Book to buy?

The Cowboy

Hi, Im looking to buy a book to aid with my weight training and im thinking of one of the following:
1. The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding by Arnie
or
2. Starting Strength 2nd Ed by Mark Rippetoe

I have been training for about 5 months so far with the Starting Strength programme anyway, guidelines from here amongst other sources...
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=998224
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=2281631
http://www.strengthmill.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36

My current goal in my mind is 75% Size / 25% Strength, as i started out skinnyfat and when im quite happy with my proportions(which still wont be for a good while yet i must admit), I`ll adjust my goals somewhat to prob 50/50 or 75% Strength, depending.

Has anyone read either of the two? Or have you other recommendations which you feel are better for my goals than those above?
So which do you think i should fork out for?

c - 13

I have the starting strength e-book. I've only ran through it quickly but it seems to be more focussed towards trainers. It focuses mostly on correct form for the major lifts, the only program involved in the book is the standard starting strength program.

I havent read the other one buy its on my to buy list with a while now.

The Cowboy

Hiya,
Thanks for the reply.
Whereabouts did you get the Starting Strength e-book as a matter of interest.
pm perhaps?

Hanley

Starting strength is the way to go. There's LOTS of information of "size" training online, but not a whole lot about how to properly perform squat, benches and deadlifts.

Brian?

I downloaded "Starting Strength" on bit torrent. Not sure how the mods here feel about posting links to torrents so I will leave you to google it.

Roper

If you can buy one book, buy starting strength. Arnie is an internet legend and as such a patient man can find everything he ever did in the gym, how many times he chewed his food, what side he dressed on and how often he crapped during the 1970s. All it takes is a bit of google.

Starting Strength on the other hand is the grail journal. Cheap at twice the price. Many a person has become very strong from following the advice on that book, whereas I'd warrant that most people who buy Arnie's don't, and just sit down and watch Commando instead. (Don't disturb my friend, he's dead tired)

The Cowboy

Ok, well, i decided in the end to splash the cash and buy both books. I managed to get a pdf version of Starting Strength online(thanks guys), but i would prefer having the actual book, and the pdf is only the first edition, while theres an updated and improved 2nd Ed available to buy now.
And i bought Arnie`s more for novelty and interest than anything else.
And well done Roper, Commando was indeed watched by myself on the previous night to this request, and an immediate Arnie interest was instigated, incl the acquiral and subsequent viewing of Pumping Iron! Awesome film.

Thanks to all.

Al_Fernz

The Cowboy wrote: »

Ok, well, i decided in the end to splash the cash and buy both books. I managed to get a pdf version of Starting Strength online(thanks guys), but i would prefer having the actual book, and the pdf is only the first edition, while theres an updated and improved 2nd Ed available to buy now.
And i bought Arnie`s more for novelty and interest than anything else.
And well done Roper, Commando was indeed watched by myself on the previous night to this request, and an immediate Arnie interest was instigated, incl the acquiral and subsequent viewing of Pumping Iron! Awesome film.

Thanks to all.

Hey, you can watch all of Pumping Iron on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pumping+iron&search_type

Oh, and while were at Commando quotes "Let off some steam Bennett"

Roper

The Cowboy wrote: »

Ok, well, i decided in the end to splash the cash and buy both books. I managed to get a pdf version of Starting Strength online(thanks guys), but i would prefer having the actual book, and the pdf is only the first edition, while theres an updated and improved 2nd Ed available to buy now.
And i bought Arnie`s more for novelty and interest than anything else.
And well done Roper, Commando was indeed watched by myself on the previous night to this request, and an immediate Arnie interest was instigated, incl the acquiral and subsequent viewing of Pumping Iron! Awesome film.

Thanks to all.

The 2nd ed. Starting Strength is available on Amazon for less than you get it from the Aasgard Company I think. It's well, well worth buying I still refer back to it months after first getting it. I thought I knew it all before I bought that book LOL!

The big question is of course "Where's Sully?", the answe to which has to be "I let him go":pac:

Colm_OReilly

Starting Strength is the way to go.

Plus, Arnie never address his imbalances - "I have to remind you Sully, this is my weak arm!"

