5 comments about Training for Speed, Agility, and Quickness: Special Book/DVD Package.

1. This book provides the most comprehensive list of drills for speed and agility that I've seen yet. The included DVD which contains examples on how to perform some of the drills is nice also. The book & DVD are a great value. Here are my pros:
   
   1.comprehensive number of drills
   2.nice photos
   3.DVD
   4.example training programs provided for many sports
   
   Here are my cons:
   
   1.Lacks certain details for the beginner or non coach. Before beginning a program for improving speed, agility & quickness, the book strongly recommends an assessment of your current levels of strength, movement and fitness needs. The book provides what exercises should be performed to assess your current levels, but I wish norms or metrics would have been provided for the assessment exercises. If I must perform single-leg body weight squats to assess my functional strength, how many must I perform to determine whether my strength is adequate or deficient? This is not provided. Page 16 provides all of the assessment exercises, but they all lack the metrics or norms for acheivement.
   
   2.As comprehensive the list of drills are, I found that some of the descriptions on how to perform the drills were lacking. Only a single photo is provided along with a relatively short description on how to perform the drill. There are many drills that just can't be adequately described through written instructions. This is insufficient when proper technique and form is essential to performing the drills. I found myself going to Youtube for videos on some of these drills.
   
   3.With number 2 being said, the DVD should have had videos of all of the drills contained in this book. It only has 66 of the 195 drills.
   
   Besides those deficiencies, I still think this is an excellent resource and provides all the drills I would ever need for tennis training. I give 4/5 stars for the 3 cons mentioned above.



2. Hi there im suresh from india, im a certified PT from ACE, a physio and aspiring cscs student. this book is the BEST for Agility,quickness,Speed,Balance and all you need to know about ground training as a personal trainer or a conditioning coach. the DVD which comes with it will give a very clear understanding of what this ex's are all about and jus in case u dont know Mr.LEE BROWN is the president of the NSCA and there are several other books authored by him so please go ahead.



3. This book is full of drills and info regarding speed and agility training. The DVD is an added bonus well worth the price.



4. The shipment time was fast. The item was in new condition. I would recommend seller to another buyer.



5. I bought this book for ideas on helping my soccer team train their speed. As it turns out, this book is by far the best book that I own for developing SAQ (Speed, Agility, and Quickness).
   
   Pros:
   - The book not only covers the topics in general, but it also gives sub-categories like plyometric exercises for speed and agility ladder drills for agility.
   - Clear and easy to read. Each exercise is listed separately with step-by-step instructions and a clear picture or graphic. Also, there is a DVD included which actually shows many of the exercises demonstrated clearly with narrated instructions.
   - Good variety of drills/exercises
   - Excellent for use in any sport and also includes several training plans for selected sports.
   - Currently only $15 for the book AND DVD!
   
   Cons:
   - I don't know if there are any. This is truly an excellent book!

5 comments about Mind Gym : An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence.

1. This book includes many of the basic mental concepts discussed in sports: staying positive, etc. Although there were some helpful tips, it was a task to sort through the excessive name dropping. As an athlete, I don't need to know the names of everyone the author has ever helped. I assume, since I am buying and reading the book, that I will at least somewhat trust what is being said and that I will be willing to try it myself. If you need the 150/224 pages of professional athlete anecdotes, then this book is for you. If, like most athletes, you don't have time to sit and read fluff, find another book.



2. I am an 1,90 and 120kg marathon runner. When I announced that I intend to run a marathon the reactions varied from amusement to worry that I will not survive. That might have been the case if I wouldn't have had THIS book. It made all the difference in the world. Maybe half of the training time was "mind gym".
   The result? Not only I have finished alive but I made quite a good time (3h44). This performance changed not my weight (I am still 120kg) but my self-image. I know now that the only limits are in my head. I changed. A lot. From the introvertit obese to the cocky, confident obese :) I fired my boss. Actually, the company fired him for mobbing. I got a fat settlement. I switched careers. I took one sabbatical year and focused on learning trading. Here, again, the "Mind gym" made a huge difference. I become profitable and then ... very profitable. I don't own a Porsche but I am free (of worries, schedules, bosses)
   
   If you intend to buy only one book for the next year: BUY THIS ONE !!



3. Pretty good book if you need some general motivation... The author knows the topic and gives some good examples, but doesn't really get into specific actions to help resolve issues. Also, alot of baseball and golf examples, I found it hard to relate it to the sports I am involved in. Tons of great quotes, etc to get you amped.



