lack of snaps that detail the human anatomy. You will likely run through the book many times to find that muscle group or separation that you missed the first time. It is startling how much anatomy you need to get around before you can understand what impact each exercise has on the developing muscle. This is a fully fledged subject that will have your attention for years to come and there is no better place than to start here. Combining this book with the movie "Pumping Iron" on DVD will give you a much better idea of where the information is coming from and you will see most of the faces in this book actually exercising and involved in many of the competition photographs that are on display here. Arnold's description of the muscle groups and how to work them is coupled with illustrations and photographs to show the kind of development you should be aiming to achieve. Creating striations on muscle groups like deltoids and pectorals are topics that will cause you to go back to page one to re-examine everything you have read and seen. Anatomical research coupled with exercising methodology and application with dieting will transform your physique over the course of even a few months. As a lifelong hobby you will be bulking up before your first year is out. A few years will have you at competition level. The whole point is get into the gym to work off that fat to reveal your true shape, a shape that can be defined and built upon with muscle. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and other world-class bodybuilders, advocate more than one set per exercise called High-Volume Training, HVT, the traditional method of using multiple sets to train to failure by training each set to failure, resting, and then repeating the set to failure, as many times as it takes before you just can not do anymore sets for that body part. You will build muscle no matter what kind of genetics you have if you stick with HVT. Hypertrophy is the scientific term for the enlargement of muscle tissue caused by a specific amount of intensity needed for the hypertrophy to occur. No intensity, no hypertrophy, no gain. HVT achieves hypertrophy every time because each muscle group is trained to failure. This is the key to building muscle. You must get that straining feeling where you just can't do another repetition. If you find yourself doing lots of repetitions (more than 10) then you need to add more weight. Arnold includes various Power-Training techniques to help shock the body into being able to lift heavier weights. They work.He also includes increasing intensity techniques by utilizing `forced reps', `negative reps', `isolation training', `supersets' and `stripping methods' among a host of others to learn about. There is much more here then any review can hope to explain (and look at the length of mine!). That is why it is 800 pages or so. Apart from the five stars which it deserves the book does have some major drawbacks. The first big drawback is that all the photographs involve drug use. There are only a few photographs of bodybuilders who have not used steroids and the reason is obvious. It is the little dirty secret that hides behind all the bigger muscle on display. You simply will not get as big as these legends without doing drugs. However you will certainly be able to achieve the same definition and still have very big muscles without drugs. The bodybuilders who did not do drugs are at the start of the book in the history of bodybuilding. Look at the photographs of everybody until you reach Reg Park. After that it is all drug users. Achieving the same sizes without drugs is near impossible apart from the exceptionally genetically gifted person. There is also a lesson to learn from this drug experimentation. Don't do it if you put any value on the most important muscle of all... your heart. All of the guys in this book are much older now and you can see them in the bonus material of the "Pumping Iron" DVD. Sadly they don't look good (sadly some are in wheelchairs) and even Arnold has had a bypass. Just go with food type supplements like 100% Whey Protein and Creatine and stay away from all forms of steroids. The other major drawback is that the 70s bodybuilding era did not give much regard to what is called perfect form. Perfect form is all about doing the exercises the right way to avoid injury. A lot... and I mean a lot... of the exercises in the Encyclopedia are considered very dangerous, mainly because of back arching. These include nearly all of the `Rows'-type exercises (Bent-Over Barbell Rows, Bent-Over Dumbbell Rows, T-bar Rows and the One-Arm Dumbbell Row) which are abandoned today. A `Straight-Leg Deadlift' is something you must do right or you can injure yourself. The `Goodmorning' is considered iffy. Using a Smith-machine for the `Vertical Machine Press' is bad because it has a set path. Triceps `Extensions' are a problem. Take care with `Dipping' and avoid `Sissy Squats'. Arnold's book does not do perfect form so well and in most cases just comes up with plainly dangerous material. This is not to say that you can not do the exercises now and again. Most you can, but in the long term you will only get an injury. Avoiding injury = gain. It is as simple as that. So learn perfect form. How to do this? If you want to learn perfecting form then read "The Insider's Tell-All Handbook on Weight-Training Technique" by Stuart McRobert. This book clearly explains how to perform Back Extension, Cable Row, Calf Raise, Close-Grip Bench Press, Crunch Abdominal Work, Curl, Decline Bench Press, Dumbbell Row, Finger Extension, Grip Machine Training, Incline Bench Press, Leg Press, Lever Bar Work, L-fly, Neck Work, Overhead Lockout, Overhead Press, Parallel Bar Dip, Partial Deadlift, Pinch-grip Lifting, Prone Row, Pulldown, Pullover, Pullup/Chin, Pushdown, Rader Chest Pull, Shrug, Side Bend, Squat, Stiff-legged Deadlift, Thick-bar Hold and the Wrist Roller Training. Get it along with this book and you will not be disappointed with what you can learn between the two. Getting that perfect form right is something that you can learn from the latter book and start doing better in a year than the bb who has been in the gym for ten years. It is that important. Slow and controlled exercising does not avoid injury. Injury has nothing to do with the speed or control of the exercise. Injury occurs because of bad form. So get the form right, learn what Arnold teaches you about developing muscle groups and stay away from drugs to live until you are 90 with a darn near perfect body. It can be done! ... Read more

Product Description

The complete program for building and maintaining a well-conditioned, excellently proportioned body -- for a lifetime of fitness and health.

In Arnold's Bodybuilding for Men, legendary athlete Arnold Schwarzenegger shows you how to achieve the best physical condition of your life. For every man, at every age, Arnold outlines a step-by-step program of excercise, skillfully combining weight training and aerobic conditioning. The result -- total cardiovascular and muscular fitness.

Arnold's program of exercise features stretching, warm-up and warm-down routines, and three series of exercises, each more ambitious than the last, all calculated to help you progress at your own speed. In addition, Arnold contributes important advice about equipment, nutrition and diet, and getting started on your program of exercise.

Special sections of Arnold's Bodybuilding for Men cover training for teenagers, exercises designed to keep you in shape on the road or when you can't get to the gym, and the regimen Arnold followed to win his seven Mr. Olympia titles.

Illustrated with hundreds of photographs of Arnold and other top bodybuilders, Arnold's Bodybuilding for Men will help every man look great and feel terrific. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

understanding bodybuilding
This book is straight forward and honest.Simple and precise it is a good building block for those who are learning or need to re-learn how to do proper techniques and concepts.

The Governator's Bodybuilding Book
I really enjoyed this book.Even thought the book is almost 30 years old, fitness and how to get there is timeless.

Good, but his Encyclopedia is better
The information in this book will get you into shape. The basics of exercise are what works and those basics are timeless.
This book provides the information in a concise and easy to understand manner.
However, if you already know that you will be sticking with the weight training and Arnold is your guru of choice, then I would just spring for "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding" right off the bat.
It is way more thorough.
As for the dumb comments about Arnold's gains all coming from steroids...
Yes, we all know he took them, and no they are not the reason he was big.
Extremely hard work and persistance are the reasons he was big.
Anyone who thinks that steroids are all it takes has obviously never trained seriously. I know because I am the same size and a natural.
If you want to succeed at this then you have to train hard and smart, and you have to do that consistently for a long time.
That's probably where Arnold's best, he really inspires you to want to get your butt in the gym and move some weight.

Yo..it works
Yes, the excercises are basic. Yes, the knowledge revealed is basic.

But the EFFICIENCY of both the knowledge and excercises is amazing. You will do these excercises and see results IF you do them as specified and very quickly. But the problem I ran into was the difficulty. I made progress very rapidly using his system (no joke..it really WORKS even for us skinny guys) and had to drop the ones that put too much pressure on my back but they do indeed work and work well. I even saw results with only doing these twice a week!

