Bodybuilding Books

[Guest guest]

Tobias Saueressig

In response to you question about Bodybuilding Books. Out of the

literally tens of thousands out there each one tends to say the same

things. Some say it more eloquently than others. The ones I have

read that I think give an individual a good base of knowledge to

build upon are..... " Bodybuilding, A Scientific Approach " By Dr. Fred

Hatfield. I believe this book is out of print but most distributors

still have copies. " Hardcore Bodybuilding, A Scientific Approach " by

Dr. Fred Hatfield, " Power, A Scientific Approach " by Dr. Fred

Hatfield, and " Serious Strength Training " by Dr. Tudor Bompa. All

four of these books present the material in a logical fashion. The

authors know their business so well that they could explain it to a

3year old, a trait not shown by many other of our Phd physiologist in

their writings. In other words, they dont try to dazzle you with

their " rhetoric " . There is another word but I will refrain. All of

the material is relevant and I believe that you will find it all very

useful.

Jerry Tedder

Burnsville USA

[Guest guest]

The best way to approach a book on weight training is that if you get one or

two things from it that you can use, then it's well worth it. As I've said

before, I'm not a powerlifter, yet I've gotten fantastic information from

Powerlifting USA on the 3 powerlifts. " Bodybuilders " who train properly

also use these three lifts. The same goes for Pure Power Magazine, which

provides information and routines that can be used by someone who's main

purpose in the gym is bodybuilding. I'm using two routines for legs and one

for torso work from the last issue that are just terrific and added a new

dimension to my training, if for no other reason than to provide something

new and exciting.

Book recommendations:

I agree that the Poliquin Principals is worthwhile, but only for an

intermediate to advanced lifter.

" Brawn, " by Stuart Mc

" The Insiders Tell All Handbook " by Stuart Mc

" Priming the Anabolic Environment " by Will Brink

" Super Squats " by Randall Strossen (www.ironmind.com)

" Body Opus " by Dan Duchaine (anything Dan wrote is interesting whether you

take his advice or not)

I'm just starting Supertraining, but I got a great piece of information from

the first 10 pages. I also subscribe to MILO, which although a strength

journal, has some fantastic articles that can be used by a bodybuilder.

People diss the mags, but there are some very good ones available that

aren't pushing thousands of supplements, don't try to compete with Playboy

and have a lot of valuable and interesting information.

I've also gotten a great deal of wonderful information from this list

because it affords you the opportunity to ask questions of a lot of people

with a lot of experience.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rosemary Wedderburn-Vernon

Marina del Rey, CA

IronRoses@...

[Guest guest]

Bodybuilding books:

For the most part I think that most bodybuilding books

are a waste of time. Here's a short list of the books

that I regularly use to set up bodybuilding routines.

I take a different approach than 99.9% of competitive

bodybuilders. I combine bodybuilding, olympic

lifting, powerlifting, re-hab exercise, functional

training, plyometrics and medicine ball training. Much

of this depends of the strengths and weaknesses of

each individual. I have a stable of highly competent

individuals who assist me in designing the most

appropriate protocol for each person when needed.

1. " Supertraining " ...Mel Siff

2. " Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning " ..NSCA

3. " Designing Resistance Training Programs "

...Fleck and Kraemer

4. " Strength Training for Coaches " ...etto

5. " Periodization " ..Bompa

6. " Keys to the Inner Universe " ...Bill Pearl...great book

for finding various methods for performing similar exercises.

7. " The Education of a Bodybuilder " ..not sure of

author...great book for motivation...not training.

[if you have the time and inclination to share with us a few examples

of how you have drawn from the above various resources to produce some

interesting bodybuilding routines, I am sure that many readers

would be very grateful to see how you have achieved your competitive

successes. Mel Siff]

Dave Barry

AAU Mr. America

NABBA Mr. USA

Park, MI USA

[Guest guest]

The best bodybuilding books? I can't recommend a single one since I

haven't read any except Arnolds " Education Of a Bodybuilder. " The reason

being that I am from India and a book that costs say $30 in the US

(which could be termed as affordable) costs around Rupees 2000.

That's very expensive for an average Indian. A weak rupee, import duty

and low volume of book sales make books quite expensive (except when

an Indian edition is brought out).

But I can definitely say that if you want to save money and yet get

solid information I would advice you to visit these websites:

www.testosterone.net

www.cyberpump.com

www.cbass.com

www.bodybuilding.com

www.cyberiron.com

www.musclemonthly.com

www.drsquat.com

www.hardgainer.com

These are just a handful of websites. But I will leave you with a

piece of advice. Don't trust everything you read. Some of the articles

on some of these sites are plain drivel. They will work on a

genetically gifted, chemically enhanced lifter but will do nothing to

help put on muscle for the average man..in fact will cause

overtraining.

Be moderate. If any article advices 20 set Squats you know you shouldn't

try that. Same with a 1 set to failure every 15 days. Both of these

will built litte size or strength. Even some of the info on nutrition

is plain baloney. 300-400 gm protein.5000 calorie diets. You get what I

am saying. Find what works for you and use your " muscle intelligence "

to adapt routines to your specific needs/goals and limitations.

Having said that you should still be able to glean enough information

to fuel 1 years worth of workouts.

Hope I have been of some help.

