Men's Health the Book of Muscle: The World's Most Authoritative Guide to Building Your Body

I think the some 40+ reviewers before me said it best, this book is amazing. I dont wanna bore with the same old review about how much I enjoyed this book (you can tell that by the rating I gave it), I just wanna give you the basics. The routines in this book take a bit longer in the begginning to complete, but become progressively shorter as you continue the program, which helps with recovery and not being overtrained, a common problem among other, lesser workout books. Two of my favorite things in this is the use of "Tempo" and the variety of changing your routine slightly every 3 weeks, I mean you just havent lived until you've lifted very light weights that leave you shaking as a result of lifting them ever so slowly, again the tempo thing. The nutrition information is minimal, but I believe it gives you enough, 98% of the exercises and routines are explained very well, and the 2% thats not, you can probably figure out on your own. Last but not least, you will be comparing this book to every other workout book out there, and most will fall short, the bottom line is this book is worth your money and time, don't pass a good thing up. p.s. I plan on buying the testoserone advantage plan next, and I'll let u know how it goes.

I have had this book for about 9 months now. I recently completed the intermediate program and made great gains. I followed the nutritional advice given in the book and gained 20 pounds. 20 Pounds may not sound like much, but it is a total body transformation when you go from 169 to 190...and it is all muscle. The workouts are designed in such a way that you stress your muscles very hard and then have ample recovery time to get bigger and stronger. I ran a marathon and a week after finishing it I started this book. So I basically started from scratch. Starting I could bench press 40 pound dumbbells for a max 8 reps. After the six month intermediate workout I lifted 80s for 8 reps. Shoulder press went from 65lbs barbell press for 5 reps to 120lbs for 5 reps. Squat was the biggest improvement. Started at 65 for 10 reps. Finished at 185 for 10 reps. The best exercise there is in my opinion I never knew about before this book. It is the DEADLIFT. The deadlift made me bigger and stronger overall than anyother exercise. And it focuses on a common weakness for most people, the LOWER BACK. Deadlift start was 65 for 5 reps. Finish at 225 for 5 reps. The key to this book is that it takes you through a cycling approach. By taking you through stages with varying sets, reps, and exercises, you muscles are always in a state of shock and always responsive to the workouts. I am doing the intermediate workout again. After I complete it a second time I will advance to the advanced workout. You will never need another book for fitness. This is the best book I have EVER read and APPLIED for an extended period of time. The authors have done a wonderful job with writing. Again, the workouts are great and because of the cycling approach the author takes with the workouts, you can continure to do them and never have to switch to another program. I got very good results from following this book exactly as the authors prescribed. I am continuing to make gains in strength and size by following this book. Ian King and Lou Schuler have put out what I consider the best book ever on the topic of getting strong and gaining size. The bottom line is that you WILL get injury-free results if you follow this book.

Book of Muscle is one of the best books of it's kind that I have read and I have seen them all. It takes you on a tour of your body and gives you a road map to keeping it in the best shape possible. The text by Lou Schuler is clear and concise with a no nonsense approach that is refreshing in this world of "flavor of the month" workout and fitness books. You learn about muscles and how to maintain them for life. The workouts, by noneother than Ian King, provide over a year of quality, well planned routines that will keep you challenged and growing. And Ian definitely follows the less is more principle by keeping the workouts under an hour. I have been doing the Intermediate program for 12 weeks now and I am getting stronger and growing in body, mind and spirit. King also manages to keep things lively with changes in routines and innovative exercises and combinations that beat the hell out of those monotonous 3 sets, 10 reps workouts you find in the magazines. Get Book of Muscle. It's the best bang for the buck for the novice and the seasoned lifter.

As someone who has been lifting weights for 5 years, this book was originally intended as a reference manual, maybe with some new ideas on how to tweak my workouts. After 2 months, I have nothing but praise for the authors. In addition to what has to be the most authoritative book on weightlifting out there, the workouts put together by King and Schuler are soem the most effective programs around.A giant 2 thumbs up.

Finally, Men's Fitness has gotten it right - a book that does not promise immediate results...but instead one that helps you formulate a plan, that is equal part guide to the weightroom, solid nutritional advice, and key principals for involving the mind in your workout. This is without a doubt their best book yet on the value (and IMPORTANCE) of personal fitness.Ian King may not be the best known name in the world of fitness, but among weightlifters, he is known for hard core, no-nonsense weight training, with functionality stressed over mere muscle mass. Along with Men's Health regular Lou Schuler, they have compiled the best muscle guide to come out of Rodale Press - and one of the best guides I have ever read.Along with showcasing the various muscle groups, and giving well explained details of their importance, the book goes on to spotlight various exercises for each group. What is nice about the exercise pages is that they show great variation in order to allow for full definition of the particular muscle, and also give great explanation and illustration for the exercise, allowing the reader the chance to really learn more about proper form. It's great to read a book like that that uses pictures to explain and educate, rather than to have an excuse to photograph chiseled bodies in sweaty conditions.This book has everything - whether you are a newcomer, or have been in the weightroom for years, you are bound to learn some new exercises, or some outstanding twists on some old favorites. And the sample programs written by King are well reasoned, and offer a creative mix of hypertrophic and endurance building routines. And they allow for customization to meet specific body part needs.Great book guys - this has me thinking about subscribing to Men's Health again (if only they would stop running the cheesy "pump up your sex life" articles).