Recommended Reading

aye

Was thinking that all the knowledge on this board must have been read from somewhere.
So I thought a thread with recommended fitness books wouldnt be a bad idea.

To get the ball rolling


Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier
In a nutshell it contains illustration showing the muscles working for many weight training exercises.


Optimal Muscle Training by Ken Kinakin
Explains how to notice and correct muscle imbalance, and give risk to benefit ratio's for each exercise based on stance, hand placement, etc.


The Fitness Instructor's Handbook by Marc Coulson
If you are doing a fitness instructor course, this covers pretty much everything, but is much better written than the course books I received.


The ISSA Fitness book covers pretty much everything in detail if you can get your hands on it.

Hanley

In before someone else says Starting Strength!!

Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 manual's a really good read too.

accensi0n

Cheers man.

Think I'll get 'Optimal Muscle Training' - Do you equate the bench press with shoulder pain?....yes...unfortunately.

rubadub

Not a book but www.exrx.net

I had arnies encyclopedia of bodybuilding which was OK, and is recommended by many. Funny in places, as people say you can't help reading it "in his voice", had a whole section on posing trunks!

In before someone else says Starting Strength!!

Most also say to make sure you get the 2nd edition, in case people are buying on ebay etc.

aye

Hanley wrote: »

In before someone else says Starting Strength!!

Ha was wondering who'd be first. I don't have it, so didnt wanna say it lol

floggg

Hanley wrote: »

In before someone else says Starting Strength!!

Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 manual's a really good read too.

I just got my copy during the week. Granted its the only book on weight training i've ever read, but find it good. I learned more about the squat in the first 10pages than i did in a whole year of training before that!

J-Fit

The 'Science and Practice of Strength Training' by Vladimir Zatsiorsky is failry revolutionary for its time but extremely 'sciencey' in places (if I can coin a phrase). A hard read with some valuable lessons.

Baldie

rubadub wrote: »

Not a book but www.exrx.net

I had arnies encyclopedia of bodybuilding which was OK, and is recommended by many. Funny in places, as people say you can't help reading it "in his voice", had a whole section on posing trunks!


Most also say to make sure you get the 2nd edition, in case people are buying on ebay etc.

I also have this. It's a handy book to have. I still can't find the "I'll be back" quote though...

mushykeogh

My topfew :
1.Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning by Baechle and Earle
2.Athletic Body in Balance, Gray Cook http://www.amazon.com/Athletic-Body-Balance-Gray-Cook/dp/0736042288/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240589082&sr=1-1
3.Athletic development, vern gambetta http://www.amazon.com/Athletic-Development-Science-Functional-Conditioning/dp/0736051007/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240589296&sr=1-1
4.Functional training in sports, mike boyle http://www.amazon.com/Functional-Training-Sports-Michael-Boyle/dp/073604681X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240589555&sr=1-1
5. Periodization training for sports training, by Tudor Bompa http://www.amazon.com/Periodization-Training-Sports-Tudor-Bompa/dp/0736055592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240589408&sr=1-1
6. Special Strength Training: A Practical Manual for Coaches by Yuri Verkhoshanksy http://www.uksca.org.uk/uksca/ProductFiles/VerkhosanskyReview.pdf
science and practice of strength training as mentioned earlier is also a great book.

joepenguin

Just something Id like to point out about Arnies book: There is an awful lot of really good, factual, practical info in it and is more than just a book to find out what exercises are for what body parts. However some of the advice would not be the best for begginers. If I remember right there is a part on nutrition where he advises increasing calorie intake steadily as you progress in training, the thing is it is till kept to three meals. This is just one example, I havent picked it up in a while though. However if you know the basics then it is a very good book and I highly recommend it if you are into bodybuilding.

Anyone recommend any good books on nutrition.

J.S. Pill

I really can't recommend this book enough, Beyond Brawn by Stuart McRobert.

rubadub

joepenguin wrote: »

Anyone recommend any good books on nutrition.

Burn the fat feed the muscle
http://www.burnthefat.com/

joepenguin

Cheers, think I have that. It is very good alright.

Any ones floating about on sports / peformance nutrition worth the investment.

Transform

J.S. Pill wrote: »

I really can't recommend this book enough, Beyond Brawn by Stuart McRobert.

second that - over the past 10+ years nothing has surpassed its basic best approach.

Easily the most influential book for me when other try to bamboozle with complicated training programs

His technique book is the best one ever written also

crotalus667

joepenguin wrote: »

Cheers, think I have that. It is very good alright.

Any ones floating about on sports / peformance nutrition worth the investment.

That info changes so often most books are some what out of date , try this one it’s more of an academic book but it will give you the basic’s of how nutrition effects the body

here is you best bet

DM-BM

J.S. Pill wrote: »

I really can't recommend this book enough, Beyond Brawn by Stuart McRobert.

I have Brawn, but what's the story with "Beyond Brawn" and "Further Brawn", is there more information in these not contained in the original Brawn?

FunkZ

Read the link in my signature