UCD dude

Can anyone pm me the Starting Strength e-book please??

hunter164

Do you know anywhere I can buy Starting Strength in Dublin?

mikemac

Chapters, Parnell St have it
They prefer if you give the ISBN number (0976805405) but they can quickly find it with just the name or author.

Best off asking at the front desk, you'll never find it on your own as that place is huge!

Roper

micmclo wrote: »

Chapters, Parnell St have it
They prefer if you give the ISBN number (0976805405) but they can quickly find it with just the name or author.

Best off asking at the front desk, you'll never find it on your own as that place is huge!

Hmmm would they have Practical Programming as well do you suppose? Never even thought of Chapters! The old place was a gold mine I've only been in the new place once.

hunter164

How much is it? Going to head in now hopefully and buy it.

HammerHeadGym

I would recommend in this order
Starting strength,
Brawn by stuart Mc Robert or
beyond brawn, by the same.

Also I think Boru has 'ultimate intercostals in 3 second every other friday' somewhere on the web.

J.S. Pill

HammerHeadGym wrote: »

I would recommend in this order
Starting strength,
Brawn by stuart Mc Robert or
beyond brawn, by the same.

Also I think Boru has 'ultimate intercostals in 3 second every other friday' somewhere on the web.

I'll second Beyond Brawn - written in a very refreshing and down to earth style and full of practical pointers. Some of the approaches may seem a bit counter intuitive at first but well worth sticking with

Roper

I'm not able to get to the city that often during business hours and I like people to do me favours, so if someone is in chapters looking for Starting Strength, could they also just check if they have Practical Programming by the same authors? I would reward them with my thanks.

crotalus667

Roper wrote: »

I'm not able to get to the city that often during business hours and I like people to do me favours, so if someone is in chapters looking for Starting Strength, could they also just check if they have Practical Programming by the same authors? I would reward them with my thanks.

Ring them !!! as far as I know they are also open late night thursday's most book shops will mail stuff out to you , water stones and chapters recken that they can order in almost any book that's still in print
so pick up the phone and start dialing

Roper

Sorry you seem to have missed the "lazy" bit.

I might do, in a noble attempt to diconnect myself from the system, I no longer have a credit card which is actually turning into a pain in the hoop. So getting books n' stuff is more difficult than it used to be.

crotalus667

Roper wrote: »

I no longer have a credit card which is actually turning into a pain in the hoop. So getting books n' stuff is more difficult than it used to be.

I remember when I first started to use Amazon I sent them bank drafts with my order number on the back , it takes a bit longer to get them but you don’t have to worry about getting a credit card bill , I think there is some company that is doing an online credit card thing where you buy a card to use online with credit already on it , so it’s really a debit card (I think it’s either visa or master card) , personally I’m a much bigger fan of cash at least you know what you have spent ,

Ps I wont be going in to town for a while (a few weeks) but Ill be heading to chapters when I do so I’ll drop you a pm to see if your still looking for it

Colm_OReilly

The Aasgaard Company have less than 10 titles, and most bookstore chains won't deal with such small publishers. Amazon.com or aasgaardco.com is pretty much the only way to get these.

Transform

1+
for any of the stewart McRobert books - encourages the basics done well and consistently.

Years ago I always thought i trained hard until i started doing Brawn type programs. Nothing like a good set of 20rep squats!!

I also got all the back issues of his magazine - Hardgainers, always refeshing to read when you need a kick in the butt.

dave80

I know waterstone in jervis street has build muscle, lose fat, look great by stuart mcrobert.

mikemac

Sorry all, I withdraw my post on Chapters, Parnell St

They definitely told me Starting Strength was in stock last week but just rang just now and they won’t even order it.
Probably for the reasons Colm gave

Looks like amazon.com so but pity about the postage charges.

hunter164

Ye I was in there today and they hadn't got it or Practical Programming. I'm going to have to buy Starting Strength off internet.

brianon

Starting Strength is a class of its own. Absolute must!

Also, from aasgaardco.com...

"Strong Enough? : Thoughts from Thirty Years of Barbell Training" is a great read. Just stories/thoughts from Rippetoes career. Very funny and some great advice also.

hunter164

How long does post usually take from the Aasgaard Company?

brianon

My last order took less than a week.

hunter164

All right i ordered it today. Was $41 how much did you pay?