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strength books?
- Thread starter TheOak84
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Protobuilder
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Check out the book section at www.elitefts.com
Protobuilder
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Well be a little more specific. What are you looking for exactly? Books on science? Programs? "Powerlifting 101"? Inspirational stuff?
Cynical Simian
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Look at madcow's site for some book recommendations. That talk of MILO in another thread made me realize I need to stop putting off building my training library, so I ordered The Science and Practice of Strength Training yesterday. 
PB, your comments on Supertraining in that other thread was somewhat lukewarm - would you mind giving a bit more of a review of it or tossing out any other recommendations?
PB, your comments on Supertraining in that other thread was somewhat lukewarm - would you mind giving a bit more of a review of it or tossing out any other recommendations?
anotherbutters
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Does it matter which is the best if you're not going to read it?TheOak84 said:
Protobuilder
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Sure. Supertraining is chock full of info. and I would recommend it to someone who really wants to get in-depth into physiology and the science of training. The consensus seems to be though, at the end, you’ve learned a lot but have no idea how to apply it. So, it’s not going to help you figure out how to train really. But you learn a ton, no question. I mean, he’s got pages devoted to recovery methods, plyometrics, muscle fibers, etc. It’s like $60, probably around 500 pages, and small print. Just not an easy read or soemthing to “browse.” But Siff covers damn near everything. It’s a nerd book.
Dreschler’s Encyclopedia is great, IMO. It’s oriented toward OLY but he covers other good stuff that applies to training in general. It’s more practical as well.
I’ve also read Tudor Bompa, which I’d suggest skipping unless you want to hear about linear periodization again.
Zatsiorsky is like Siff but more concise, not as in-depth, and a bit more practical. The new edition w/ Kramer just came out. Honestly, I didn’t get much out of it. He gets into math some and that puts me asleep b/c I’m dumb. There are good bits and pieces, no question, but after doing as much internet surfing as I’ve done, you’ve heard most of what you’ll read in there. You’re really just getting it from the horse’s mouth. You see where WSBB ideas came from, etc.
Frankly, with the internet, there’s so much good info. available for free that books are kinda’ outmoded unless you’re talking something like Starting Strength, where you get nice pics, or Supertraining, where you get a nice scientific write-up on many subjects in one book. For training programs, the ‘net and talking w/ guys like biggT etc is more helpful than any book I’ve read. I’m really looking forward to Practical Periodization coming out in Aug. that Glenn worked on. It supposedly covers programming.
In terms of good training books, I actually like Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubik. It’s $20 and covers good training basics. No science needed. And a subscription to MILO is very nice. I also really like Dan John’s free pdf. There’s probably a lot of value in Beyond Brawn and a book called The Keys to Progress. I’ve heard those highly recommended for basic training stuff. Additionally, Anthony Ditillo wrote good stuff (hard as hell to read though b/c he’s wordy as hell) and some of it is in old MILO issues and floating around the net. It’s good practical training “how to” stuff.
But if you know what diff’t exercises are, how to perform them, some basic physiology, there’s not a lot left to be said. LoL The rest is just wanking, which can be fun if this is your hobby and then you should go ahead & read Zatsiorsky, Siff, etc. But I’d point a noob toward exrx.net, Beyond Brawn, and Dan John before Siff. LoL
Dreschler’s Encyclopedia is great, IMO. It’s oriented toward OLY but he covers other good stuff that applies to training in general. It’s more practical as well.
I’ve also read Tudor Bompa, which I’d suggest skipping unless you want to hear about linear periodization again.
Zatsiorsky is like Siff but more concise, not as in-depth, and a bit more practical. The new edition w/ Kramer just came out. Honestly, I didn’t get much out of it. He gets into math some and that puts me asleep b/c I’m dumb. There are good bits and pieces, no question, but after doing as much internet surfing as I’ve done, you’ve heard most of what you’ll read in there. You’re really just getting it from the horse’s mouth. You see where WSBB ideas came from, etc.
Frankly, with the internet, there’s so much good info. available for free that books are kinda’ outmoded unless you’re talking something like Starting Strength, where you get nice pics, or Supertraining, where you get a nice scientific write-up on many subjects in one book. For training programs, the ‘net and talking w/ guys like biggT etc is more helpful than any book I’ve read. I’m really looking forward to Practical Periodization coming out in Aug. that Glenn worked on. It supposedly covers programming.
In terms of good training books, I actually like Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubik. It’s $20 and covers good training basics. No science needed. And a subscription to MILO is very nice. I also really like Dan John’s free pdf. There’s probably a lot of value in Beyond Brawn and a book called The Keys to Progress. I’ve heard those highly recommended for basic training stuff. Additionally, Anthony Ditillo wrote good stuff (hard as hell to read though b/c he’s wordy as hell) and some of it is in old MILO issues and floating around the net. It’s good practical training “how to” stuff.
