Editorial Review

Thinner, bigger, faster, stronger... which 150 pages will you read?

Is it possible to:
Reach your genetic potential in 6 months?
Sleep 2 hours per day and perform better than on 8 hours?
Lose more fat than a marathoner by bingeing?
 
Indeed, and much more. This is not just another diet and fitness book.

The 4-Hour Body is the result of an obsessive quest, spanning more than a decade, to hack the human body. It contains the collective wisdom of hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of jaw-dropping personal experimentation. From Olympic training centers to black-market laboratories, from Silicon Valley to South Africa, Tim Ferriss, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek, fixated on one life-changing question:

For all things physical, what are the tiniest changes that produce the biggest results?

Thousands of tests later, this book contains the answers for both men and women.

From the gym to the bedroom, it’s all here, and it all works.


YOU WILL LEARN (in less than 30 minutes each):
How to lose those last 5-10 pounds (or 100+ pounds) with odd combinations of food and safe chemical cocktails.

* How to prevent fat gain while bingeing (X-mas, holidays, weekends)
* How to increase fat-loss 300% with a few bags of ice
* How Tim gained 34 pounds of muscle in 28 days, without steroids, and in four hours of total gym time
* How to sleep 2 hours per day and feel fully rested
* How to produce 15-minute female orgasms
* How to triple testosterone and double sperm count
* How to go from running 5 kilometers to 50 kilometers in 12 weeks
* How to reverse “permanent” injuries
* How to add 150+ pounds to your lifts in 6 months
* How to pay for a beach vacation with one hospital visit
       
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.  There are more than 50 topics covered, all with real-world experiments, many including more than 200 test subjects.

You don't need better genetics or more discipline. You need immediate results that compel you to continue.

That’s exactly what The 4-Hour Body delivers. ... Read more

Reviews

Here's what I got out of it, December 14, 2010
I enjoyed the book. I'm not going to claim that the book is perfect or earth-shattering or anything like that. I did find it entertaining to read all the stuff Tim Ferriss put himself through. I've also benefited from some of his recommendations (though not all). Here's what's in the book so you can make your own decision. I've read all 571 pages and tried most of the strategies (I had my copy for a while because I got my hands on an advanced copy).

Ferriss spent more than a decade researching, monitoring, and noting the progress of his own mind and body. He served as his own laboratory genea pig and also played the role of a doctor, physical therapist, and coach to prepare for this book. Like a school boy, Ferris teaches you how to get your classwork done fast so you can go out and play. He asks you to be skeptical of the book and try only that which you think will help you.

Here's what's in it:

Chapter 1: Fundamentals--First And Foremost

* Ferriss describes the "Mininum Effective Dose" (doing the bare minimum to gain the most desired outcome).

Chapter 2: Ground Zero--Getting Started and Swaraj

* Uses Mahatma Gandhi reference to make the case that only we can govern our body and destiny by what we purposely choose to do.

Chapter 3: Subtracting Fat

Five rules for cutting body fat:
1. Avoid "white" carbohydrates
2. Eat the same few meals over and over again
3. Don't drink calories
4. Don't eat fruit
5. Take one day off per week

* The Lost Art of Bingeing: Specific steps to minimize fat gain while splurging

Chapter 4: Adding Muscle

* Building the Perfect Posterior
* Ferriss turns the table for readers who wish to gain weight by offering strategies on how to gain 34 pounds in 28 days with exercises like the Occam's Protocoli, the Bike-Shed Effect, and GOMAD (Gallon of Milk a Day).

Chapter 5: Improving Sex

* Ferriss tells a story about a promise he made to a female yoga instructor who have never experienced an orgasm in her life that he "would fix her inability to orgasm"
* the women has to bring herself "there."
* men need to change the angle and pressure during penetration.

* The 15-min Female Orgasm
1. Explain to partner that you will touch her
2. Get into position
3. Find the Upper-Quadrant Point of the Clitoris, and Stroke Lightly--for 15 minutes.

