The Complete Guide to Strength Training

I've read... more books on strength training than I want to admit. Read research abstracts, the the studies to support them... its a hobby. Some are good. Most are bad... And I'm really REALLY critical. Read my other reviews to see what a hateful, mean, unforgiving critic I can be. This is the best. I have NOTHING BAD TO SAY about this book, and thats about as good as it gets... except my copy isn't bound very well, as it hasn't held up to being thrown in a gym bag, carried everywhere, thumbed through, etc.. for two years now. I followed her advice. I got the results I wanted. I made an awesome program for myself. Early on I did decide she was too concerned with safety and letting your tendons adjust. My strength gains did indeed exceed my connective tissues ability to adapt, and I got tendonitis... She knows what she is talking about. This book is all you need to make and succeed with a strength training program.. well, reading this and actually doing it. doing it is required as well. When I become dictator of the planet... in addition to making everyone call me pharoah on weekdays, and caeser on weekends, I will make all my citizens read this book, and her book on sports nutrition, and follow their advice. The new life expectanacy will be 110, and everyone will be healthy, happy and good looking. Until I make you read it, I humbly suggest you do.

As a student and trainer, I read a lot of books on the subject of strength training. Anita Bean has done a very excellent job of breaking down knowledge need for all training level from beginniner to advanced weight trainers. If you really want a complete guide that will assist you in maping out specific training goals, this book is really for you. Bean has really gone out of her way to explain principles of exercise physiology in layman terms. She addresses all principles of exercise using the methods of selection of exercises, order of exercises, how many sets, recovery and training intensity to help the reader design a program based on his or her specific goals and periodization for acheiving long term goals. For example, a skinny person wishing to gain weight should train specifically for this goal. If the skinny person is eating a low calorie diet, doing more isolation exercises, and engaging in high-intensity cardio, he or she is not acheiving their goals, because they are following a program that is not meeting their specific goals. This book, like many strength training guides, has listing of exercise, programs and diet, etc. What makes this book very different is that it inpowers the reader to realize the importance of exercise and nutrition must be specific to what he or she wants to achieve. In other words, instead of mimicing the latest fad diet, or Arnold's arm rountine, you the reader must ultimately look at yourself (genetics, physical limitations, etc.) and do what will help to achieve your lifetime fitness goals. Also, this book is excellent for the athletes and coach, who are looking for specifics of in and out season training, etc. Bean has a great list of references in journals, books, etc. Very important book to have.

This book describes the training principles and nutrition indetails. All information is up to date and based on scientific researchinstead of out dated info. like arnold and joe weider bodybuilding books. It describe individual bpdyparts training in details. It is very good for beginners because it is complete strength traning books. But this book is not suitable for advanced bodybuilders and only for general fitness.

Good accounts of exercises for each body group. Emphasises use of correct technique, appropriate diet and specific training procedures for each body type.

Very good overview on the scientific principles behind srength training. No fancy pictures like the muscle mags, but no [...] either. Goes into detail on training principles, nutrition, stretching, supplements, and exercises. Everything is based around scientific research, such as the scientific basis for periodization and the recommended protein intake of 1.8g/kg protein for srength athletes. Pulls no punches on supplements either. Recommended without reservation.