Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women

When I started lifting weights 10 years ago in highschool, this was the book I read and learned everything from. Soon, I was pretty muscular and cut. I began surpassing my friends that had been lifting longer than me, and some were even more dedicated than me, but they never achieved the results I did because they were doing it all wrong! I could never workout with them because their training philosophy was just whacked and they'd listen to the crazy strange advice from "big guys" they'd run into, rather than the practical advice I'd give them that I learned from this book. Even though they admired my progress, they followed other's advice thinking it sounded more hardcore and would get them better results faster.This book has practical, sensible advice and many good workout routines. Information you won't find in magazines that try to sell you the latest supplement fad. I highly recommend this book to anyone that's beginning to work out and to those that have been working out, but got their education from friends or bodybuilding magazines owned by the supplement companies.

This is a comprehensive book which anybody can learn from, whether you're a beginner or a hardcore, experienced bodybuilder. Bill Pearl's qualifications are unquestionable, and he takes the reader through his own training experiences, both good and bad. There are programs for general conditioning, beginning, intermediate, and advanced bodybuilding, and specific sports training, all of which are excellent. In addition, you can also find a chapter on "fine-tuning" specific body parts, as well as 26 pages of various illustrated free-weight exercises, for you to incorporate and mix up in a self-designed program. I enjoy this book as a female, because there is no special section for "weight training for women" - they are treated as equals, and referenced throughout the book. Also, this is a great reference for the home trainer, since it is much cheaper to buy a set of free weights to train with vs. expensive machines which limit your movements. Bill Pearl gives the reader plenty of exercises to choose from using free weights alone. He doesn't neglect machines, although he definitely stresses free weights more, as that is where the bulk of his own experience comes from. One more plus is that there are several pages which seem designed to be photocopied and brought to the gym (something I have done to give me general program guidance, and to help me come up with new ideas). He even has a tracking card in the back of the book to copy and fill out, so you can watch yourself progress.Overall, I give this book my highest recommendation!

Getting in Shape does a wonderful job of taking you gently from doing no exercise through a complete and well-explained path to being in shape. There are eight different levels of workouts, arranged in order from easiest to hardest, plus special workouts for focusing on particular areas of your body or dealing with special challenges (like traveling or having no time to work out). The easiest workouts are designed so that even people with significant health or weight problems can start exercising at a level appropriate to their current abilities. Each workout has recommended stretches, strength training exercises, and aerobic exercises (with a number of different options presented, depending on what you enjoy doing). The instructions are clear, and the increases in difficulty gradual enough that I actually began to enjoy working out, rather than dreading it. Everything is designed so that a minimum of equipment is required even at the most advanced levels: a weight bench, a few basic weights, and decent shoes for your aerobic workout of choice are about all it takes. This is the best book of its kind, in my opinion: it is a practical and reasonable guide to getting in shape for those of us who have lives that otherwise don't include exercise.

I found this book to be well written and illustrated for both the first time user and for anyone just wanting to bush up on technic. I would recommend this book to anyone

This book has it all. If you could only have one book to get into shape with, this would be it. It has many excellent basic programs for all around fitness which include lifting (weight training), moving (aerobics), and stretching. In addition to the basic fitness programs, it has "fine tuning" programs which are total programs that focus on specific body areas, and it also has programs for people with special medical conditions, i.e., arthritis, pregnancy. You can also find programs for people with busy schedules, and a program to do when you're traveling. It also has information about diet, health issues, and tips for staying fit and healthy. The illustrations are great. This book is perfect for the average Joe (or Jane) who doesn't want something too overwhelming but wants to be fit and healthy. It's written in a very straightforward manner, is enjoyable to read, and is jam-packed full of totally useful information. EVERYONE could get something out of this book!