Chapter 6: Perfecting Sleep

How to Fall Asleep Faster:
* Focus on getting to sleep
* 67�F to 70�F is the best room temperature to fall asleep
* Eat a large fat-and protein-dominated meal 3 hours before bedtime
* Use low light in the bedroom
* Take a cold bath an hour before bed
* Use a humidifier to generate cool mist
* Try to sleep in the half-military crawl position

How to Sleep Less and Feel Great
* Learn how to manipulate the sleep cycle to stay in REM sleep longer
* Take frequent 20-min naps throughout the day

Chapter 7: Reversing Injuries

* The $10,000 Fix: Ferriss cured his "permanent" injuries by receiving a concoction of chemicals (i.e. Platelet-rich plasma, Stem cell factor, Bone morphogenic proteint-7, Insulin-like growth factor 1) via injection.

The Cheaper Fix in Stages:
* Stage 1: Movement
* Stage 2: Manipulaiton
* Stage 3: Medication
* Stage 4: Surgery

Chapter 8: Running Faster and Farther

* Jumping Higher: Joe DeFranco, a renowned trainer of the NFL Scouting Combine, worked with Ferriss on his shoulder drive, arm position before the jump, squat stance and hip flexors that allowed Ferriss to jump vertically three inches higher in 48 hours.
* Running Faster: Joe DeFranco also coached Ferriss on how to run the 40-yard dash faster by correcting Ferriss's line-and-arm position at the start line. Ferriss was advised to keep his head down, his knee head of his toes, chin tucked and upper body head of lower body, and to take few steps. Ferriss improved his 40-yard dash by .33 seconds in 48 hours.
* Running Further: Ferriss trains by running 400-meter repeatedly (over and over again) while monitoring quantity of repeats, maximum effort percentage, and rest time. Ken Mierke, a world-champion triathlete helped Ferriss with his stride rate, lean position, and arm movement. With preparation, biomechanics, and training, Ferriss was able to increase his running distance of 5K to 50K in 12 weeks.

Chapter 9: Getting Stronger
The gems in this chapter to become stronger as experimented by Ferriss include:
* Dynamic stretching
* Bench press, push-ups, deadlift to knees
* Static Stretching
* Keep "time under tension" while lifting under 10 seconds to avoid muscle burn.
* "Lift heavy but not hard"
* Keep training times (day or night) consistent.

Chapter 10: From Swimming to Swinging
* Ferriss learned how to swim effortlessly within 10 days
* How to swing a bat like Babe Ruth
* How to hold breath longer Houdini, and David Blaine

Chapter 11: On Longer and Better Life
* Take 5-10 grams of Creatine Monohydrate per day
* Fasting and Protein Cycling
* Donate blood

My biggest criticism is the book didn't do enough with the mind part. For that, you might want to read Emotional Intelligence 2.0. That book did a great deal for my mind.

Over 100 Five Star reviews in less than a day?, December 14, 2010
Pro: It has a lot of great information for people who are new to dieting and exercise.
Easy to read. The split into different chapters you can read without having to read the whole book was a smart choice.
Simple programs.

Con: All the information isn't exactly new or just in this book. For example, the diet is Paleo, which is fine, but not what I expected from the ads. I really hoped for something new here, and what is new sounds dubious at best.
Some of the claims in the books description are a little exaggerated.
The work out is not the best. It's great if you are new to working out, but it's not enough for someone who is already athletic and looking to improve. If you want to be the best athlete you can, this will take you far but it will not get you there.
Reversing permanent injuries can be expensive.

I have a problem with his scientific method. He did a lot of these experiments only on himself, and one after another in a short period of time. His results might be skewed. I'm currently applying a few of his suggestions and have been for 2 weeks. I will update this review in the future if there is any radicle change, but as of now nothing has really happened.

I also do not like that this book has gotten so many perfect reviews so quickly, and that critical reviews are being removed.

All in all, the book is grand if you need to be introduced to the word of nutrition and exercise. But if you have read widely on the subjects already and looking for something different and radically new, this book doesn't really deliver.

Inconsistent, Holes, and Doubts, December 16, 2010
I started reading this book and was enjoying it. Nice writing style, interesting theories and things to try. But this is not a novel where interesting and enjoyment count. This is a "self-help" body transformation guide where results count.