But I do recommend learning more about diet if you are serious about bodybuilding. Diet/rest/proper quality and quantity of excercise are the keys.

As a nerd after doing Arnolds system I gained a whole new respect for bodybuilders. The sheer willpower needed to go into the gym and torture yourself like this day after day is awe-inspiring lol.

Don't judge the book by Arnold on the cover
I bought this book many years ago and found it to be very helpful to those attempting to sculpt their body other than for competition. His exercises are reasonable to do at home without gym equipment. He explains how to target specific muscle groups and how to maintain a balance in your physique. There is also a section on working out with improvised weights and equipment such as when traveling or on business trips and time does not allow for a trip to the gym.
This is an excellent book and a shame it is overlooked because it is thought to be directed at professional muscle bloaters. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a comprehensive, easy to understand, guide for the man or woman who wants to build a great body or for the competition type bodybuilder.The author divides the training section into 3 parts; training for the novice or very beginner, training for the intermediate or more experiencedtrainee and training for the advanced bodybuilder. Within each training section, Aceto covers training schedules, repitition ranges for building muscle strength, size and endurance, set selection, and exercise prescription. Each exercise is described with a 3 dimensional drawing allowing the reader to grasp the range of motion that best fits each exercise. He also covers muscle physiology, the comparison between2b fibers and 2a muscle fibers and the importance of developing specific training methods to maximize your gains.The delicate issue of aerobics is also covered withexact guidelines for the pre-contest bodybuilder as well asthe trainee simply trying to lose some body fat. Specifically, Aceto calls aerobics, "One of the biggest myths in bodyfat control. Getting lean is about building your metabolic rate by building lean body mass and manipulating your nutrition plan. For most, aerobics is a way to short circuit progress, not enhance it." The nutrition section sets down exact formulas to find precise amounts of calories, carbs, protein and fat one needs to build up or lean down-whatever his or her goal. Thelatest supplement are also covered from creatine toglutamine and contest bodybuilders will appreciate the sodium and carbo loading techniques.Championship Bodybuilding is all about instruction. A thorough plan that will help you transform your physique! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Short but sweet.
This is a very informative book. The author breaks down the basics of why and how you gain muscle. Has some basic exercises to do. It is a fairly quick read due to the large print though. Overall a good book.

A must have guidness book !
Chris Aceto explains it all in this book, everything you need to know about building a bigger body, leaner, and much more. I have been struggling since i have started to work out to get the correct information about training and netruition regarding this wonderful life style ( bodybuilding ),but i won't anymore. If you are facing what i faced then you must get this guide book!

Learn From one of the Best
This is a great book!!Chris tells you how it is and doesn't beat around the bush!!If your smart you'll buy the book.Everything You Need To Know About Fat Loss

Pump it up
This is a great beginners book for bodybuilding. I learned alot about the different aspects on dieting that I didn't already know. It feels like there could be a second book though. There is just so much information to know.

A Must-Have for the Competitor
All serious bodybuilders should have this book in their library.The easy-to-follow tips will explain how you should eat and train, in addition to explaining supplements. ... Read more

Product Description
"This massive and authoritative Master Blaster book is the greatest bodybuilding book ever written, primarily because it is firmly based on the training principles of the Weider System of Bodybuilding, which have been followed by literally every bodybuilder in the modern history of the sport. I began developing my Weider System back in the 1930s and continue to refine and add new Weider Training Principles to it. You can rely on the information I present in this book to improve your physique. Good luck!" -- Joe WeiderOn Instinctive Training"One of the most fundamental secrets of successful bodybuilding is getting to know your body and how it reacts to various training and nutritional practices. Unless you have finely honed your instinctive training ability, it will take many weeks, even months, to evaluate each experiment. It definitely pays to master the Weider Instinctive Training Principle." -- Franco Columbo, two-time Mr. OlympiaOn Progression"The key to building massive, powerful muscles is to doggedly increase the training weights you use. But it is only good to increase training poundage if you do so in perfect form. There is a direct correlation between the amount of weight you use with perfect biomechanics in an exercise and the mass of muscles that move that weight." -- Lee Haney, three-time Mr. OlympiaOn Muscle Confusion"Once I reached the advanced level of bodybuilding and started entering competitions, I discovered that I quickly became bored with a set training program. I began to use the Weider Muscle Confusion Principle, changing to a new and more challenging routine every time I came into the gym to bomb a particular body part." -- Lou FerrignoOn Supersets"Since supersets constitute a big jump in training intensity, I always tell bodybuilders new to the Weider Supersets Training Principles to experiment with supersets, compounding movements for the biceps and triceps, or forearm flexors and forearm extensors." -- Albert Beckles, IFBB World Pro Grand Prix Champion ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Excellent bodybuilding guide
The bible of bodybuilding. The book gives detailed illustrations of all the exercises for all muscles groups. You're given the full menu of exercises to choose from to work each muscle - LOTS of exercises presented here, more than any other bodybuilding book i've looked at for the last 20 years!. A chapter is devoted to each major and minor muscle grouping followed by routine examples of how to work the muscle (ie. Triceps - Beginner: 3 sets each of Close Grip Bench Press and Pushdowns). A listing of famous bodybuilder routines for each muscle group is presented as well. Basic nutritional, psychological, and routine strategy info is given. Sure, the popular bodybuilders were all on drugs and you'll never look like these guys without them, but there's no reason why you can't pack on some muscle, get yourself in good shape, feel great, and look better if you follow the basic advice and stick to a good exercise routine. Get it, learn, and work out hard!

A must have reference,
If you are into bodybuilding or even casually lifting weights, you should have this book, "don't not get this book", meaning get this book, and like I've said on other reviews, buy a selection of bodybuilding encyclopedias for a personal reference library even if you have to buy used books, and I actually did on this particular book, bought a like new copy from a used book dealer here at Amazon for less than ten bucks shipped.
Joe Weider, a leader in bodybuilding knowledge, and you see the Weider name on alot of equipment, and there is a glossary, of bodybuilding terms in the back of the book that I actually used several times to find the meaning of specific piece of equipment used, and in fact I am pretty sure my other major encyclopedias don't have as extensive of a glossary, well, except "Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding, the complete A-Z Book on muscle building, by Robert Kennedy".Don't get me wrong though, the other reference encyclopedias are among the best there are as is this book, like Bill Pearls' "Keys to the Inner Universe" and the revised Arnold Schwarzenegger "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding".

Fantasy for suckers
Joe Weider destroyed bodybuilding. Prior the rise of the Weider empire, and the drugs and mis-information that are a huge part of it, bodybuilding was a healthy endeavor. Before the early 1960's bodybuilders actually got big and stayed big for deacdes without drugs. Training programs were sensable and healthy. A guy like Grimek or Clancy Ross could compete at a natural 220 lbs., look great for deacades and live to a ripe old age. Weider and the drug culture that he promoted ruined all that. Weider created a system where the only way to win was to get bigger and bigger year after year. Of course this means taking more and more drugs. All the while Weider is raking in the cash while guys like Andreas Munzer and Mohammed Benaziza (sp?) died horrible deaths chasing down that Sandow trophy. Their blood is on Weiders hands. To all the young guns tempted by Weider and the glossy magazines (muscle comics), realize this.....it's all an illusion. You can't have what you see is those ridiculous magazines. There is nothing in those magazines that is going to help you in any way. They exist solely to sell suppliments that you don't even need. There is a better way. Forget Weider and the fantasy he sells. Study the ways of the old timers who got big before drugs were even available. They got big and stayed big. They were as strong as they looked. They were as mentally healthy as they were physically healthy. They didn't wind up killing themselves like DeMayo, or killing others like Bertil Fox or Craig Titus. There was a Golden Age of bodybuilding that existed before you or I were even born. Ironically, this is the only time that Joe Weider, himself, ever had ANY muscle. Back then men got big by using what worked and scrapping what was nonsense. These days no one is getting big. Forget Weider and the unatainable fantasy he sells. Work towards something that you can actually achieve.

