Arnie's Bodybuilding Book

rediguana

Has anyone read it? It's brilliant!

I borrowed a copy from a friend but I'd like one myself. If anyone's selling theirs, PM me.

I'm normally prejudiced against older books but, even though this one is ten years old, I feel like everything I would ever need to know about bodybuilding is inside it.

rubadub

Plenty on ebay. http://search.ebay.ie/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&from=R10&_trksid=m37&saaff=afdefault&fcl=3&frpp=50&saslop=1&fss=0&satitle=Encyclopedia+Bodybuilding&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&a15961=-24&a23713=-24&a23714=-24&a23717=-24&a10244=-24&alist=a15961%2Ca23713%2Ca23715%2Ca23716%2Ca81322%2Ca23714%2Ca23717%2Ca10244%2Ca3801&pfmode=1&reqtype=1&gcs=1127&pfid=3730&pf_query=Encyclopedia+Bodybuilding&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sappl=1&sabfmts=1&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&salic=-15&fhlc=1&fobfmt=1&saobfmts=insif&fsop=3%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search

I presume it is this one? the original is actually over 20 years old.

rediguana

Yeah, the original is old. My borrowed one is 1998, which isn't too bad. I'm still hopeful that my work buddy will sell me his; he's had it a while.

I've been working out since I was 20 (I'm 28 now) and I'm in good shape. But reading a good-quality book like Arnie's shows you how you're really just wasting your time if you don't infuse your workouts with some scientific rigour.

I've yet to buy anything on eBay. Maybe Arnie will be my big debut. Maybe someone is doing a "Buy the bodybuilding book, get Predator 2 FREE!" deal...

WHIP IT!

rediguana wrote: »

Yeah, the original is old. My borrowed one is 1998, which isn't too bad. I'm still hopeful that my work buddy will sell me his; he's had it a while.

I've been working out since I was 20 (I'm 28 now) and I'm in good shape. But reading a good-quality book like Arnie's shows you how you're really just wasting your time if you don't infuse your workouts with some scientific rigour.

I've yet to buy anything on eBay. Maybe Arnie will be my big debut. Maybe someone is doing a "Buy the bodybuilding book, get Predator 2 FREE!" deal...

Arnie was in the first Pred Mate (best. film. ever.), you'll only get Predator2 free if you buy Danny Glover's workout book!

rediguana

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Arnie was in the first Pred Mate (best. film. ever.), you'll only get Predator2 free if you buy Danny Glover's workout book!

What? I can't believe that. I think I remember now, wasn't Predator 2 that useless one set in the city? No wonder I blocked out the awful memory.

WHIP IT!

rediguana wrote: »

What? I can't believe that. I think I remember now, wasn't Predator 2 that useless one set in the city? No wonder I blocked out the awful memory.

Hey, Hey, Heyyyyyy - take it easy on the Glovster. Sure, he was fighting a losing battle trying to live up to Arnie's classic - but I thought he gave it a good run...

That Predator is one bad ass dude though - wonder if he's on the creatine??

ronbyrne2005

I have the original book (complete with black and white photos) and have to say its not great. You would get better info for free on internet. Arnie makes it sound like train hard eat well and you can be like him when in reality every guy in the book was doing steroids. Didnt find it that scientific either. Had a good laugh at parts of it like when arnie described working out while being in austrian army.

Hanley

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

I have the original book (complete with black and white photos) and have to say its not great. You would get better info for free on internet. Arnie makes it sound like train hard eat well and you can be like him when in reality every guy in the book was doing steroids. Didnt find it that scientific either. Had a good laugh at parts of it like when arnie described working out while being in austrian army.

Is it The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, or The Education of a Bodybuilder that you're talking about?

rediguana

Hanley wrote: »

Is it The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, or The Education of a Bodybuilder that you're talking about?

Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. Yeah, he makes a brief reference to his days in the army, changing wheels on tanks etc and having to get up earlier than the other soldiers to do chin ups and the like.

redtom

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

Arnie makes it sound like train hard eat well and you can be like him...

He doesn't really say that, he goes on more about it's all about seeing/visualising your own body as it would be if all its muscles were developed. Agree on the anecdotes tho, they're a good read - the commandant saying to the other soldiers they should all be as committed as Arnie after he went awol to win that competition. Its a good read, got mine about 12 yrs ago and still use it for reference.

rediguana

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

I have the original book (complete with black and white photos) and have to say its not great. You would get better info for free on internet. Arnie makes it sound like train hard eat well and you can be like him when in reality every guy in the book was doing steroids. Didnt find it that scientific either. Had a good laugh at parts of it like when arnie described working out while being in austrian army.