I went in with an open mind and started reading the chapters on diet and fat loss, which I liked. Nutritional science is not my specialty.

I then moved into the weight lifting sections. Now I am no Arnold but I know a bit about iron. I started noticing a lot of things.

Tim will mention powerlifters who bench 800 pounds. He will fail to mention they wear bench shirts which add 100's of pounds to the total. He will mention past powerlifting champions coached by Marty Gallagher who used linear periodization to build strength. He will fail to mention the enormous amounts of steroids these specific powerlifters used. One was even busted and ratted out fellow lifters. Tim is not telling the whole story. Just parts.

Little inconsistencies stood out. You do not need to add mass to gain strength because strength is a skill. Then some sections later the only way to get stronger is to add mass??? Huh? Which is it?

He relates a story how he gained a lot of weight working out with High Intensity Training. He mentions that he was detrained at the time. It is pretty common to be able to gain weight quickly after being de-trained. Very common and one trick that is often used in "before/after shots." Again - this is well known. It looks dramatic but is just that, looks, smoke and mirrors.

It made me think - if he is leaving stuff out of the strength sections, the area which I know and am familiar with, what is he leaving out of the other sections? If he is not telling the whole story in the strength department, why should I believe he is in the diet part?

I started to notice other little inconsistencies there as well. Calories in/Calories out is a flawed model. Eat as much as you want as long as you dont eat A B and C. Type of calories count. Be careful with nuts because the calories in them really add up. Do calories count or not? Why do nut calories count? Calories in calories out does not work. Person A lost lots of weight counting calories. Is he telling the whole story here or is he not?

His dad lost a lot of weight using the "slow carb diet." Is that the whole story? He did not tell the whole story with other sections. How do I know this is the whole story? Another guy lost a lot of weight using cold water. Lot's of fat people in Minnesota. Why does cold work for his guy but not Minnesota?

I just get the sense that this guy is willing to bend things to make it look like the way he wants.

Misleading?, December 20, 2010
I received this book a few days early of the release and started into it. Everything seemed fine until I hit the sidebar (what Tim calls "GA boxes") on page 23. Here Tim, in his flippant style, suggests you loose 107 calors during a "kick-ass hour-long Stairmaster workout." And, that that's only 7 calories better than sitting on the couch watching TV. Now a quick search on Google will provide you with information that suggests 107 calories likely not close to accurate at all. In fact, its most likely you loose between 300 to 600 calories depending on your weight, age, metabolism, level of exertion, etc. I actually asked Tim about this (I have a friend who knows him) and he wrote me a short rambling note that ended up by his stating that the overarching message was that diet is more important than exercise for weight loss (which had nothing to do with my question)? So I ask why make flippant comments you cannot back, especially if they add no value to your book?

I have not gotten further in the book because I smelled something fishy and after a few more minutes on the Web, I realize that there's a lot to be suspect about when it comes to the Author. I won't do a review of the author here, however. I'd just recommend you do a little homework before you jump on board and leave you with these two famous sayings: "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is" and "the devil is in the details."

Promises not Delivered, December 16, 2010
First let me say, I was a big fan of the 4 hour work week, so I was pretty excited to hear about the 4 hour body. Many of the topics were right in line with my current passion, powerlifting. I voraciously read most of the medpub research and keep up to date on the latest methodologies for increasing strength and muscle mass. So from the early promotions done by Tim, I thought perhaps he had stumbled upon some unique combinations that the lab coats haven't gotten around to studying. Alas, it's not the case, just more of the same hype with little empirical backing.

In fact most of the book is just so random in its material: from how to swing a bat to producing pheromones through brazil nuts. In reality it seems more like six month's worth of Men's Health articles, complete with sensational headlines that have little substance. Take for example the 15 minute female orgasm, an item that I admit peaked my interest. Now it may be just me, but I read it as an orgasm that lasts 15 minutes, but in reality it is an orgasm "in" 15 minutes. Subtle difference in wording that makes a world of difference in meaning.

The most disappointing, for me and my background of powerlifting, was the information of strength gains and muscle growth. I could produce reams of data that contradict Tim's claims, but let's just suffice it to say gaining "34 pounds of muscle in 28 days" or adding "150+ pounds to your lifts in 6 months" is a pipe dream except in very specific circumstances (for example Tim basically having been starved prior to his weight gain or untrained individuals gaining strength which basically happens to anyone first starting to lift on a decent program).

Overall, my expectations fell far short of the promises. But why should I be surprised? The fitness industry is plagued with snake oil salesmen, and when of the best self promoters out there (and I mean that with admiration; I wish I had the ability to do what Tim has done) comes out with a fitness book, why should I expect anything different than rehashed diets and workout routines with a dash of carnival barker?

Massively Over-HYPED, but not totally worthless, December 16, 2010
This book was mostly a waste of money, and definitely doesn't live up to the hype.

The 4-Hour Body is an exercise, health and nutrition book that details a number of approaches to a few very specific goals - losing fat and keeping it off, gaining muscle mass, improving your running speed, improving your running distance, etc - all in the shortest amount of time reasonable for anyone who is not an Olympic-level athlete. It has some good information, and most of the advice is sound within the parameters of the goals that Tim defines, but there is really just not that much new that justified being republished, and there is a haphazard quality to the book that I found annoying. I bought it at Borders with a 50% coupon, and I'm glad I didn't pay any more for it than that.

Most of the value in this book for most people - the sections on losing fat and gaining muscle - are already covered in his other book and in his blog articles online. I had already purchased that previous book, so to pay for a rehash of these ideas was pretty much a waste of time and money.

The other things - improving your running speed, increasing your distance up to 50k (30 miles) etc. - are all interesting, and useful to a point, but how many people are really going to follow these training protocols who don't already have access to a gym and personal trainer that could have taught them the same things?

Meanwhile - where is the information on stretching??? A book that purports to be about health, especially for someone like Tim who supposedly has longevity as an underlying goal, should absolutely have more information about warming up and stretching. This would have been a logical topic for the "Pre-hab" chapter.

Also - the exploration of vegetarianism and non-animal-product dietary restrictions is laughable. As someone with a genetic predisposition towards insanely high cholesterol and triglycerides, eating all the beef, chicken and eggs he talks about is just not an option for me. I know I'm not the only one out there, so it would have been nice if he had discussed alternatives beyond a perfunctory level to justify putting it in the advertising, since heart disease is one of the biggest causes of death in the US.

Finally - Tim claims to be up on research, but he doesn't mention alkalinity/acidity at all in talking about diet. This is a major area of research for long-term health that is gaining more and more attention, but it doesn't fit within his narrowly defined short-term goals (fat loss, muscle gain in shortest amount of time humanly possible), so apparently he either didn't bother to do his research or didn't feel it was worth mentioning. I found that to be a major blind spot in the book.

And all that stuff about the female anatomy and "15-minute orgasms"... I'm sorry, but I learned all that when I was 17 from reading women's magazines. Ironically, those women's magazines use the same deceptive headlines and titles to bait and switch their readers.

Save Your Money, December 16, 2010
I purchased this book on kindle and I'm not sure what all the 5-star raters were reading, but it must have been a different book. I gave in to the marketing hype and now am left disappointed. For the most part this book is just a collection of what many other EXPERTS have been discussing for years. Tim just put all the info into one location. Nothing is either new or revolutionary. Most of the information can be found out there for free(paleo diet, stregth and conditioning info, prehab)with better detail. His diet was just him putting his own name on Paleo(only the billionth person to do this). If you want to follow paleo, you would be better off reading robb wolf. If you want to get leaner, stronger, or bigger go straight to the experts(dan john, elitefts, mark rippetoe, defranco, lyle mcdonald, pavel, bret contreras, christian thibadeau, etc, etc) not Tim. Think you are going to learn how to add an amazing 100lbs to your bench? well, just know that he is assuming a very beginner starting point on your behalf(200lb bench). This may be great if you're a beginner, but if you have been in the iron game for a bit, good luck following the program and putting 100 on our bench. If you are a beginner, don't buy a book go into the gym, work hard, eat like its your job, and read from the experts. Suddenly, the claimed 100lbs wont be so impressive. There were some interesting protocols that I want to try out( how to raise t-levels and sperm levels). Since I have yet to try them, I can't comment on their validity. ALl of the information on how to sleep better and polyphasic sleep can be found free online. Really I am not sure what is new information in this book. YOu are basically being charged for hearing stories of Tim testing these methods and some new ones on himself. It seems to me that this is Tim's last book. That he was banking on hyping it big time, collecting money, and then riding into the sunset laughing at how dumb people were to give in. If this wasn't his intention and he plans to keep writing, then he is going to have to find a way to bring his followers back in because many many people are going to be disappointed with this book.

Very disappointing, December 18, 2010
I am writing this review because I was indeed very disappointed and I find it ridiculous that 100+ 5 stars review are posted on day 1. I guess you need to be a very fast reader to enjoy this *Cough*.

This book is a two stars because Tim's writing style is entertaining. If you read this book one chapter at a time and in random order that is.
Chapters feel disconnected and either repeating or contradicting themselves ( dismisses calories count but refers to them continuously). It leaves you wondering if this book has been edited whatsoever. Certainly feels like a one man job.

The approach of telling "everybody out there has it plain wrong, but now you are in good hands" is the most common and thickest plot in the fitness industry (Read any fitness blog or watch any fitness equipment infomercial). Unfortunately, this book follows the exact same path. Research coming out of nowhere and self inflicted experiment are the best "facts" you will get to feed on. I hope you are a believer.

Claims such as "It works because I have never seen it fail" don't really cut it for me. Not that I need strong scientific backing but I wasn't in for a sermon either. The diet is based on what Tim likes, but if you try hard enough you will get use to it. Come on, dieting is enough of a pain on what you like so do you really believe people will eat pinto beans for breakfast on a regular basis? This is closer to rabbit poop than food!

Rehashing is also a major theme. I have nothing against aggregating ideas in a central place, but a vast majority of the fat loss material has already been published for free on Tim's Blog (I mean copy-pasted!). You really need to read it through to find new material, the bulk has been out there (for free) for over a year.

On the bright side, this is yet another lesson in self promotion and internet networking. Not sure I want to be sponsoring this anymore though.

If Tim is your personal Jesus then you might get motivation out of this reading otherwise you are left with a 2 stars bargain bin material.

A 15 Minute Introduction to Clitoral Stimulation, December 23, 2010
The 15 minute orgasm is what got me to buy The 4-Hour Body. I was not entirely unimpressed with the two chapters "The 15 Minute Female Orgasm". There are a lot of useful illustrations and he lays out a fairly straightforward approach that he learned from a couple of his trainers - Nina Hartley and the folks at One Taste.

As other reviewers have mentioned, most of the ideas in the book may be new to Tim, but not necessarily new, and what he does is to give you a brief summary of what he has learned and where he learned it. Some topics he seems to have researched and experimented with a great deal more than others, sex seems to be one of the areas he has researched less.

It's an introduction though, and his enthusiasm is wonderful. His writing is easy to read and entertaining. There is some good stuff here like: have a clear beginning and ending to a sensual cycle; and that you can't make someone else come - you can facilitate it, but ultimately its them. Other things are not so clear like why it's important to really get comfortable so you don't get tired while you're "doing" a woman - he seems to have settled on what even he finds to be an awkward "doing" position. He omits to mention that you should use lubricant.

There is a lot of confusion about the "15 minute" part - the book describes 15 minutes to get to orgasm, and many reviewers are confused or disappointed by this. The sources he mentions (Steve & Vera Bodansky, Lafayette Morehouse, One Taste) explicitly discuss extended duration orgasms (orgasms lasting 15 minutes or an hour or three hours or more). Around the SF bay area, where Tim lives, there are actual demonstrations of varying length and intensity of female orgasm.

Seems clear he is just getting started in this area - the way he describes it makes it seem like its a procedure you "do to a woman." Hard to know what he was taught vs. what he retained. What I've seen from the Lafayette Morehouse folks - who, as Tim says, invented this stuff - is that "doing" is a ride you both take together, she the wave, you the surfer, two bodies, one orgasm. (the same is true for both genders).

It seems like these chapters are an example of Tim's 80/20 rule - here is what he thinks is the 20% that produces 80% of the results. To me it looks more like what is here is more like 10%, not 20% - there is a lot more available for both parties than what he describes.

As other reviewers have said about the entire book, if you want to know more you should check out the people Tim cites. I'm guessing that as Tim's research continues he'll eventually wind up looking at the original source of this information.

Disappointed so far, December 15, 2010
I'm a huge Tim Feriss fan, but from what I've read so far, I haven't quite seen the "hacking" we've come to know from him. The first few chapters haven't offered anything new thus far - it seems like bits of information repackaged in Tim's trademark writing style. And some of his (much older) blog posts with Q & A's added.

For those who are new to fitness, or looking to get started, I think this book is a great start. I admit, I haven't completed the book, and I intend to place a final rating after completing the book. I think if the hype hadn't been built so strongly so as to assert that brand new, left field underground science was about to reveal itself, I may have been more forgiving in this review.

Update #1: The 15 minute female orgasm

Since I already read a lot of fitness articles online, and I've gone through a close to 50 lb body weight change in the past year and a half (and maintained it), I figured I may be more immersed than the average reader, so I skipped ahead to the 15 minute female orgasm. I mean, getting a woman to climax for 15 minutes, that's crazy, right?

As it turns out, it is crazy. The title and hype were, again, misleading, as it was all about getting a woman to climax in 15 minute sessions of clitoral stimulation (there's more to it than this, this is just the final outcome). To be fair, the stories are great, and there is some interesting hacking of the system of bringing women who struggle to climax to do just that (moving from 0% to 100% is nothing short of spectacular), but this again is another chapter with great info from different sources brought together (and very well) with misleading hype. So far, I'm not let down by the quality of the info or writing, I'm disappointed by what I was expecting to receive.

I began skimming the testosterone chapters, those look promising, will update again when done.

Update #2: Upping Your Testosterone

Good read, nothing really deceptive here, though not sure how much I believe upping testosterone turns you into a pheromone emitting machine, and if so, if it's even ethical. Some food for thought, a few riveting stories - I can't comment on this chapter's efficacy until I try it out, so will give it a shot and comment later about how well it went. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In Run Like a Mother, authors Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea offer both inspirational advice and practical strategies to help multitasking women make running part of their busy lives.

McDowell and Shea understand the various external and internal forces in everyday life that can unintentionally keep a wife--mother--working woman from lacing up her shoes and going for a run. Because the authors are multihyphenates themselves, Run Like a Mother is driven by their own running expertise and real-world experience in ensuring that running is part of their lives.

More than a book, Run Like a Mother is essentially a down-to-earth, encouraging conversation with the reader on all things running, with the overall goal of strengthening a woman's inner athlete.

Of course, real achievement is a healthy mix of inspiration and perspiration, which is why the authors have grounded Run Like a Mother in a host of practical tips on shoes, training, racing, nutrition, and injuries, all designed to help women balance running with their professional and personal lives. ... Read more

Reviews

An inspiring read to make you lace up the shoes
I bought this book with a lot of hope and some trepidation. I'm a lapsed runner, and my last serious race dates back to the postpartum year after my first child was born, when I was eager to show myself I still had my athletic mojo. I just had my fifth child, and ordered this book to help me get inspired again. The authors' voices are real, thankfully, and the essays are honest and accessible. The training tips are great, because they're rooted in an understanding all the things mom use as excuses NOT to run. But what got me really lacing up my shoes again was the page full of short quotes by women saying how they feel after running. Powerful. Competent. Strong. Optimistic. It was like a quadruple dose of any of those herbal mood-boosters hocked by health magazines!

So relatable, it's sick!
Since finding this book (and blog! and tweets!), I have been completely entertained and inspired and able to connect with a whole new community of runner-mamas.

This book is so utterly relatable, it is sick! Even as a newbie runner! The moments of "O-M-G! That is EXACTLY how I feel" were countless, as a mom, spouse, runner, wannabe writer and overall multi-tasking-life balancer.

The book inspired me, me made me laugh out loud causing my fellow commuter train riders to stop and stare (As soon as I would snort, I would hold up the book so everyone would get a peek...long enough for them to write down the title and and go buy it themselves!)

This is my go-to book for prezzies for my runner mama friends and has saved the day with some much needed inspiration after the oh-let-it-be-over ugly runs.

I savored every chapter like a rich ooey-gooey chocolately dessert and was thrilled to find more even more witty (and oh so true!) writing online through the blog runlikeamotherbook.com.

Seriously, check it out, you won't be disappointed.

I'm not a mother, but could still relate
I bought this book after hearing about it from several people. As my title says, I'm not a mother, but I could relate to most of the book.

I found the writing very easy to follow--as if it were a conversation--and refreshing. I laughed out loud at some things and it gave me that little "umph" to get back to my running. I felt like I got to know Dimity and Sarah, just by following along in their journeys.

I would definitely recommend this to others.

For Female Athletes Everywhere
Run Like a Mother feels like one of those conversations you have with a friend on a long run. It's a book that all female athletes can relate to, regardless of motherhood status or running experience. However, for those of us who both run marathons and mother small children, it's an especially relatable book. At times it's part memoir--telling of Sarah's and Dimity's journeys as runners and marathoners (including a few race reports!), and other times it's more like a helpful training manual--giving advice on running gear, nutrition, and staging a post-pregnancy comeback. You won't find a 16-week marathon training plan in here, but you'll emerge from this book knowing what worked and didn't work for Sarah and Dimity as they trained. As a running coach, I liked the technical talk about running 8 X 400 meters and other training-specific tidbits. But as a mother and a fellow female athlete, I think I most enjoyed the deeply personal revelations about body image, weight, marriage, and mothering. I loved the personal essay format. By the end of the book, you'll feel like you have two new friends: Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell.

Inspiring and laugh out loud entertaining
I'm a mother of two and a fairly competitive runner (with myself). I love this book. The writers are honest and get right down to what is real. And this is what makes some of the excerpts laugh out loud funny. I so relate! But likewise, it is very honest about how difficult it is to run and be a strong runner while balancing kids and family. I read it an excerpt at night night for inspiration for the next day. It sounds corny, but I do. After having D, I know how hard it is to keep the fitness up. So many days I'd rather sit and hold the baby and be at home. But running makes me feel real, at peace and clean. I know this, but I also need the push. The pull, at times, is strong to stay home with the "kidlets." So thanks gals!

Clothing tips, stories about racing, training, just everyday runs and how to pull yourself out of bed to get out on the road. Pregnancy and running, recovering from giving birth and beginning to run again and all that is involved in that. Right on and inspirational! The quotes and facts from regular runners make me feel part of a great club of women who push each other and support one another in our every day struggles to make the run happen. Totally inspiring. Sarah and Dimity know runners! And I totally feel a closer bond to all the mommy runners out there. I'm going to buy this book for all my mommy running friends.

I just bought the book for my friend who is off to Boston in a week and am giving it to so she can indulge on her plane ride there. She has two kids, 5 and 3 and worked her butt off to get to Boston.

A Must Read
I purchased this book when I was training to walk/run my first half marathon in my life. As I am not a runner per se I was skeptical about how much this book would pertain to me. I was pleasantly suprised. The book is well written and truly is a must read for anyone who is a ruuner or thinking about becoming a runner. The book is entertaining, informative and fun. It also would make a great gift for a runner in your life.

Run Like A Mother Will Give You The Strength For Motherhood
I love running. I especially love running as a mom. It is my "me" time, my recharge time and one of the few things that is just for me. I so enjoyed every bit of this book from the humor to the tips. I love any book that inspires moms to take care of themselves and to realize that they can run, will love to run and deserve to run!