The Last Bodybuilding Book You Will Ever Need


After just under seven years in the U.S. Army, I discovered I had a cervical spine problem (as a result of a duty related vehicle hitting myself and two other passengers from behind August 1978), I received nothing from the Army after applying for a service related disability.

1983:

I also spent four months in a hospital and ten years recovering from a thigh injury that was not a result of Service to my Country. On the advice of an in-house hospital trainer I began an at home fitness program to regain the use of my right leg function.

1991:

I knew little if anything about building muscles, I called the Weider Corporation in Woodland Hills CA and asked a question about fitness, they laughed at me, the remarkable thing: they sent me a collection of some of the greatest exercises ever known to man, that created Championship Bodybuilders like Arnold, Lee, and Ronnie.

I scanned through the pictures and started training at 160 lbs, today at fifty; my weight is 230-240, (I have regained about 80% of the use of my right leg) as a result of Joe Weider's Bodybuilding principles.

My best bench was 395 Lbs but I had to stop for a while attending College and Commercial Truck Driving but I'm back, I only train with Joe Weider Products; Thank God for that.

I train once or twice a week (circuit training), and never used steroids (Page 298 you will find a unique exercise for building the chest it's called flat bench flyes.

It's a one of a kind exercise, building the chest by stretching it and yes your bench press will go through the roof (It takes some time to recover and man does it hurt, but I bench close to 405 Lbs; how about you {(Mr."YOU Have To Use Steroids")}.

Joe Weider products can be found on every corner of the globe, check out the names and where they reside, These are National Heroes in his or her respective country.

If you want to look like a champion (you will need over the counter supplements) why not , train like the Champions.

Joe Weider has been training Champions longer than I've been on this earth.


May God Bless You As He Has Me

Tim

Excellent Bodybuilding Book
Excellent Bodybuilding Book - Exercises are explained well, their muscle group focus and slight variations of grip, etc. will alter the muscle focus.

Must have!! ... Read more

Product Description
This book is ideal for the non reader, the person whoneither has the time no patience to sift through chapter after chapterlooking for an author's main idea. Understanding BodybuildingNutrition and Training is a follow up to Aceto's ChampionshipBodybuilding. It contains, in a unique question and answer format, theanswers to the most difficult to coprehend and often conflictinginformatio on training, building mass, muscle recruitment, rep speedand nutrition. Here's what the author has to say regarding its format,"We learn and understand by asking questions. From the pre schooler tothe University Scholar, the fundamental way to obtain new informationand knowledge is by asking. I arranged this book in a simple 'Q and A'format to make it easy for the reader to get exact answers toquestions regarding losing fat, holding muscle while dieting andbuilding mass."The book also contais a dictionary of commonbodybuildig terms, defining everything from lipolysis, to carboloading to sarcomere- for the information buffs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Amateur Night
Of course no one in their right mind would expect literary quality or "fine writing" in a book of this kind. Still, there's no excuse for the amateurish, just barely literate nature of the presentation here: little evident familiarity with basic grammar and spelling rules (obviously nobody thought it worth proofreading); often self-contradictory and confusing information; and what few fragments of useful information it does convey are repeated over and over in the course of a very few pages -- maybe enough for a well-organized, professionally written magazine article, if only a professional had been available to do it. Alas, nothing remotely "professional" here: it's a thoroughly depressing and disposable 20-dollar piece of junk. Avoid.

The Best Bodybuilding Book!
This book is not only for hardcore bodybuilders, is a teaching on how to get the best of you and shape the body of your dreams, it's a MUST! BUY IT NOW!

A complete waste of time
This "book" is a series of bland questions compled with hyperbolic answers. The author is incapable of suing the english language, and appears incapableof undertakking research. Far from being scientific in approach, often there will either be a bald contention (I do this so it must be right) or simply wrong statements (eg the claim that there are no studies on the preferable number of sets). The book is barely readable, coming in the form of stream of consciousness q and a's, dogmatically presented with no real analysis, depth or insight. The layout is decidly unimaginative, sparse text interspersed with (wholly unrelated) pictures of body builders. There are no explanatory graphics or charts. I feel decidedly cheated in purchasing this book. And SURELY publishers should be able to correct a guy who doesn't know the distinction between your and you're. Buy a men's health instead.

Not sure this is a good buy
The last pages are a waste (glossary, about 100 pages), but the rest of it is in a question answer format that at times seem to contradict themselves.I think he should stick with nutrition he seems to know that, and leave the bodybuilding questions to people who know what they are talking about. Also just one side note I thought that he was disrespectful to Mike Mentzer calling him "ignorant". I am not a huge fan of Mike Mentzer, but I think that he forgot more about bodybuilding than Chris will ever know. I usually like Chris Aceto's books, this one however is not typical of his work.

Not Bad
Chris Aceto is obviously a smart guy. It shows in his writing. You'll never find a bodybuilding book that is "art", but as a reference source this book is pretty good. I do have a few "cons" about this book, though: It's somewhat abivalent about the steroid issue. Some of the information in this book (though not the majority) seems to be geared toward the steroid-using bodybuilder without acknowledging it, which may be confusing to "naturals". There is almost a wink-and-a-nod about steroid use in a few of the glossary entries. However, this is not uncommon in bodybuilding books, so you'll have to judge for yourself if the information in these few entries is right for you. The other gripe I have is that this book is in need of a professional copy editor. There are numerous typos and grammatical inconsistencies. Overall, you may think I'm slamming this book, but I'm not. Dive into it with your eyes open and you can come away with some good stuff, especially about non- or low-controversial supplements like vitamins, minerals, etc. ... Read more

Product Description
Get better and bigger results than you ever thought possible without using illicit or unhealthy drugs. Natural Bodybuilding provides the best training and nutrition prescription available for gaining mass and defining muscles the healthy way.

Detailed programs and workouts, specific techniques for particular lifts, proven dietary guidelines, a weeklong precompetition plan, and true inspirational success stories will help you reach your potential. See what great results you can achieve without incurring the expense and physical toll of a chemically crafted body.

IRONMAN columnist and champion natural bodybuilder John Hansen covers every facet, from the gym to the training table to the competitive stage. Get bigger the right way, with Natural Bodybuilding. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A "Natural" Bodybuilding book with photographs of steroid users!
This books rates all of 2 stars, and that is a very kind 2 stars.

The most obvious flaw is the use of photographs of drug using old timers like Arnold, Zane, Platz, and others.I found this odd and hypocritical; wouldn't the author want to promote "natural bodybuilding" by featuring some of the natural bodybuilders in order to show what can be achieved w/o the use of drugs?If you are going to use photos of drug users than at least get some of the recent stars rather than those of 30 years ago.How many times do I need to see a picture of Arnold?

I could find nothing original in this book or any specific advice for the "natural" bodybuilder that I haven't seen or read before in non-"natural" bodybuilding books.The routines are very basic and exactly the same as you would find in most other standard b/b books and the exercise form photos are just passable.The mandatory posing photographs were uninspiring, at best.I am not sure if that is the author who was Mr. Natural winner, but I found his physique to be lacking in symmetry and asthetics.

