Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding: The Complete A-Z Book on Muscle Building
by Robert Kennedy
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Book Summary Information
Author: Robert KennedyEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-26
ISBN: 1552100510
Number of pages: 800
Publisher: Robert Kennedy
Accessories:
- MuscleMag International's No Pain No Gain Training Journal
- The Eat-Clean Diet Workout: Quick Routines for Your Best Body Ever (with DVD)
- Oxygen's No Pain No Gain Training Journal
Book Reviews of Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding: The Complete A-Z Book on Muscle Building
Book Review: You get a workout just holding the book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is beautiful! I have a large library of bodybuilding books and magazines collected from the 80's and I'm always looking for something new and different to add to my collection, which is not always easy since every book out there seems to be a repeat of something else.
The book is a hardback which makes it somewhat heavy and awkward to hold and I can see over time how the binding may start to get stressed and begin to break because of the weight. If it's placed on a sturdy shelf and cared for, it should never fall apart- but it's something to consider. I almost wish they would have just made it a paperback because books are meant to be read and therefore endure some level of abuse from time to time. Hopefully they will get a paperback version out there soon. Also, it has a dust-jacket which is a bit annoying because of course it's going to slip off and get torn over time.
The book covers almost every aspect of bodybuilding that I can think of, including history and famous bodybuilders (vital information for beginners to the sport), how to stretch safely (something most bodybuilders overlook from time to time), how to make money in the industry, contest preparation and promotion, mass gaining, "the pump", individual pro's workouts, nutrition, basic physiology/biology, a "question and answer" chapter in the back, side affects of steroid use, training injuries, etc.
Really there's nothing it doesn't cover, so a beginner to the sport would really get a lot out of this large book. I am a natural competitive female bodybuilder and am also a personal trainer, and still found this book to be informative and thorough and am proud to add it to my extensive collection of literature.
The pictures are mainly of male bodybuilders which is always disappointing because I think it's equally important to read about the history of women's bodybuilding and explain the differences in muscle building between men and women. There is a quick rundown of the beginning of female bodybuilding with a large picture of Cory Everson (page 24-25), but it's really only two pages long and gives a basic explanation of why female bodybuilding is not as popular (ie. extreme masculinity being a turn-off, etc).
I subscribe to MuscleMag International and have for years, so I'm used to the writing style and information that Robert Kennedy provides in his publications. The pictures in this book are some of the best I've seen in any book I own, and they are inspiring. As a trainer, I like to keep myself informed from a scientific viewpoint, but also from the perspective of the people I train. Most of them will pick up books like this looking for information and it's important that I know what they are reading to better guide and educate them. This is one book I would recommend to any client of mine who appreciates the bodybuilding lifestyle and is not turned off by the larger than life physiques in this book. It is thorough enough to educate a newbie- but to also shed some light on the bodybuilding counterculture that is truly fascinating and unlike any other sport in the world.
Summary of Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding: The Complete A-Z Book on Muscle Building
This book offers what no one else does ? a gorgeous user-friendly book that informs you about everything from bodybuilding nutrition, to supplements, to exercises, to posing.
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