Self's Better Body Book

I've tried to start exercising for years. My usual excuse was that I didn't know how. When I bought this book that excuse completely disappeared. I have never read a more inciteful, encouraging, or instructive book on fitness. This book emphasizes both specific fitness areas such as cardio, flexibility, and strength (all with scientifically based exercises), as well as overall fitness topics such as nutrition and meditation. Excellent book.

This book has encouraged me to start and maintain a workout program. Rather than focus on one particular "workout," it gives you a series of exercises/plans for cardiovascular exercise, strength exercises (including exercises you can do with your bodyweight, freeweights, machines) and flexibility exercises. It even has workouts you can do from your hotel room when you travel and stretches for the office. It's flexible, easy to follow and rather than being focused on workout "doctrine," it helps you build a workout that suits your abilities, needs and skills.