4. This book is tough to review because people have different expectations with sport psychology books. If you are looking for a neatly organized system of beliefs, principles, and exercises to begin applying to your game tomorrow this might not be the book for you. Maybe you should check out With Winning In Mind or 10-Minute Mental Toughness? With that said, I loved this book. Once you start it you might not be able to put it down. Its a motivational book that weaves sports psychology principles into stories to illustrate the importance of each principle. This book inspired me to write down an effective system of beliefs and checklists I can go through before a game. The important part is the system and beliefs are mine.



5. This book was recommended to me get over issues I had playing racquetball. I kept making mental mistakes and things got worse as the match progressed. This book has taught me how to stay focus and keep moving forward. My game has improved quite a bit and I have beaten players that I have never beaten before. When things go wrong I use the techniques in this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to take the next step. This is one of those books that you will read more than once and make notes of certain chapters.

5 comments about Enter The Kettlebell! Strength Secret of The Soviet Supermen.

1. This is an excellent way to improve your conditioning. I was surprised at how hard my heart was beating. This is not an all encompassing book as far as different types of exercises, but it is all encompassing when it comes to the basic kettlebell movements. Pavel will teach you how to do it correctly. You could seriously hurt yourself if you do not practice what Pavel illustrates in this book. I would get the DVD to.



2. I bought this book and a number of others by the same author. Followed the advice and had a lot of fun training for 9 months with a 24kg kettlebell. Worked up to sets of 6 cleans and presses each arm, and sets of 8 snatches each arm. I had no warnings of bad form such as those listed in the dreadfully inadequate warnings in this book, such as forearm pain or bruising. All seemed fine, other people who saw me train thought so too and they ordered, or were about to order, their own kettlebells. Then I went into my garden on 4 April 2009 to do a set of snatches like I had been doing weekly by then for several months with no problem. First rep was fine, second rep broke my left forearm so badly I was in hospital for 2 days, had to have surgery and a steel plate put in my left forearm which is still there now. When I reported the injury, Tsatsouline's only reply was "I have never heard of such an injury". So, the fellow isn't too well-informed about his own area of "expertise". He isn't too interested in anyone finding out an injury like this is possible either; he had the post I made on his forum, to warn others, deleted (but not before 5000 clicks had been made on the thread.) Anyone wanting to know more detail of my injury, Google "broken arm kettlebell snatch".



3. You need to read carefully, if you are unfamiliar with this type of workout, as I was. However, the book explains everything very well, and if you take you time and follow everything exactly, it should work as advertised.
   
   With just a very basic work out level so far, my posture has improved, my back feels better, and I have more energy. Also, my wife is seeing muscles that haven't been seen in quite a while!
   
   This is a program a busy person, such as myself, who also has a hard time sticking with a workout plan in general, can do, persevere in, and see results from.
   
   I can't say enough good things about "Enter the Kettlebell" and kettlebells in general!



4. I not only looked stronger and more cut but felt stronger within a couple weeks.



5. Enter The Kettlebell goes into more in depth of how to practice kettlebell training than The Russian Kettlebell Challenge. It focuses on fewer exercises,but it delivers The Fat Loss of the Swings and the muscle strength of the Clean and Press. Overall this is a great book for any one who says that their sick of gyms and want to have the conditioning and strength of a fighter.

5 comments about Men's Health Power Training: Build Bigger, Stronger Muscles with through Performance-based Conditioning.

1. I bought this book after reading an article about coach Dos in the mens health magazine and then read the reviews, kinda backwards, but I feel compelled to write a review. I'm 21 years old and I've played a lot of competitive football, I honestly wish that this book was in my hands when I was back in High School like somewhere in gr. 9 or 10. I'm probably in the best shape of my life right now and I see it easily getting better.
   
   In my mind there are three types of people that you see in gyms: the body-builder, the athlete, and the every day person wishing to get in shape. What this book puts forth is the idea that the results you get from athletic conditioning are two-fold: you get the amazing functional strength and coordination, and the 'side-effect' a great athletic physique (picture Terrell Owen's to get the idea). Body-builders are "isolationists" (no offense) they train specific muscle groups by targeting and isolating them in movements in hopes to get that Arnold look. In reality though training like Arnold just makes you look jacked and thats about it, you can't use that size in sports or in everyday life, there is no functional strength or coordination (try to picture Arnold skating, or trying to guard a point guard, or cover a receiver). This book talks about why it is more beneficial training like an athlete over a body-builder and outside of those handful of people that want to be body-builders this books training methodolgies will make perfect sense. The least you must do is read this book from cover-to-cover if your a serious athlete or health buff, and take away from it what you want.
   
   I went through the first 12-weeks of the total-body routine (theres 3, total-body, hypertrophy and strength), and I can tell you first-hand that I've never felt like this before. I feel more power through my legs, hips and upper body, my coordination went to a different level and I feel like I got a secret weapon now which is the knowledge I got from this book. I'm not a big measurement guy so I don't got any for you guys, but I use to play the nose-tackle position and right now I feel like I can make the move to defensive end or linebacker if that helps.



2. I am a bodybuilder and a personal trainer. After reading Power Training, I can honestly say I have finally found the bible of physical fitness. There are numerous scientific studies (and not just "bro science") that suggest compound, freeweight / bodyweight exercises are far superior and a heck more beneficial than your typical "beach muscle" isolation routine - i.e. dumbell curls, side laterals, etc... There are lots of evidence that clearly prove squats and deadlifts are "kings" of exercise. Yet, everytime I walk into a gym anywhere in the US, I see nothing but the curl crowd. This culture stems from the fact that juiced-up, roid freaks have dominated (and in many ways controlled) the information highway in the fitness industry. What I mean by this is that every time you read Flex, Muscle and Fitness, Ironman, or Musce Media 2000, you will see two things: A) The favorite routine of today's Mr. Olympia, or some other popular bodybuilding star who's basically a walking pharmacy; and, B) advertisements for supplements. Don't be fooled! Fitness magazines are run by the same supplement companies on the ads. And the routines you read on these rags will only work on roid users.
   
   I have read countless books on the subject, written by popular, well-respected authors such as Rippetoe, Kilgore, Poliquin, Roberts, Starr, etc... I know that squats, deadlifts, and Olympic-style lifts are the most efficient and effective exercises. The problem I've always had, as a trainer, is that because of all the information out there, I always seem to struggle how to put the best routine for myself and for my clients - UNTIL AFTER I'VE READ THIS BOOK!
   
   This book is all you need to reach your goals. This is by far the most comprehensive book on the subject. This book is based on solid science and not some IFBB vodoo crap trying to sell you worthless supplements. My only warning is that if you are a newbie novice lifter, you should consider buying Starting Strength by Rippetoe. It's available in both book and DVD format. The reason I say this is because you want to make sure you master the basic lifts - squats (50 pages long in Starting Strength), deadlifts, presses and power cleans. You could get hurt big time if you lift incorrectly. And if you are an intermediate or advanced lifter, you will benefit alot from Coach Dos' book.
   
   The basic workflow that the book outlines is basically as follows: Explosive, Knee Dominant, Hip Dominant, Vertical Push / Pull, Horizontal Push / Pull, Rotational, and Bridge. The lifter is also advised to follow a bilateral / unilateral pattern. For example, you might do pull ups one day, and then one-arm pull down the next session. Simple, yet EFFECTIVE. The book also show tons of exercises I've never seen before.
   
   Lastly, the nutrition section of the book. It works. Plain and simple. How do I know? Because I was morbidly obese over two years ago at over 33% bodyfat and over 42-inch waistline (I am 10% BF at 185 lbs, 5'8" tall, as of this review). And at 38 years of age, I can squat 275 lbs below parallel and deadlift 275 lbs, both for reps. The "pillars" are the same philosophy that I've been personally following and preaching to my clients with great success. Not gonna go into detail cuz space is limited. Would I recommend this book if you want to lose fat? Absolutely! What if you want to gain muscle? Yes, absolutely. Losing fat or gaining muscle is mostly about caloric intake. In fact, this program is great for fat loss because it will preserve your muscle (read "Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle" by Tom Venuto.)
   
   In conclusion, you can do countless concentration curls, leg extensions, or dumbell flyes. I will guarantee that, using the knowledge I've learned from Coach Dos, my newbie skinny-a$$ (or morbidly obese) clients will surpass you in strength, size and athleticism in no time. It's sad how bodybuilding magazines have really brainwashed the masses. So don't be a stereo-typical meathead and buy this book. You will not be sorry!
   