Last but not least did not care for the presentation of this book.The pages are slick and shiny, I thought maybe I was reading a book about "Teas of the World" or "Flower Arrangements" containing boring photographs of boring/uninspired subjects (you know the kind where the posers head is at some strange angle with incorrect from).

Don't let the "Natural" tag marketing scheme fool you as this book is nothing different from the 100's of other b/b books available, "natural" or not.I have seen this book on auction sites for $.01 and that ought to tell you something about its value.

I would suggest Hugo Rivera's "Hard Gainer" book over this one any day.Same sort of high volume bodybuilding routines/advice but with a much more accessible and usable presentation.

THE BEST BODYBUILDING BOOK EVER
THIS IS THE BEST BOOK ON BODYBUILDING I HAVE EVER READ AND I HAVE BEEN BODYBUILDING FOR 25+ YEARS

Natural Bodybuilding
I found this book a little to broad.
When it comes to bodybuilding i am old school.
Very simple movements Arnold style.

The nutrition tips are kind of sophisticated ( too many numbers and statistics) and the pictures are not so great either.

Very Basic
This book is too basic for an intermediate or advanced bodybuilder.It is a good read for a newbie however.

Usefull and informative
I am beginner, 40. I found this book usefull and informative on training exersises, routines and nutritions. Following the suggestions I get constant size increase. Each exersise is well described with safety suggestions and tips on effectivness; one exeption is "power cleans" is mentioned for shoulder routine but I could not find its descriptions so far. Multiple sample routines are well thought and work for me. In nutrition section I found informative how protein, carbs, fats work together. Body types are well described. Supplements are included in the book. Please consider that this is my first book on this subject. ... Read more

Product Description
"If you're really into the great sport of bodybuilding, getting massively huge and 'shredded' is great. If you're an athlete from any other sport, getting as big as you need to be in order to improve your total sports performance capabilitities is the name of the game. Dr. Hatfield has given you the ultimate bible of bodybuilding greatness." -- Tom Platz Two-time Mr. UniverseDr. Fred Hatfield, bodybuilding guru and bestselling author, brings together the latest advances in bodybuilding science in this comprehensive guide to achieving optimum gains in muscle mass and power through personalized nutrition and training programs. Based on the premise that strength is the foundation upon which you can build the ultimate physique, Hatfield presents an innovative training system, using his state-of-the-art "ABC workouts" (muscle-specific, targeted-set, and holistic-set workouts). Add the most up-to-date information available on nutrition and exercise technique to this highly personalized training system and you have a breakthrough program that guarantees explosive growth and strength--achieved naturally, without the use of drugs. Loaded with photos, training logs and charts, psychological strategies for staying motivated, tips on contest preparation, and solutions to common problems bodybuilders face, Hardcore Bodybuilding also presents methods for determining body-fat percentage and metabolic rate and reveals the truth behind many bodybuilding myths--making it a must for anyone interested in serious weight training. Frederick C. Hatfield, PhD, has written more than 50 books and hundreds of articles on sports training, fitness, bodybuilding, and nutrition, including Bodybuilding: A Scientific Approach, Power: A Scientific Approach, and Ultimate Sports Nutrition: A Scientific Approach to Peak Athletic Performance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A Classic
This book is one of the classics in the field of fitness/bodybuilding.It covers a lot more than just bodybuilding.(I am not a bodybuilder).Dr. Hatfield researched and wrote like a PhD.Consequently, it does read like a textbook.It is challenging to wade through it at times, but the information it contains is well researched and complete.One notable omission from the book is any discussion of body weight squats or single leg squats (This is notable because Dr. Hatfield is also known as Dr. Squat).One frustrating element of the book is when Dr. Hatfield contradicts what he wrote elsewhere in the book.This happens a few times.As one example on Pgs. 162-163 he writes:

"Another rule of thumb for bodybuilders trying to put on muscle mass without also putting on fat is to zigzag your caloric intake.For example, if you want to go to 240 pounds (and under 10 percent body fat) and presently weigh only 190 pounds (with 20 percent body fat), you should 'amp'your calories for about four to five days, then back off for one or two."All of the examples in Chapter 16 "Zigzag Your Way toMuscular Weight Gain" say "The 'down zag' in caloric intake should last 3-5 days, while the 'up zig' should last a day or two."The number of days are reversed.

When it comes down to appearance or health in this book, appearance generally wins.This shows in the discussion on tanning which Dr. Hatfield feels is essential and aerobics which he seems to view as a necessary evil.(He does give advice for reducing the dangers of tanning).

I am continually amazed at the number of internet fitness Gurus who take a page or even a sentence from this book and build a whole workout program from it that is suddenly worth $39.95.The vast majority of it is right here in this book.You could buy ten of those programs and not get what's in this book.I bought several bodybuilding magazines in May 2010 which were buzzing about a study which demonstrated the benefits of using BCAAs while working out.
Dr. Hatfield wrote about that in this book back in 1993.This is the best fitness book in my library.A couple of other good ones which include DVDs are:The Complete Guide to Navy Seal Fitness, Third Edition (Includes Free DVD): Updated for Today's Warrior Elite, and The Body Sculpting Bible for Men, Revised Edition: The Way to Physical Perfection, Revised Edition by James Villepigue and Hugo Rivera.

A great deal at this price.
Its a pretty good book on bodybuilding. If you have some interest in building a great physique, this book is a must read. Does a great job of educating you about how to go about setting an effective workout program. Its more of a "system" than a program in itself. The only drawback is lack of information on how different exercises and rep ranges affect testosterone and GH levels in the body. Other than that, its exhaustive and well written. Re-read this book again and again, and I am sure each time you will pick up some interesting nugget of information.

just book
just couple minds about training. All of this you can find on dr sqat website. Dont buy.......

Lacking in practical training value
Dr. Hatfield's enthusiasm is infectious, his attitude positive, and his anti-steroid stance a very, very good thing. The photography was likewise above average. Beyond that point, however, the value of this book falls off rapidly. The training seems rather random and not at all soundly reasoned in it's structure; in determining his recommended set/rep/workout frequency combinations, Dr. Hatfield even reassures the reader he's "done the thinking for you". Pronouncements lacking solid rationale (excepting an occasional referrence to the Eastern Bloc trainers with whom he studied) on the "hows" & "whys" of training like so abound. The section on nutritional supplementation contains a bit of what can only be called Dr. Hatfield's personal voodoo. As one example, he stands virtually alone in recommending inosine supplementation, the value of which has long ago been debunked and summarily forgotten amidst bodybuilding's "latest and greatest". For the positives listed above, it certainly doesn't warrant a single star rating. For the negatives that come along with them, however, I can't justify more than two.

Put half inch on upper arms in 2 months
I got good results with this book.Carefully following his diet and workout plans, I increased my upper arms measurement by half an inch in just 2 months.I'm not promising it will work that well for everybody, but I am one satisfied customer.

Maybe you could find all this information on the web, but because of the nature of the web, information tends to be in small articles or discussion groups and mixed in with a fair amount of misinformation, conflicting opinions, and advertising.So, I think it is best to read a few books like this one and then supplement with the internet information.

This book is not just an encyclopedia of every conceivable exercise and variation (if you want that, there are other books out there), it's not just a bunch of unrelated magazine articles shoved into a book format (there are plenty of those kinds of books too), it's not just a bunch of fluff with a picture of a grunting bodybuilder on every page (although it is adequately illustrated), and it's not just the expression of one person's bodybuilding philosophy based purely on anecdotal experiences (Hatfield has tremendous experience, but also makes every effort to modify his methods based on the latest available scientific information).