But if you know what diff’t exercises are, how to perform them, some basic physiology, there’s not a lot left to be said. LoL The rest is just wanking, which can be fun if this is your hobby and then you should go ahead & read Zatsiorsky, Siff, etc. But I’d point a noob toward exrx.net, Beyond Brawn, and Dan John before Siff. LoL
Protobuilder said:
thanx, thats more of what im looking for...
i am, and have used porgrams to get as strong as my body will let me, but i know theres so much knowledge i dont know.
the HIT book was great. i guess im looking for an equivelant to that, but in power.
ill order the ones u named
anotherbutters, kiss my ass
jkProtobuilder
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And don't forget to read them when they show up. LoL
Cynical Simian
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Great post - thanks a lot. The above is exactly why Starting Strength was the only book I'd purchased and why beyond a few general references like Zatsiorsky and Siff (if I come across a copy for ~$35 like I did with Zatsiorsky) I didn't (and still don't) see a reason for spending a lot on training books.Protobuilder said:
Protobuilder
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I’d look at Dinosaur Training (gets into gen’l training principles and how to apply them, also includes some cookie-cutters, all for $20), maybe Bill Starr’s book, and the Beyond Brawn stuff (can’t remember the author’s name, Stuart McRoberts maybe). If you want to understand WSBB, then you can read stuff on-line and check out zatsiorsky and Siff b/c that’s where the principles come from. You’ll read about accumulation & intensification phases, etc. (dual factor). Blah blah blah But those books won’t talk about real-life training plans. So, maybe start w/ a gen’l science book like that, and then read into Dino Training or Stuart McRoberts and get some real-world stuff. You’ll start to see WHY programs are set up certain ways, etc.
Honestly, with the ‘net, you’ve got more stuff available for free than you’d get in any book. There’s not much more to say about the 5x5 program than has been said already on-line through MC and from reading people’s journals/posts. The real trick is learning to build and apply it (e.g., programming--see my post earlier on glenn and adding 42 pounds to your squat). Practical Periodization comes out later this summer and I’m hoping it gets into programming, which is what I think you’re seeking.
Honestly, with the ‘net, you’ve got more stuff available for free than you’d get in any book. There’s not much more to say about the 5x5 program than has been said already on-line through MC and from reading people’s journals/posts. The real trick is learning to build and apply it (e.g., programming--see my post earlier on glenn and adding 42 pounds to your squat). Practical Periodization comes out later this summer and I’m hoping it gets into programming, which is what I think you’re seeking.
Protobuilder
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Here's a review of Beyond Brawn, from Lyle Mcdonald, on Amazon.com:
Lyle said:
Protobuilder
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Haven't read it and frankly don't need to, or so I think. The 'routine' is floating around all over the place and what's left to say? I imagine it's a nice book if you're a tard who doesn't already know you need to bust ass to grow. The 20-rep routine is tried-and-true and another tool that oughta' be in the toolbox. I don't need the book to get a "rah rah" speech on how awesome squats are.
All of these books are gonna' be kind of the same: They’re either training books, in which case you’ll get the ol’ rah rah motivational speeches, etc., and you’ll get some routines, or they’ll be science books, and you’ll learn about fiber types, hypertrophy mechanisms, etc. but probably no training programs.
Damn. Just order a frickin book and see what you think. LoL
All of these books are gonna' be kind of the same: They’re either training books, in which case you’ll get the ol’ rah rah motivational speeches, etc., and you’ll get some routines, or they’ll be science books, and you’ll learn about fiber types, hypertrophy mechanisms, etc. but probably no training programs.
Damn. Just order a frickin book and see what you think. LoL
Protobuilder
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Awesome. Report back after browsing it.
Jim Ouini
New member
Coincidentally I have Super Squats and Beyond Brawn on my nightstand right now. I dug out SS because of all the talk about 20 reppers lately. And I was looking for some rah rah too 
I found Beyond Brawn to be pretty good and candid, although I'm only about 20pgs in of real reading (browsed it a lot, though) and I haven't picked it up in ages.
Overall though I have to admit that for practical purposes the internet has served me well for training info. The books do look good on the shelf, though.
I found Beyond Brawn to be pretty good and candid, although I'm only about 20pgs in of real reading (browsed it a lot, though) and I haven't picked it up in ages.
Overall though I have to admit that for practical purposes the internet has served me well for training info. The books do look good on the shelf, though.
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