   THANKS, COACH!
   
   PS. Do you know Coach Dos's designation CSCS? It stands for Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. It is by far the toughest certification a trainer can take. It is the Gold Standard in the sports training industry. Coach Dos really knows his stuff.



3. I work out in a small gym that only has dumbbells, no barbells. Some of the exercises are a little more challenging and awkward to do with dumbbells than with barbells, but you get used to them. Specifically with the olympic-style lifts, you can't keep the weights as close to your body as you can with a bar. It's less awkward (and feels safer) if you keep the dumbbells more to your sides than in front of you, but that changes the feel of the exercises. I mix it up.
   
   The book has so many new exercises (at least new for me), that there's definitely a lengthy learning period -- it took about 6 weeks before I didn't have to bring the book with me every day to the gym.
   
   I time myself between sets and, per the book's advice, I try to keep the rest time around 60-120 seconds, depending on the number of reps. The short rest periods between sets make the whole workout much more challenging and interesting. Still, when I do a push/pull split (that's 4 sets of 6 exercises per day + 3 minute cardio warmup), I'm thrilled to finish everything in under an hour... which is a lot longer than the back cover's claim of 30-45 minutes. Since a lot of the exercises are done separately for right side and left side, the total number of sets will often be a lot more than 24, which I think is why it's hard to finish in 45 minutes. And of course, I do stretch out the rest period here and there -- it's a tough workout!
   
   I especially love the olympic-style lifts, which emphasize explosive power and full-body coordination -- but they're very challenging! It was several weeks before I thought I might possibly be doing them correctly, and a couple months before I really felt safe and comfortable doing them with heavy weight (yes, with dumbbells).
   
   I also really like the exercises that require balance as well as strength, such as the single-leg romanian dead lifts, the pistol squats, the bulgarian split squats, and many of the lunging-type exercises. The balance isn't so challenging that you have to significantly drop the weight, but challenging enough to keep things interesting.
   
   My background: I've been lifting weights off & on for about 20 years. Most of this time I've been doing fairly traditional weight training exercises that you could find in any book from 40-50 years ago. In the last 10 years or so I've been trying to find exercises that are more "whole body", functional, and sports-oriented (i.e. that help your speed, agility, power, balance, etc.) than the body-building types of exercises I'd been doing. I've added in some exercises of this sort over the years, but with this Power Training book, my workout program has been completely overhauled. I feel like all the exercises are doing the right thing.
   
   I very highly recommended this book. However, I will say that the exercises are fairly challenging to do safely and properly. I'd say if you don't have a fair degree of body-sense, either get a trainer, or take it really slowly.



4. Men's Health Power Training presents all the information you need to create a great training program whatever your goals may be. Whether you are training for a marathon or a bodybuilder's contest, the various training methodologies are thoroughly discussed in a casual but straight-forward conversation with the author, Robert dos Remedios.
   
   This book is full descriptions and pictures that allow for easy understanding of how each exercise is to be performed. The grouping of exercises by function and the workout card system make creating personal and varied training programs a simple task. The nutrition chapter is brief and to the point with no-nonsense information and meal plan. No recipes here.
   
   Impressive enough to keep a copy myself and forward copies to my sons.



5. I found the book very refreshing, with some routines that can be helpful when travelling

5 comments about Strength Training Anatomy - 2nd Edition.

1. I have been lifting for years and this book helped me really see what was going on with the muscles in action. It is a good reference to see the correct form and muscles being used in various exercises and the details of the drawings are wonderful. It also has tips for avoiding injuries and working around them if they do happen. All-in-all I am very pleased with this book, if you are into body building or just interested in how the muscles work during motion I would highly recommend this book.



2. I enjoy weight lifting, and this definitely shows in extreme detail every muscle that is worked out. A lot of good pictures and some informative info to go along with the pics.



3. This is a must own for anyone who is dedicated to strengthening, training, improving or maintaining their body. Easy to read, easy to reference, easy to understand. Seriously, it's a must own book for anyone that is active or is just starting. You don't have to be a body builder to benefit from this book either. It's shown in a way that removes weight lifting comparisons and ONLY focuses on the muscles and the body.



4. Clear and very-detailed color illustrations of muscles involved in each exercise. Shows relationship between muscle and bone. Variations of exercise technique are given. Explains consequences of improperly executed exercise. Instructs how to breathe through the movement of the exercise.