Hardcore Bodybuilding shows you how to cycle intensity, how often to work out, recovery time for different body parts, recommended exercises for different body parts, how to do the exercises, what to eat, how often to eat, how to cycle your diet to lose fat and gain muscle, how long it will take, how to estimate percentage body fat, what supplements to take, etc.You are expected to develop your own plan of attack to fit your schedule and goals, but all the concepts are there with examples to get you started.

Hatfield's honesty may scare off some people.He makes no bones about how hard it is to be successful at bodybuilding with no drugs and does not promise over-night success.If you are not willing to put in a significant amount of time and effort, you may not be satisfied with his approach.On the other hand, he does present work out plans for beginner-to-intermediate bodybuilders too, so you can grow into it.However, that is not the focus of this book.

The book could stand some updating.For example, the author promotes the use of aspirin during training, but recent studies suggest aspirin (and other similar pain killers) may inhibit protein synthesis.Also, Hatfield recommends not eating immediately before or after a workout since this supposedly inhibits growth hormone.However, more recent scientific studies seem to suggest that a post-workout meal actually has the opposite affect.(This still seems to be a controversial subject on discussion forums.)

Also, I have noticed that for some reason, the book doesn't discuss neck specific exercises.I am talking about exercises using a neck harness, wrestler's bridges, or other exercises specific to the neck.I'm not talking about traps.(I think it is interesting that Hatfield includes trap exercises in his shoulder section and another famous author, Bill Pearl, puts these into the back category.Many people seems to think of them as neck muscles.)Maybe some of these neck exercises can even be dangerous and Hatfield just considers them unnecessary.However, it seems to me that a book on hardcore bodybuilding should not ignore this body part.

Don Ross's book, Muscleblasting!, refers to a technique he calls "Breakdowns", saying it was a "...variation of step-bombing... devised by Dr. Fred Hatfield and Mike Quinn..."This is essentially what Hatfield says to do for "C" workouts in his ABC system.You can read about the ABC system on Hatfield's web site, but I think it would be difficult to fully understand the system without reading this book.

Anyway, this is still an excellent book (I think one of the best on the topic).So, buy and read the book, then check the website (and/or other books) for additional guidance.Just keep in mind that science does not stand still, so even a scientific approach cannot be written in stone. ... Read more

Product Description
This unique book examines the diet and nutritional needs of an active athlete, offers nutritional information to fit specific types of exercise, and includes over 200 delicious recipes to help athletes plan meals that fit their individual needs. ... Read more

Product Description
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve Reeves, or Charles Atlas, there was German-born Eugen Sandow (1867-1925), a muscular vaudeville strongman who used his good looks, intelligence, and business savvy to forge a fitness empire. "Sandow the Magnificent" is the story of this first showman to emphasize physique display rather than lifting prowess. Sandow's is also the story of the earliest days of the fitness movement, during which he established a worldwide chain of gyms, published a popular magazine, sold exercise equipment, and pioneered the use of food supplements. David L. Chapman explains the popularity of physical culture in terms of its wider social implications, and how Sandow encouraged the fitness craze that continues today by making exercise fashionable.As the first superstar in his field, Sandow also pried open some surprising cracks in the Victorian wall of prudery. After many of his major public events he gave private "receptions" wearing little more than a G-string. "Sandow the Magnificent" also includes many of the strongman's revealing photographs, which were anxiously sought by both male and female admirers.This new edition has been revised and enlarged with an extensive afterword that includes much unpublished information, new photographs of Sandow and his contemporaries, and an updated index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

One Of The Strongest Men Who Ever Lived
I had been looking for many years to find a book about Eugen Sandow.I remember my grandfather had a magazine article about Sandow and how he could do chinups with any one of his ten fingers.Sandow's feats of strength described in this book were truly amazing and as the book indicates, Sandow was the "father of modern day body building."I would recommend this book.

Wonderful book
A wonderful book about a most interesting man.I'm so inspired by Eugen Sandow, because of this book, that I named my Giant Schnauzer show dog, SANDOW!

Extremely Impressive Bio
David L. Chapman does an amazing job at piecing together the life story of Eugen Sandow, who was part workaholic, part legit, and part hype. What makes Chapman's coverage of Sandow so impressive his near disclaimer in the preface: that despite there being plenty of print on Sandow from his heyday, how much of it is reliable is questionable. Chapman sounds almost dismissive of his end result, but by piecing together multiple sources of Sandow's history, he has done an excellent job portraying which aspects of Sandow's works were impressive, which aspects were marketing hype. Sandow is neither deified nor demonized; this is a biography written the way biographies should be written.

Eugen Sandow had both incredible talent as well as sly business savvy. With a chiseled physical in a day when massive muscles were few and far between, he is the first man to successfully market such a wild physical fitness mania, an industry that seems to be at an all time high in the 21st Century. This book serves as a tour of Sandow's evolution from theatrical strongman to a pioneer in mail order fitness courses and health clubs (Sandow's Institute of Physical Culture).

While it is easy to fill this book with Sandow's many legitimate achievements, Chapman never shies away from showing his embarrassing flops, like Sandow's continuous reinvention of his biography, his joke-of-a-fight with a circus lion, and the "Sandow's Health & Strength Cocoa" debacle. We also see the rare instances where Sandow realizes a challenge from a rival strongman or wrestler is out of his league, and his wise and sometimes clever ways he bowed out of the competition. It should be noted, however, that Chapman shows us more instances of Sandow being the man making the challenge, resulting in showboaters and "Sandow impostors" trying to duck the challenge.

This book also reveals the balance of Sandow's personal and professional life, from his rocky but lasting marriage to Blanche Brookes Sandow, the multitude of women (including some female celebrities of the day) who hit on him, to his professional and personal friendship with Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.

If you are a fan of bodybuilding or pop-culture, this book is an essential addition to your library. This is one of the most underrated biographies I have read in quite some time. David Chapman's notes and bibliography are impressive alone (and there are SO MANY books on pop-culture history that penny-pinch in this department). This book will reel you in at the beginning, and hold your attention until the last page.

Fascinating Book on the Father of Bodybuilding
At a time when the chemically-enhanced monsters of today are putting professional bodybuilding back in the freakshow arena and ensuring it remains the minority sport it has always been, it is interesting to readabout its 19th century music hall/variety show beginnings in the strong manact. Sandow was the most famous and celebrated strongman of them all andhis story in this book is a fascinating and entertaining read. The depth ofresearch and wealth of interesting characters and anecdotes make this booka must have for anyone interested in physical culture and the history ofbodybuilding. The petty politics, scams, and dubious business deals amongthe strong men and health club owners of the late 19th/early 20th centuryhave never left the sport. Sandow, while seemingly being a genuine advocateof bodybuilding for health reasons, comes across as the master ofself-promotion.

His position as the father of the sport is assured, notleast by the fact that the Weider Organisation/IFBB call their Mr Olympiatrophy (the highest honour in todays bodybuilding world) a Sandow. Theirony is not lost on this reader.