Is it really true that they were all on steroids? He seems very anti any kind of quick fixes.

It's hard to compete with the internet but, as a one-stop-shop for the aspiring bodybuilder, I think the book is great. For the average Joe, if he was to integrate Arnie's various pearls of wisdom and technique into his lifestyle and workouts, he'd make big improvements.

Realistically, very, very few guys are going to become as sculpted as Arnie and Franco Columbo etc, but it's all about improving your own physique, not benchmarking yourself against Mr. Universe.

Incidentally, I've gained a few pounds of muscle and my girlfriend has noticed a huge difference in me since I started reading the book a couple of weeks ago.

I'm sure there are brilliant, up-to-date websites devoted to bodybuilding on the net, but I hate the information-overload aspect of looking up stuff on the net.

As a matter of interest, can you specify any bad advice or factual inaccuracies that you came across in the book? I'm genuinely asking, not trying to challenge you!

Hanley

rediguana wrote: »

I'm sure there are brilliant, up-to-date websites devoted to bodybuilding on the net, but I hate the information-overload aspect of looking up stuff on the net.

That's a great point... While the routines might be a bit "basic" with less scientific backing than you'd find online, they'd certainly be effective if you were to put your head down and stick to them.

Everyone seems to be looking for the next great program and ends up spinning their wheels going nowhere.

Oh and btw, while Arnie might not have been as heavily drugged up as modern bodybuilders, he was certainly taking advantage of every measure available at the time. Lets not forget this this the man who said he'd eat a ton of dog sh!t if it'd give him a pound of muscle.

rubadub

rediguana wrote: »

on eBay. Maybe Arnie will be my big debut.

Books are a good bet on ebay, cant really be broken, or over used, or damaged in the post, or fake etc.

rediguana wrote: »

Is it really true that they were all on steroids? He seems very anti any kind of quick fixes.

One nickname for steroids is "Arnies", I heard he definitely used them. I think he is against shortcut training like HIT methods.

AARRRGH

Arnie admitted he used to use them, but stopped in the 90's.

darraghw

Correct arnie has admitted to using steroids but only before they became a banded substance!

As for smoking weed....arnie is numero uno!

Froot

I have always wanted a copy of Arnie's book but it's always sold out when I try to get a copy. Resorting to online I guess.

Sylvester Stallone's workout book is quite good too.

crotalus667

Froot wrote: »

I have always wanted a copy of Arnie's book but it's always sold out when I try to get a copy. Resorting to online I guess.

Sylvester Stallone's workout book is quite good too.

they have a stack of them in that book shop in the jervis street shoping center they are on a table in the sports section

kaner97

I got a copy of it from a book shop on abbey street across from easons beside supermacs, it only cost 10 euro

Froot

I live in Cork :P

mloc

mine is falling apart, its like a phone book of bodybuilding. One thing it is great for is for looking for new exercises, it explains them clearly and the motivational side of it is suprisingly good too. Definately worth reading, even for people not that interested in getting very serious.

rediguana

I like the occasional (perhaps unintended) humour in it too. There's a bit where he says "Some guys have said that getting a pump, is better than sex - oh, wait, that was me". If, like me, you read the book in Arnie's voice, it's funny!

WHIP IT!

rediguana wrote: »

I like the occasional (perhaps unintended) humour in it too. There's a bit where he says "Some guys have said that getting a pump, is better than sex - oh, wait, that was me". If, like me, you read the book in Arnie's voice, it's funny!

HaHa - I actually read the quote you referenced in Arnie's voice!

Al_Fernz

Froot wrote: »

Sylvester Stallone's workout book is quite good too.

"Sly Moves" is a good read.

However, some of the suggested workout routines are a bit off - I remember seeing a routine that advised the lifter to do bicep isolation exercises before compound back movements. That would be neddy no no for me. Aside from this I would recommend reading this for anybody interested in lifting weights.

sheldonparkgym

I think the greatest value of the book is that it gives a good idea of Arnie's champion mindset. Pumping Iron is similar in that regard.