Regards

Arjun Kalbag

Mumbai, India

[Guest guest]

Rosemary Wedderburn-Vernon wrote:

< Book recommendations: I agree that the Poliquin Principals is worthwhile, but

only for an

intermediate to advanced lifter. >

Ben Freeman reply:

**** My 2c on Poliquin Principals is that it isn't a very good book. I

thought that it was a little 'glossy' in regard to its material. Again just

my 2c worth.

Rosemary Wedderburn-Vernon wrote:

< " Brawn, " by Stuart Mc

" The Insiders Tell All Handbook " by Stuart Mc

" Priming the Anabolic Environment " by Will Brink

" Super Squats " by Randall Strossen (www.ironmind.com)

" Body Opus " by Dan Duchaine (anything Dan wrote is interesting whether you

take his advice or not)

I'm just starting Supertraining, but I got a great piece of information from

the first 10 pages. I also subscribe to MILO, which although a strength

journal, has some fantastic articles that can be used by a bodybuilder.

People diss the mags, but there are some very good ones available that

aren't pushing thousands of supplements, don't try to compete with Playboy

and have a lot of valuable and interesting information.>

Ben Freeman reply:

**** I would also add the 'Hardgainer' magazine to the list above which I

have subscribed to for a number of years. It has basically no advertising

and is filled with loads of relevant and practical information. I would

also agree with another comment that Rosemary mentioned in this thread in

that if you get one or two things from a particular book/mag then it's worth

it. Read a bunch of them and work out what is best for you.

Rosemary Wedderburn-Vernon wrote:

<I've also gotten a great deal of wonderful information from this list

because it affords you the opportunity to ask questions of a lot of people

with a lot of experience.>

Ben Freeman reply:

**** Who would deny that attempting to put a monetary value on the

information provided and discussed on this list would be impossible Again,

well done to Mel and all those who contribute (including the lurkers) who

make this list what it is.

Regards

Ben Freeman

Melbourne, Australia

[Guest guest]

From: " DAVID BARRY " :

> Bodybuilding books:

>

> For the most part I think that most bodybuilding books

> are a waste of time. Here's a short list of the books

> that I regularly use to set up bodybuilding routines.

> I take a different approach than 99.9% of competitive

> bodybuilders. I combine bodybuilding, olympic

> lifting, powerlifting, re-hab exercise, functional

> training, plyometrics and medicine ball training. Much

> of this depends of the strengths and weaknesses of

> each individual. I have a stable of highly competent

> individuals who assist me in designing the most

> appropriate protocol for each person when needed.

>

> 1. " Supertraining " ...Mel Siff

> 2. " Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning " ..NSCA

> 3. " Designing Resistance Training Programs "

> ...Fleck and Kraemer

> 4. " Strength Training for Coaches " ...etto

> 5. " Periodization " ..Bompa

> 6. " Keys to the Inner Universe " ...Bill Pearl...great book

> for finding various methods for performing similar exercises.

> 7. " The Education of a Bodybuilder " ..not sure of

> author...great book for motivation...not training.

>

> [if you have the time and inclination to share with us a few examples

> of how you have drawn from the above various resources to produce some

> interesting bodybuilding routines, I am sure that many readers

> would be very grateful to see how you have achieved your competitive

> successes. Mel Siff]

>

> Dave Barry

> AAU Mr. America

> NABBA Mr. USA

> Park, MI USA

" The Education of a Bodybuilder " was written by Arnold. It was my first

bodybuilding book, and very important to my development in all respects. In

retrospect, however, the training volumes that he recommended were way too

high. But his " story " is inspirational.

Lester Long

New York, NY

[Guest guest]

To All: I would have to agree that most of the boooks are not of the

best quality and you must take from them what you find useful and

discard the rest.

If you can find a copy of " Unleashing the Wild Physique " by Vince

Gironda it is an excellent source. You will find many of the " new "

exercises and routines that he used in the 60s that are resurfacing

today under another name, i.e., drag curls, sternum chin-ups,

alternating pull-ups, 10x10 training (now " German Volume Training " ),

Arnold Press (originally the Pressº, abdominal work for low

reps with weight instead of countless reps.

Also Larry 's " Loaded Guns " is a good book.

Charlie Newkerk, CSCS

Rockledge, Fl

newkfit@...

----------

DAVID BARRY <davebarrymramerica@y...> wrote:

> Bodybuilding books:

>

> For the most part I think that most bodybuilding books

> are a waste of time. Here's a short list of the books

> that I regularly use to set up bodybuilding routines.

> I take a different approach than 99.9% of competitive

> bodybuilders. I combine bodybuilding, olympic

> lifting, powerlifting, re-hab exercise, functional

> training, plyometrics and medicine ball training. Much

> of this depends of the strengths and weaknesses of

> each individual. I have a stable of highly competent

> individuals who assist me in designing the most

> appropriate protocol for each person when needed.

>

> 1. " Supertraining " ...Mel Siff

> 2. " Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning " ..NSCA

> 3. " Designing Resistance Training Programs "

> ...Fleck and Kraemer

> 4. " Strength Training for Coaches " ...etto

> 5. " Periodization " ..Bompa

> 6. " Keys to the Inner Universe " ...Bill Pearl...great book

> for finding various methods for performing similar exercises.

> 7. " The Education of a Bodybuilder " ..not sure of

> author...great book for motivation...not training.

>

> [if you have the time and inclination to share with us a few

examples

> of how you have drawn from the above various resources to produce

some

> interesting bodybuilding routines, I am sure that many readers

> would be very grateful to see how you have achieved your competitive

> successes. Mel Siff]

>

> Dave Barry