5. I love love love this book. everything in it is organized and detailed, my only complaint is that i would have liked something a bit more comprehensive. this book mostly deals with basic moves and leaves all the others out. I know its not possible to include every exercise but it would have been nice to get a few more in there. aside from that its a wonderful book, well worth the money i spent on it.

5 comments about Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning - 3rd Edition.

1. If you are studying for the CSCS I would highly recommend this textbook! It's an easy read and is loaded with tons of useful information. The sample quizzes at the end of each chapter really help to make sure you understand what you're reading, and the examples it gives of each topic are very helpful too. One of the few textbooks that I do not regret buying!!



2. This textbook is the required text for my Principles of Human Performance class at Missouri Baptist. The material in this book is very thorough and provides tables and step by step images of the CSCS certification application tests. The book gives you most of the information you need for National Certification for Personal Training and Strength and Conditioning. It's very easy to read and understand, but be aware that this book should be a compliment to the NSCM study material. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of pursuing Personal Training or Strength and Conditioning!



3. The title says it all. This book is the authority on strength training and conditioning. A lot of detailed info in this book that is necessary to pass the CSCS exam. Read chapters at least twice to full understand the concepts and memorize the vocab words. Peace.



4. I really enjoy this book. The product was shipped on time and the condition was excellent. It was better than I though it would be.



5. I recently upgraded to this from the 2nd edition and have been pleasantly surprised. If you are involved in S&C then you need this text purely because of the amount of information inside its covers. The choice of chapter authors is more varied this time around - each offering their own insight into each section.
   
   Some of the content is a little dated still, but this doesn't mean it should be completely discredited. There are certainly better options out there for each specialist topic, but I don't know of another text out there that has so much on such a wide range of sub-fields in one place.
   
   The ratings for this book below depend on the context of the reader:
   
   Coach: 4/5
   Athlete: 3/5
   Sport Scientist/Student: 4/5
   
   More reviews of books like this are on my blog, which is listed in my profile.

5 comments about The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess.

1. I am a personal trainer and decided to give this program a try so I would know whether or not to recommend it. I have not deviated from the program in any way other than maybe not resting as long as it says to between sets. So far this works surprisingly well. It's simple, straight forward, yet thorough and progressive. Don't let the 'simple' fool you, it can be extremely hard at times, but not impossible. I would recommend it for anyone who doesn't have access to a gym and has to make do with items found in most home gyms. You'll need a variety of dumbbells, a stability ball in place of an incline bench, some bands or tubes for the pulldowns. Little space is required. If you're looking for isolation moves, you won't find them here. It's all about training smarter, not harder. I've made it almost through Stage 5 and I can tell you my arms, shoulders and core have been transformed. Legs show more definition and feel stronger; butt is taking on a leaner look. My body was strong before but never this proportioned.
   The book leaves it up to you to decide at what weight to start with. I chose fairly light weights so I wouldn't exhaust my dumbbell assortment - and I slowly creep up, sometimes only a pound or two at a time. You'll be as sore as you want, depending on how heavy you lift. I was surprised at the one exercize that never fails to make my triceps sore - the prone cobra. Who khew?
   Only piece of equipment I did purchase for this program was a pull-up bar. It was inexpensive and something I'll be using for years to come.



2. Seldom are there "training" books that actually go right into the heart of the matter than this. Usually you would get motivational speeches, excerpts, stories from their previous successful clients or whatever to fill up more pages of honestly, stuff you can go without. Not that it is totally devoid of any readable text, the writing is actually enjoyable and friendly, and it comes in a very balanced tone. Ive taken Weight management sessions with a coach and this definitely has a same philosophy of getting it right but being flexible as to where you are, but nonetheless committed.
   For beginners its pretty friendly in terms of explanation, but you may need a pen and paper to write everything down to keep everything in mind. It became a habit of mine to plan my workouts after my weight management sessions so I can really attest to it that writing it down cements it in your brain and therefore makes you more committed. Just be patient with yourself and just think of it as learning to play an instrument (only easier) and getting used to how it feels. Before you know it you'll master it.
   
   Not many trainers would give this kind of information since many would just hire them and not think about what they are doing in the gym. If you're like me, and your actions are dictated by your understanding, then this is the right book for you. I can probably call myself an intermediate person in terms of know how so I feel that this book can be of great help to me. But if you're more advanced, maybe it could help, but after reading tons of stuff from figure athlete dot com it looks like you would probably be better of going there for more advanced stuff. Although I always believe that going back to the basics always keeps you successful in whatever you do.
   