There were bodybuilders with better genetics (Serge Nubret, Lou Ferrigno) but Arnie was WAY ahead of everyone when it came to his mental game, an absolute expert in psyching his opponents out. In Pumping Iron, he does to Lou what Ali did to Foreman.

w.i.e

kaner97 wrote: »

I got a copy of it from a book shop on abbey street across from easons beside supermacs, it only cost 10 euro

Is it still available there for €10? I've found it new on ebay here http://cgi.ebay.ie/The-New-Encyclopedia-of-Modern-Bodybuilding-by-Arnol_W0QQitemZ370019790132QQihZ024QQcategoryZ2228QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem for just over €20 including shipping, but if it's in Dublin for less, I'll avoid the possibility of Mr. Postman losing it.

crotalus667

sheldonparkgym wrote: »

In Pumping Iron, he does to Lou what Ali did to Foreman.

sorry to burst your bubble but pumping Iron was not a doucumetory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXQ2HELtIoY

Froot

I bought it yesterday for 26.50. It's the 1998 edition.

I'm really, really impressed. I always liked his attitude when he was in an interview or on tv but this is just great. It's so much more than intimidating pictures :P.

Great book, well worth a read. I also own the Mens Health equivalent and it pales in comparison to Arnie's book.

davyjose

darraghw wrote: »

Correct arnie has admitted to using steroids but only before they became a banded substance!

As for smoking weed....arnie is numero uno!

And he said only when cutting AFAIK - he never used them to build, just to hold on to muscle when he was shedding fat.

Hanley

davyjose wrote: »

And he said only when cutting AFAIK - he never used them to build, just to hold on to muscle when he was shedding fat.

You believe that?

Scottty2Hottty

Sorry to go off topic!! But I was just wondering is there drug testing in Powerllifting? I know there is at the Olympics but I mean at National events and what not?

Malteaser!

Scottty2Hottty wrote: »

Sorry to go off topic!! But I was just wondering is there drug testing in Powerllifting? I know there is at the Olympics but I mean at National events and what not?

Depends on the federation.

In the IDFPA and the IPF, at least 10% of lifters from each competition are tested and can be tested out of competition as well. If you fail one the IDFPA tests you're banned for life with the IPF its two or three years. Other federations such as the GPC and IPO don't test.

EDIT: There isn't actually a powerlifting event at the Olympics, those tests are carried out at National and International competitions though!

sheldonparkgym

davyjose wrote: »

he never used them to build, just to hold on to muscle when he was shedding fat.

Why wouldn't he use them to build?! Do you really think he'd bust his ass squatting, deadlifting and benching tons every workout and then decide against using anabolics to help him gain muscle?

If Arnie had never used steroids to build, there'd be quite a few people on this forum to rival him in size.....:pac:

BossArky

I picked up a copy of Arnie's revisted book "Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding - 1998". So far, so good.

rediguana wrote: »

I like the occasional (perhaps unintended) humour in it too. There's a bit where he says "Some guys have said that getting a pump, is better than sex - oh, wait, that was me". If, like me, you read the book in Arnie's voice, it's funny!

Yeah, Arnie is talking to me in his monotonous drone as I read. The part where he says "You can think of me as your person trainer" reminds me of that part in Terminator 2 where John Connor has him stand on one leg, then beat up the 2 guys :pac:

kevpants

I can't remember which of his books it is but he's got a line:

It was at that moment I realised there were alot of homosexuals in bodybuilding

I rarely laugh out loud at books but I feckin cracked up at that. You cannot help but read it in Arnies voice.

Jimmy Bottlehead

Read a lot of reviews there on Amazon... quite a few people are favouring Mike Mentzer over Arnie... and I know Dorian Yates followed Mike's reasoning too. And Yates was an awesome specimen.

Any opinions on here?

Hanley

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Read a lot of reviews there on Amazon... quite a few people are favouring Mike Mentzer over Arnie... and I know Dorian Yates followed Mike's reasoning too. And Yates was an awesome specimen.

Any opinions on here?

And Ronnie used lots of reps and lots of sets. As does Jay.

All it means is that different roads can lead you to the same place!!

dave80

the thing tat Jay, Ronnie and Dorian had in common was that they used serious amounts of drugs, they were going to grow no matter wat way they trained

I think the best rep scheme and workout for the natural trainer would be Dorians low volume short intense workouts

chillywilly

thought id post this for the laugh.....what a legend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uerFZ2Z42nc

Jimmy Bottlehead

chillywilly wrote: »

thought id post this for the laugh.....what a legend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uerFZ2Z42nc

*Arnold raises glass to woman*

WOMAN: "Sauche (sp?)

AHNULD: "Sauche!

WOMAN: "Sauche, which means health"

AHNULD: Power?

WOMAN "Health"



Hmmm... someone was slightly obsessed with power

Degsy

I would be concerned that he would give me the wrong advices:D

#Smokey#

Hanley wrote: »

And Ronnie used lots of reps and lots of sets. As does Jay.

All it means is that different 'roids can lead you to the same place!!

Fixed that for ya :cool: