Starting Strength (2nd edition) by Mark Rippetoe, Lon Kilgore
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Book Reviews of Starting Strength (2nd edition)
Book Review: All I can say is "Wow!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me first state that I've been lifting weights for almost 30 years now and competed in several powerlifting meets back in the 80's. Although I have always felt strong, as I've aged, I began to feel pain in my joints when I was lifting, particularly my knees, back, and shoulders. I chalked this up to age and figured I guess I needed to just slow down and accept getting older.
This book has been recommended to me by Amazon quite a bit, but it just looked to simplistic to me and I figured I already knew how to lift properly. I guess I was wrong.
I finally decided to pick this book up after seeing some of its material crossed over on the crossfit website. After reading it I immediately started implementing some of the changes the book recommended into my routine. For the first time in years, I'm squatting pain free, without knee braces. My bench press has risen 30 pounds in just 1 month after implementing standing presses to my routine instead of doing them seated. I feel like an entirely new lifter, one who can continue to improve through his entire life, not just his youth. Thank you Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore for writing such a great book. It belongs in everyone's weightlifting library, and I can easily give it the highest possible recommendation.
Book Review: Excellent Manual for the Big Lifts
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is quite thorough and the terminology aimed squarely at coaches. As a bioengineering student, it was especially relevant to learn about the biomechanical aspects of each lift.
For instance, explaining how holding a deep breath or wearing a belt helps during a squat was actually an engineering problem in class. Many myths are dispelled and explain that it is quite safe to let your knees travel over your toes slightly, and to squat so that your hip crease goes below the top of your knees. And more than that, it explains how beneficial it is to squat deep.
I've read through this book twice. The writing is unpretentious and the writers don't just throw around scientific terms to wow you. It is as concise as it can be, considering it troubleshoots the squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, power clean, and assistance exercises. This is definitely the book to recommend to beginners.
Both my girlfriend and I do a similar 5x5 program that is recommended in this book and the results have been fantastic. We are one of the few doing squats properly in our gym. The results have been great and the lifts much more fun than just doing a million isolation exercises (such as curls and abs).
Book Review: Thumbs up from Older Novice
Summary: 5 Stars
Age 47
I really just had general health/fitness goals in mind when I starting looking around for something to do with the weights that were gathering dust in my basement.
I was lucky enough to stumble across Starting Strength. I started with a very patient attitude toward learning the techniques. I also got my wife involved by making her read the chapter on squats and tell me if I was doing them right (I wasn't). Now she's doing the lifts too, and we watch each others form. Her doctor was thrilled to hear what she was doing considering her risk for osteoporosis.
Now, a year later I've missed only a handful of workouts and have had no injuries. My stats are steadily going up, although I have friends who insist I should be doing 400lb squats by now because that's what they can do on the leg press. I'm ignoring them. Because I'm battling high cholesterol without drugs, I'm not able to eat as much as I should to get strong super fast, though I'm always trying to eat enough to make gains each time I lift.
If you are older, and have to balance concerns, good form and patience are the main keys. This book will definitely teach the first. The second is up to you!
Book Review: Beginner's Mind
Summary: 5 Stars
The first thing I noticed when I picked up Starting Strength is that Rippetoe and Kilgore spend 60 pages on the squat. That is, put a heavy bar on your back, lower yourself down, and stand back up again - 60 pages. Sure, there are plenty of helpful illustrations and photos, but the pages are packed with text telling you how to squat. The crazy thing is, they don't really repeat themselves. Sure, they'll provide a new focal point that might help with the same aspect of form previously discussed, but they unload so much information in the pages of this book that it's stunning. I never imagined there was so much to know about putting a heavy bar on your back, lowering yourself down, and standing back up. The depth of their knowledge is stupendous and their ability to convey that knowledge clearly is equal to the task. There are many pursuits in life where you boil things down to basic principles, get the hang of it and say, "that's really not that complicated." Then, a true master comes along and renews your understanding and appreciation for detail in simple things, and you get to start all over again. Mark Rippetoe is one of those masters, and that shines through clearly in the pages of this book.
Book Review: simple ideas, huge impact
Summary: 5 Stars
I am 29 years old have been training for many years now, picking up injuries due to my own stupidity and ignorance, lack of interest in hard work and the over-zealousness of my trainer. This book has changed my entire outlook towards weight training and fitness. Compound exercises are the way to go for the typical weight trainer like me and thats where this book is so valuable.
I recommend this book for the following reasons -
1. The content is straight forward, very elaborately explained, the layout of the book is very clean and eye catching.
2. The big 5 exercises explained are the 5 most important exercises in a strength trainers program (or atleast should be).
3. Very good for technique and motivation.
4. The physics is also explained in text and pictures.
5. "Must have" to perfect your form and avoid injury.
6. Very important for weight trainers of all ages, esp more important if you are older since you cannot afford injuries.
Bottom line - Highly recommended. Buy it. Read it. Understand it and PRACTICE IT.
PS - I strongly recommend the DVD for additional clarity.