Sandow The Magnificent is well written and enjoyable reading
Sandow The Magnificent is an excellent biography of an enigmatic showmanwho came to the forefront of physical culture at the turn of the century.Growing up during the fifties in a household of amateur bodybuilders I wassubjected to back issues of Strength and Health magazine and often saw oldphotos of Sandow. Familiar with the image, but not the person, my interestwas piqued when I came upon David Chapman's book. Chapman's approach intelling the story of Sandow sheds light on almost every facet of thestrongman's life-the good, bad and kinky. Though some of Sandow's life isapparently somewhat shrouded in mystery, and much is left to conjecture andinterpretation, the book is both illuminating and interesting. Sandow TheMagnificent is well written, enjoyable reading and gets quickly into thedepths of Sandow. Unlike many biographies that extensively probe thelineage and childhood of the subject, something I personally find tedious,Chapman gets right to the man behind the fascinating black & whiteimages. Now when I see a photo of Sandow there is more understanding ofwhat was behind the rugged facade of muscle and strength. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Franco Columbu's
What I liked about this book is the simplicity. Franco is also Doctor of Chiropractic, so he knows a thing or two about bodybuilding. The fact that he achieved somuch without having
any physical advantage proves it.
There are various tried and good programs/split routines for the non-competitive and competitive bodybuilders. Good tips on diet and on common sense healthy living, very actual even though the book was published in '82. Over all the book is pretty complete and is a good example on how they trained in the past.
The only funny thing is that in some routines, unlike Arnold in his Encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding, Franco omits a few power movements which are essential to give the bodybuilder that muscle density. He more than Arnold was famous for his extremely heavy deadlifts. ... Read more

Product Description
Bodybuilding A Realistic Approach, shows you how to realistically tone, shape, and build your body. It helps you set and reach realistic goals by first identifying your body type and showing how to properly perform basic exercises for the entire body. It includes easy-to-follow workouts and nutritional programs for losing and gaining weight.

The first few chapters are for people who are just getting started with weights and progresses to those who want to compete in a bodybuilding contest. It has over 250 phototgraphs and illustrations of amateur bodybuilders with realistic physiques.

Also included: Dormroom and Home training, Sex & Bodybuilding, Women & Bodybuilding, How to prepare for a bodybuilding contest & MUCH MUCH MORE! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (57)

Should not be your only reference
The glowing reviews found here make me believe that this was many people's first bodybuilding book. While this book is a good start, it is written from one person's perspective. While Frank may be more successful than many, this does not make his advice useful. As with all bodybuilding books, it must be read with caution and cross-referenced with other books. There are some recommendations in both nutrition and exercise mechanics that I feel are seriously wrong.

Chapter 1 is an introduction. The archetypical body types of endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph are discussed, along with some odd women-only types which include apple, pear, and hourglass. Some lip service is paid to women in bodybuilding, but the vast majority of the book is focused on men.

Chapter 2 has reasonable advice on how to get started and is a decent general overview, but there are many omissions. Age is not discussed, but kids and teens should use weights differently than adults, and it could be dangerous for them to follow his plan and exercises. The recommended beginning workload is also too much for someone who is out of shape and just starting out. He advocates that breathing technique isn't as important as just making sure you are breathing, but there is no excuse for a beginner to use bad technique. He discusses sets and repetitions but does not seem to mention how hard he thinks you should push yourself. (Discomfort? Total failure? In between?) There is a good section on weight belts which is often omitted in other books.

Chapter 3 has a good primer on core exercises and has much useful advice for good form. I recommend supplementing this section with another book that discusses more modern equipment and techniques. His descriptions are also in some cases next to useless. In the description for leg presses he derides other people's form but does not actually explain good form. He also tells the reader to lock knees when doing standing calf raises, but this takes some pressure off your calves and puts it on to your knee joint. A good general rule of thumb in bodybuilding is that you should never lock a joint that the muscles you are exercising are attached to.

Chapter 4 discusses how to use basic exercises to build muscle. At first I expected a chapter on using the heavy basic exercises when starting out in order to build overall body strength - deadlifts, squats, bench, etc. Instead it's just a typical bodybuilding routine, one that is too difficult for a beginner. 10 sets for hamstrings? Come on Frank. He also mentions that he does not include warm up sets in his totals but does not discuss what warming up is. This is a key activity for avoiding injury and was grossly neglected.

Chapter 5 deals with dorm room and dungeon training. I skipped this chapter. For overall fitness at home, I have books by Bob and Jillian - the Biggest Loser trainers - and they are surprisingly good.

Chapter 6 discusses nutrition. I recommend you ignore this chapter and look elsewhere. He covers the topic with broad strokes and while the advice may be marginally useful for someone completely ignorant to the topic, you would (again) be far better off with a book from one of the Biggest Loser trainers.

Frank indicates fat is 10 calories per gram (and later in the book he indicates 9-11). Fat is 9 calories per gram - always has been, always will be. Reading his nutrition journal (which has embarrassing misspellings such as "broccali" and "totol") he doesn't appear to believe in the value of fruits or vegetables. He also recommends about 10% dietary fat, which is probably much too low and may slow metabolism and testosterone production, as well as further decreasing your intake of fat-soluble vitamins. Essentially he avoids fat to the point where he doesn't realize he's ignoring all other nutritional needs. Following his advice would be a recipe for ill health.

Chapter 7 discusses supplements. While I approve of his discounting the need for amino acids, chromium, and creatine, the fact that he eschews the use of actual vitamins is ironic considering how little he is taking in through his diet.

Chapter 8 wastes about 12 pages discussing steroids "to help you make a more educated decision about using steroids". Great, thanks Frank, why not discuss cocaine and pot while you're at it?

Chapter 9 is a useless 3 pages discussing alcohol. I skimmed through and found "after a good night of drinking" and pretty much left it at that.

Chapter 10 is a short chapter on measuring body fat. Frank thankfully understands that the Body Mass Index is a rough guideline and doesn't apply to everyone equally, but spends a full page shilling a device he sells via mail or online.

Chapter 11 is another short chapter, this time discussing aerobic exercise. I only skimmed the chapter, but the numbers shown for target heart rate seem close to what I've seen elsewhere.

Chapter 12 details some more advanced techniques. One or two use names different from what I've read elsewhere, but the advice is more or less the same and will be useful for the more advanced weight trainer.

Chapter 13 is for high intensity workouts. It incorporates the techniques from chapter 12 into routines, and would only be useful for someone who has been working out for a few years.

Chapter 14 discusses over-training and injuries. There is some good advice here, including doing cardio for 5 minutes before a workout to bring up your core body temperature and to listen to your body. There could be more depth here, especially on avoiding shoulder injury, but it's decent.

Chapter 15 is on stretching. This is a useful chapter, albeit not a stand out.

The remaining 130 pages or so are only of interest for those interested in amateur bodybuilding or of little use. I only skimmed them and will not attempt to review them here. Chapters included contest prep, posing, a bizarre chapter comparing bodybuilding to art, a useless short chapter on sex, and a vanity chapter detailing the Rutgers bodybuilding contest.

In summation, while this book has some good advice, some is just terrible. Never use only one book as your source of weight training information. This book suffers greatly from being written by someone with narrow experience and no professional expertise in any of the topics discussed.

This Book Will Help You Look Good Naked!!
The best book on bodybuilding if you're a beginner! I bought the book and it's got more info jammed in fewer pages than anything you'll ever read. The different methods of training, technique, and the importance of rest and recovery. The specifics on nutrition alone is worth the price. The author shows examples of diet planning and how to manipulate your metabolism for maximum muscle. The author does not focus on worthless supplements, he simply pushes good nutrition and pumping iron. I am constantly referring to this book after three months of reading and re-reading. There are plenty of pictures and advice regarding how to avoid injury.
The only negative about this book is several errors in grammar.
But the stuff is so practical and easy to read who cares! A great compact easy to carry book that I still keep on my nightstand.
This author is showing what one bodybuilder did to build real muscle and compete to win the big prize. Whether you're just looking to tone or build muscle, this book will help you look good naked!

The title sums it up
A very good book that delivers what it promises. The book is intelligently broken into topics that cover the exercises, the grouping of exercises into workouts, how often to exercise, how many reps to perform and nutrician. Each section is written to cover people who what only to tone up, people who want to loose weight and those who want to gain weight/bulk up.

His advise on all this really is 'realistic'. He stresses the basic exercises (bench presses, squats, pull ups, etc) to build a good foundation before progressing onto the more specialized exercises like cable crossovers. He points out that suppliments are not only expensive but aren't necessary if you simply eat the right foods at the right times.