   Anyway, I bought this as an e-book from B&N since I didn't want to carry a book around with me. Thank God for that so I could read it right away and not have to go to a store and get it.
   If I lose this book I would definitely buy it again for repeated reference to it, and I'd definitely recommend this book to others.



3. I bought this book a year and a half ago in hardcover form. I trained martial arts and bodybuilder style in the past, but for a variety of reasons I let myself get very fat following a knee injury. Enough was enough and when I decided to burn off the lard, and this was just the thing to get me back into the game. I also recommend Tom Venuto's "Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle". These days I'm back to my usual 3-day split with at least two workouts per day. So the workouts in this book aren't intense enough for me. But if you're recovering from an injury or you're new to bodybuilding it's great.
   
   One of the things I like best about this book is the fact it's not patronizing. Instead of a bunch of drivel about "toning" and "sculpting" like you find in so-called women's magazines, the authors get right to the point. YES, we DO want to look like we lift weights. There is absolutely no point in putting forth the effort to work out if there's not going to be any reward. A workout program in which a person still looks and feels like a ball of Jell-O afterwards is not effective or worthwhile.



4. I love this program. It has done my body a world of good. I'm 68 years old and in good general health, but needed a program to stengthen my body. This program hits all areas of my body and has made a new woman out of me. I love the workout recording sheets, which are a great help in keeping track of my program. I have participated in many fitness programs over my lifetime and I can say this one and Rachel Cosgrove's program are the best.



5. I love this book! It was a great read for me to start lifting weights from just doing cardio. It has really helped me see the benefits of heavy lifting and how I can do it and become strong and healthy. :) Thanks for such an awesome book for women that busts the myth that women shouldn't lift heavy.

5 comments about The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised.

1. I read the reviews of people that say this book is a waste and I wonder how they approach their workouts and live there lives. One person complains my body was breaking down from 100 minutes of exercise! Come on people, a little over an hour and a half a day and your complaining your body is breaking down. This book is an excellent source for weight training, it comes from a man who was and arguably still is the best Bodybuilder that has walked the planet. Exercising is about learning what works for you with weights, aerobics, diet etc. and this is an great reference book for just these things. Over 300 reviews on the book while I'm typing this so it must be doing something good for people. Do yourself a favor and buy the book and I guarantee you'll learn something you never new before no matter how long you've been working out.



2. Obviously there are many reviewers of this book. This is one of those things that appeal to people but don't really take the time to study or practice the techniques outlined in the book. Take it from someone who has studied Arnold. I'll be brief and share with you some insights that may help you leverage and learn what you need to know a little faster. (1) Don't get the book right now if you don't have much discipline (2) Get the book if you want to learn about discipline and are serious about improving your health. These are not techniques for a slouch. Do you think you have what it takes to be a champion? Do you want to be like Arnold? Those are serious questions to ask yourself and this is particularly a good place to answer those questions. These are items you'll want to get as a supplement if you don't have them already: Pumping Iron (25th Anniversary Special Edition) and a copy of Gray's Anatomy: The Unabridged Running Press Edition of the American Classic. This book is the 2nd edition encyclopedia. Arnold cut a lot of information out of the 2nd edition because it was no longer relevant. Other sections were cut but overall content is not affected. There are errors in the book and sometimes a somewhat better explanation of how to perform certain exercises would have been more helpful. Some errors carried over from the first edition on exercise techniques.
   
   Almost forgot - get Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder to round out your references. Using those sources alone you won't need anything else until you start to make some serious progress and than you can explore other well known bodybuilders of that era for a different approach to the sport. And probably the most important advice. Yes, Arnold used steroids but he will not recommend you use them. Arnold's steroid use has no bearing on the quality of the content in this book. Steroids have side effects. There is no such thing as small, manageable doses. If you're a Catholic steroids are forbidden by the church for this purpose - I checked.



3. There is no other book anyone be it bodybuilder or looking to get in shape will ever need besides this one. It is HUGE, illistrated and has everything you need. BUY this and stop wasting your money on other books. This is the one.



4. I bought this for my husband for his birthday. He loves it! Very informative, definitions, to great pictures and work out technique. He would recommend for teenagers to adults.