Although the end of the book covers various aspects of competing, I think the book is best used by beginners to intermediates. It is the only bodybuilding book that I will need buy.

This book changed everything for me
I have lifted weights on and off for 25, sometimes pretty seriously, occasionally achieving quite a lot of bulk and definition, but this book finally gave me a real plan suited for guys like me - athletic nerds who want to be in shape.

It really is realistic; it is complete (diet, "dungeon" (basement) workouts, and - importantly - safety, are covered thoroughly), easy to follow, and the pictures are great. Many times, the author says "Look, I've done this excercise tens of thousands of times, and this is how you really have to do it. Watch out for X, Y, and Z, and don't fall into the various traps of bad form that can result in injuries, slow development, or uneven development).

The writing is friendly yet never verbose. The reader is encouraged at every step of the way, and the sample workouts and diets make things concrete.

Wonderful book!
I think this is the book for working people who want to build muscle/tone them/loose weight etc. Most books seem to be considering that the reader is into professional body building. So, even if you start the program, you end it soon because it is just too much effort. This however is really a realistic approach and thus, you can continue it and getting results. I started with Arnold's book and the 5 set approach. That was just too much as I never had enough time for the same. Eventually after a month or two, I left the program. Then later on, after several years, I got this book and this was a no-nonsense approach, which I can adopt easily with my extremely busy work schedule and part-time graduate degree even! ... Read more

Product Description
From international bodybuilding superstar Lou Ferrigno comes the revolutionary guide to achieving the ultimate in strength and performance. "The Incredible Hulk" shows readers how to perfect each area of the body by following Lou's personal advice. With a Foreword by Joe Weider. 200 photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great Biography
Following the footsteps of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1977 best selling book Arnold:The Education of a Bodybuilder, bodybuilding superstar Lou Ferrigno begins his book with a very open biography.He had to overcome a handicap from birth, as well as his perception of his controlling, sometimes tyrannical father, to become a multi-Mr Universe winner, TV and movie actor, motivational speaker and successful personal trainer.

Akin to the format of Arnold's book, Lou Ferrigno then follows up his biography with a complete bodybuilding program.In this 'chapter', Lou's book shines over Arnold's in that he breaks down a beginner's workout routine week by week.Then Ferrigno delves into specific bodypart training, but I personally recognized it's writings published in muscle magazines.

Overall, I give this book a B+ rating and a recommendation that if you follow his principles and workout routines, you likely will be bigger and more muscular than you are now.

EXCELLENT BOOK
i am a big fan of of lou ferrigno and this book was very informative.

Cry yourself to sleep tonight, Louie
Ferrigno was a tremendous athlete--heck, the guy is still in shape--and his training advice is solid, if not revolutionary.But poor Lou spends too much time complaining about life and what might have been.He pens ridiculous statements such as, "I could have won the Olympia if I hadn't retired."That's kind of like me saying I could have been the world's greatest concert pianist, had I ever taken up the piano.

Lou ultimately never had what it took to make it to the top, competitively.He never reached the summit at his peak in the 1970s, or when he returned to the sport in the Masters division.Instead of accepting his limitations and turning them into something motivational, he tends to blame others for his failures.Thus, instead of being an inspiring book, his "Guide..." winds up being irritating.

It didn't help that when I met him for the first time--a lifelong dream--he stuck his hand in front of my camera and said, "No pictures," then wanted to charge me $20 for a picture of him taken with my own camera!He's been referred to as "the Incredible Jerk," and my own experiences with the man certainly validate that title.

Awesome!
What a great athlete and what a great book!It's packed with information on Big Lou, who gives excellent training advice.I know it will inspire you to train harder and overcome adversity.I recommend this book to anyone who has ever dreamed of change.

A great book by a great bodybuilder!
I have been a fan of Lou Ferrigno and bodybuilding from a young age.I have found many bodybuilding books to be disappointing for the price I pay (as I have to order them).For a very reasonable price I was surprised at the wealth of information in his book.I was very interested to read about his life and how he became a bodybuilder, more importantly how he overcame obstacles.It also had a lot of great photos.I thoroughly recommend this book to any bodybuilding or Lou Ferrigno fan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

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.

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 andadvanced bodybulders. Programs are giving for all stages of bodybuilding.The charts provided are nice because you can take them along to the gym andthey show you which exercises to perform on what day. Bodybuilding historyand nutrition are also nicely covered in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
A bodybuilding manual, including: action shots of pro champs at work on the most effective routines, training strategies, pre-contest formulas for supermass building success, and workout performance schedules to pinpoint the biomechanics of natural anabolic effect. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An all inclusive manual
I found this book by accident, but its simply the one and only fitness manual I could recommend above all else. All chapters are laid out well and written with good style and easy to understand. Every body part is covered with a brief discussion about hints and tips with training, followed by a fairly clear guide to training and planning your routines.

suitable for beginers, especially the early chapters, and also provides extended advice on advnaced trainng methods for those that have reached plataues. Its actually a small book of only 190 pages, but its just as informative as the encyclopedia of bodybuilding. ... Read more

Product Description
Continuously published since 1936, Ironman is the dean of bodybuilding magazines. It has been showcasing every major bodybuilder, training technique, scientific advance, as well as other aspects of the iron game, longer than any other bodybuilding magazine. With articles by and photos of the greatest names in the sport, the Ironman archives represent the best of bodybuilding.This definitive, information-packed volume contains Ironman's best information on natural bodybuilding, diet, and nutrition. Ironman's Ultimate Guide to Bodybuilding Nutrition contains up-to-date bodybuilder-tested information on how you can achieve maximum results naturally. This fully illustrated book is for natural bodybuilders who want to attain a massive, ripped physique without using dangerous drugs and synthetic hormones. The routines, tricks, and secrets provided are designed by and for natural bodybuilders and are used by top natural champions. Included is complete information on:

• Natural arm training
• Natural leg training
• Natural back training
• Natural shoulder training
• Natural chest training
• Drug-free spiritual, emotional, and physical growth
• Scientific bodybuilding techniques
• Mass-building hardgainer routines
• Power-mass training workouts
• Natural fat-burning workouts

Customer Reviews (6)

Do not waste your money.
When I read the title I thought that this "Guide to natural bodybuilding" would have different recipies and advice on nutrition only. The vast majority of information in this book are about suppluments that are not steroids. This does not make them natural by any means, they have still side effects, and for some of them there is no research done on how they affect the human body. Still the authors believe that this is natural!!! (By the way bodybuilding magazines are making huge profits promoting these suppluments, that don't work). My sugestion is that you must look somewere else for answers; this book is waste of time and money.

Ironman mag readers avoid.
Not a bad book on natural bodybuilding but if you have read Ironman magazine this book is really nothing new.And it contains a lot of pictures of bodybuilders that are oviously not natural.

Some Interesting Articles and Approaches To "Somewhat Natural" Bodybuilding
I bought this book a few weeks ago and have gone through the majority of it already. I was looking for something that was more in line with how I train, that is without drugs.

I'm not even remotely a competitive bodybuilder and bodybuilding training is something I do in addition to doing other physical disciplines like Pilates and Yoga (which I do every day including the days I hit the weights), so my focus is on building strength and some mass, but health is the most important bottom line for me so using any types of bodybuilding drugs isn't even something I'd consider. I think the bodybuilders that use drugs are making a mockery of what bodybuilding should be, that is it should be a reflection of a healthy lifestyle rather than a bunch of "buffed up" and "Juiced up" guys who "look" fit and healthy when in truth they are poisoning themselves with all sorts of illegal and life threatening substances.

Anyway, regarding the book:)

The good point is that there is a lot of food for thought on training without the use of extreme drugs. There are very interesting articles about trying to induce the body to use it's natural resources to create muscle mass by triggering it through various means. I also enjoyed some of the chapters that featured various "natural" bodybuilders. Whether they are completely natural or not, these guys still look human compared to the freaks out there (in a large part thanks to the IFBB whimping out and failing to test bodybuilders all these years not to mention all the press given to the juicers)

The less good point is the constant mention of various means of "supplements" which may not be as extreme as some the chemical substances out there, but these still seem a far cry from what I consider to be truly natural bodybuilding.

To me, true natural bodybuilding should focus of course on training and definitely on nutrition, including supplements. However, the types of supplements that I would consider really natural would still be very much food based. Things like soy protein, whey proteins etc. I don't know enough about creatine to know if that should be in the same category as whey and soy. Of course vitamins and minerals would fit into this category.

But so many of the things mentioned such as "cort block" and the like seem to be in an in between realm between what I consider natural and the types of insane staks many of the modern bodybuilders are obviously on. For anyone to think those IFBB bodybuilders aren't taking loads of drugs is an insult to anyone who has a clue about what a body can naturally look like.

Still, all that being said, I'm glad I purchased this Ironman book because at least most of the guys in the book do look considerably more human than the guys who are obviously juicing and that was a relief.

Also, I think the fact that natural bodybuilders have to learn not to overtrain is a critical point that I wish I learned many years ago back in my late twenties/early thirties when I was definitely pushing myself into an overtraining zone. Back then I was reading articles and books that had routines that really only are effective if you are using drugs. A natural bodybuilder couldn't recover using those programs and therefore overtraining was inevitable. Of course they never mentioned the fact that drugs were a pre-requisite for those programs.

I am a lot wiser thanks to books like this one and I'm not beating myself up to the point where I can't recover. Plus at 46 years old, I need to be especially careful about letting my body recover after training.

So, if you're looking for a book that is a welcome relief compared to much of what is out there, yet one that still touches upon the many new supplements being used by what are considered natural bodybuilders, then you might really find this book useful.

Junk
I would have thought that "Natural Bodybuilding" means bodybuilding without chemicals, including exotic supplements.But various participants in this book describe substantial supplement routines, including one fellow who says he took (at date of writing) androstenedione and a staggering 453 grams of protein daily(!!!).Another contributor describes Cort-Bloc; yet another talks about taking effervescent creatine, insulin mimickers, androgen precursors, HMB, etc.This is "Natural"???

Too much of the bodybuilding industry rides on profits made from pitching exotic substances whose long-term effects on human beings is unknown.The hard reality is that truly natural bodybuilding will not make you look like the full-time fitness models (who always look vaguely ill to me), unless you have incredible genetic gifts.

Save your money.

Not Impressed
I take exception with the claim that: "Continuously published since 1936, Ironman is the dean of bodybuilding magazines. It has been showcasing every major bodybuilder, training technique, scientific advance, as well as other aspects of the iron game, longer than any other bodybuilding magazine."

That statement would be correct if the writer was referring to the old "Iron Man" magazine, edited by Perry and Mabel Rader, from Nebraska. It was a tremedous resource for accurate and helpful training advice, without the Hoffman/Weider bias. It introduced the writings of Arthur Jones and other notables, as well as the supplements of Rheo Blair. However, for whatever reason (probably the lack of advertising) it went under. The new Iron Man magazine, from which this book usurps it's name, is no more connected to the orginal, than the resurrected Muscular Development is to the old York publication. They appear to be more showcases for steroid/hormone users; as well as supplement and equipment catalogs, than sources of helpful information.

I would be more interested in a reprint of Vince Gironda's "Unleashing the Wild Physique," or Steve Reeves "Building the Classic Physique." ... Read more

Product Description
100 Hot, Hardcore, Heavy-Duty, High-Intensity Hints! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

has helped me build mass more than any other advice
This book has helped shape my workouts into successful mass building workouts ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Provides more details than the 48 Hours Mysteries
I purchased this book after seeing the TV documentary. This book provides more details than the 48 Hours Mysteries show. If you are interested in the lives and careers of the two bodybuilders, then you will enjoy this book. The book is well written and easy to read. It doesn't provide as much depth or insight as an Ann Rule book, but it's still worth reading.

Nothing spectacular
This book is just OK... it's not as bad as what people make it out to be but the book was a little rushed as the trial is still in progress..

If you are a fan of bodybuilding and have followed Craig and Kelly Titus then you might find this interesting..otherwise wait for a made for TV movie..

not Fleeman's best work, but ok
I really enjoy Fleeman's book. This book is just "ok". I think if you have an interest in bodybuilding this book would be more interesting.
The author focuses to much on the sport then on the victim herself.

knew Craig & Kelly
I'm almost done with this book...it's not as bad as some people say.But having known Craig & Kelly for the past 10 years, I do laugh at some of the glossed over details in the book.The wild lifestyle was mentioned only to be "rumored", however many close friends knew that it was true.

I guess the author could have dug alot deeper and went farther afield to get additional information.He seemed to stick to the same characters from which to gather his information.A few were Craig & Kelly'senemies...some were indifferent and some were well-meaning but clueless and coming more from the "fan" viewpoint.
It is true however that many of their longtime friends lost touch, especially as they sunk deeper into partying and drugs and "alternative" activities.

One thing not mentioned was that Craig & Kelly offered Weekend Training Getaway Packages for sale at their home ...the person who bought this type of package would get to train with them at their house, hang out with Craig & Kelly...get to use the pool and "private" jacuzzi...and hopefully something more would happen...that was Craig's big idea.

Craig & Kelly did end up living a troubled life mostly due to Craig. In my own opinion Craig was and is a psychopath. Before Kelly met Craig she was a dynamic, talented, warm and loving individual.Her friends miss and care about her very much.Kelly's mother passed away recently, many say due to the horrible stress from this case.

All I can say is that when Kelly met Craig and they got married, all of us who knew them both, and knew the type of person Craig was understood that nothing good would come of the marriage...but we never envisioned anything like this.

Most importantly, drugs and wild lifestyles lead to tragedy and my heart truly goes out to Melissa James and her entire group of friends and family and it was very nice of the author to include some very lovely pics of Melissa in the book as tribute.

Incomplete but Readable
I wanted to give this book three stars but since everyone else is so hostile toward it, I'm adding another star because it's not as bad as the other reviews say.

Yes, KILLER BODIES is about an ongoing murder trial that hasn't hit the courtroom yet.At this time, Titus and Ryan aren't scheduled to go to trial until April of 2008, so this book is definitely not the definitive answer on this case.

It is rushed but doesn't feel as sloppy as other books (certainly not as slapdash and hurried as the first book on the Titus-Ryan murder, FIRE IN THE DESERT, a hasty publication that can't even decide on a common margin for each page--but good photos though!).The only mistake that jumped out at me in KILLER BODIES was that Kelly's car is identified as a Corvette in the photo pages instead of a Jaguar (have you ever tried to put a dead body in the trunk of a Corvette?).The photo section is the lamest aspect since Titus and Ryan, bodybuilding and fitness stars who appeared on dozens of magazine covers, are shown in only one photo.

The writing itself is lean and fast-moving, for the most part.I know some of the people in the book personally, so I might be looking at this in a completely different light than others.

I hope anyone reading this book isn't expecting the final word on this sad drama.It's only a competently written overview of the case with modest glimpses into the characters, no more, no less.

As it is, it's not as bad as the other reviews are saying but you'll need to wait until judgment falls before reading anything more conclusive. ... Read more