5. I was looking for a book like this, and it's perfect. 100% recommended. Great pics and great explications on how to execute them.

5 comments about Cardio Strength Training: Torch Fat, Build Muscle, and Get Stronger Faster.

1. As a certified hard-style Kettlebell instructor, student-athlete / personal trainer, and aspiring strength coach, I very much looked forward to reading this book. When it comes to the meat of the text I was not disappointed--the information provided is practical, pragmatic, and seemingly effective. I enjoyed reading it more than Kenneth Jay's Viking Warrior Conditioning, but obviously a text as this is not as comprehensive as a tome like Coach Boyle's Advances in Functional Training or Gray Cook's Athletic Body in Balance. Nor does it need to be--the book drills into the specifics of "cardio strength training" and details how and when to apply these techniques.
   
   While the text of the book was generally well done, the Kettlebell form is fairly poor, and many of the exercises (KB or bodyweight) are often not described very well. For example, a pushup is described as "These are standard, full range-of-motion pushups"--not very helpful for coaches or advanced athletes always looking to improve their form. The kettlebell swing is taught as the squat-style swing, which many Kettlebell instructors feel is much more dangerous than the moving deadlift-style swing. The push press kettlebell pictures don't make sense--why is the clean so far away from the body, and note how the fitness model lets his wrist collapse as he demonstrates the windmill. This is highly unsafe!!
   
   I performed the advanced Kettlebell complex using double 12kg 'bells the day after I bought the book, and Coach Dos was right, this is tough stuff! However, double kettlebell work is fairly advanced, and there is simply not enough explanation in the text to easily progress to these lifts. I wish Coach Dos had consulted with a KB expert or two to write a chapter/section specifically on KB lifting, as he has done for BBs in his previous Power Training book.
   
   If the next edition were to have kettlebell drills demonstrated by a certified instructor, I would then highly recommend this book and give it five stars. Double kettlebell lift complexes done with poor form? No thanks. For DB and BB practitioners, this book is great, but for Kettlebell lifters, you need to read between the lines, even if you have attended multiple high-level Kettlebell certification and training programs as I have, and done all of the Kettlebell lifts described prior to reading the book.



2. It worked for me and has worked for many of my clients. Training using the principals from this book are a sure fire way to torch fat. Give it a whirl!



3. Coach Dos knows his stuff and it shows in this book. Beginners through advanced lifters can benefit from his training methods. However, beginners may be thrown off by some of the errors. If you want workouts that will push, you'll find in this book.



4. i bought this book looking for a great book to give me a crossfit type workout and a way to judge if im getting better as i go this book provides it, for a job like mine of a firefighter that demands great strength and stamina this book is good to add to the library.



5. If your looking for efficient, demanding and multi-joint exercises this book has them. These are the exercises that separate your routine from that of a body builder. Are you trying to be a body builder or loose fat? Then why are you doing a body building routine!? This book will show you how to perform these movements in a circuit fashion or one after the other. That is currently the most efficient way to burn fat through exercise. PERIOD!

5 comments about Starting Strength (2nd edition).

1. The book and service provided was better than expexted. Could be recommended to others. Excellent!!



2. I had messed around with functional training and weight training for years. It was not until I bought this
   book that I finally had the details of how to do these exercises correctly. Rip explains how to safely
   perform the five basic barbell exercises along with several accessory exercises. He laid out a program
   that was simple to follow. I have been following the program for 8 weeks now and am increaseing my poundage
   each workout. My wife is commented on how muscular i am becoming. Not bad for a 50 year old hey.
   
   Buy his Practical Programming book also. It explains the programming in more detail and will be needed
   when you need to move from Novice training to Intermediate and beyond.



3. The content is excellent overall, however this book would benefit greatly by including better anatomy graphics and photography. It give it the feel of a lower budget book. The author is very knowledgeable and is a great teacher, but not necessarily the best "author".
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject!



4. This book was a godsend. I bought it after about a year of training, when i began to stall on my lifts. I self taught myself many all of my lifts, and as i rose to higher weights i was beginning to miss lifts, and was getting discouraged. After picking up this book i was able to notice many small cues that shored up things no one else recommended, and my lifts have since shot through the roof. The book is filled with detailed descriptions and pictures to show you exactly what is being discussed, this is a must buy for anyone starting to strength train.



5. A fun book to read from a guy with a good personal perspective. Wish there were more diagrams with lines indicating movement on them.