Thank you Sarah and Dimity for giving a shout out to Stroller Strides!

Read like a runner
A friend of mine recommended this book to me as a new runner, and she was right! It's motivational and informative. I read part of it while on an airplane and it was all I could do not to run up and down the aisle! A great read for all running mothers!

Great book for lady runners
This one's for the ladies. The ones who like to move and move fast. It's called Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea. It all started with two women who had just had children, trying to get back into running shape. They decided to pitch an article to Runner's World about their journey. That whole experience with them trying to balance family, work, and running lead them to write this book.

There is a lot of great advice in here for runners of all ages, but it is geared toward time crunched mothers who have to consider their families in their decisions. They give advice on nutrition, racing, finding motivation, and managing children and husbands. Their insight is both humorous and helpful. This is a great read for women athletes who can relate to the authors' experiences and find inspiration in their successes.

Absolute greatness
This book was absolutely wonderful. I have really enjoyed reading it and saddened by finishing the final chapter. The words of Sarah and Dimty really stayed with me - during runs, during my wanting to not run. I am buying this as gifts for all my running mother friends. I laughed out loud and found myself saying "thank you" for touching on all subjects that us mothers want to ask, but are afraid to. Loved it!!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?
 
Isolated by Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons, the blissful Tarahumara Indians of have honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury. In a riveting narrative, award-winning journalist and often-injured runner, Chris McDougall sets out to discover their secrets. In the process, he takes his readers from science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pits America’s best ultra-runners against the tribe. McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run. ... Read more

Reviews

A great story and so much more, May 16, 2009
Born to Run succeeds at three levels. First, it is a page turner. The build up to a fifty-mile foot race over some of the world's least hospitable terrain drives the narrative forward. Along the way McDougall introduces a cast of characters worthy of Dickens, including an almost superhuman ultramarathoner, Jenn and the Bonehead--a couple who down bottles of booze to warm up for a race, Barefoot Ted, Mexican drug dealers, a ghostly ex-boxer, a heartbroken father, and of course the Tarahumara, arguably the greatest runners in the world.

Born to Run is such a rip-roaring yarn, that it is easy to miss the book's deeper achievements. At a second level, McDougall introduces and explores a powerful thesis--that human beings are literally born to run. Recreational running did not begin with the 1966 publication of "Jogging" by the co-founder of Nike. Instead, McDougall argues, running is at the heart of what it means to be human. In the course of elaborating his thesis, McDougall answers some big questions: Why did our ancestors outlive the stronger, smarter Neanderthals? Why do expensive running shoes increase the odds of injury? The author's modesty keeps him from trumpeting the novelty and importance of this thesis, but it merits attention.

Finally, Born to Run presents a philosophy of exercise. The ethos that pervades recreational and competitive running--"no pain, no gain," is fundamentally flawed, McDougall argues. The essence of running should not be grim determination, but sheer joy. Many of the conventions of modern running--the thick-soled shoes, mechanical treadmills, take no prisoners competition, and heads-down powering through pain dull our appreciation of what running can be--a sociable activity, more game than chore, that can lead to adventure. McDougall's narrative moves the book forward, his thesis provides a solid intellectual support, but this philosophy of joy animates Born to Run. I hope this book finds the wide audience it deserves.

A phenomenal book about running but more importantly a way of life, May 17, 2009
My wife handed me Born to Run about 24 hours ago and said "you might like this." Having run quite a bit but nursing an achilles tendon injury for about 3 years, I had almost given up on my dreams of getting back into marathon shape. 24 hours (and very little sleep) later, I feel inspired, awed, and enlightened, and I have Christopher's wonderful book to thank.

In a nutshell, I have not been this entralled by a story since Shadow Divers, Seabiscuit and/or Into Thin Air. Christopher's recounting of the forbidding Copper Canyons, the amazing Tarahumara, ultramarathoners young and old, and the greatest race you've never heard of is enough for me to give this a rave review. But like the aforementioned books, there is so much more to this story, not the least of which was Christopher's own quest (and amazing resiliency) to run without pain. Finally, he put to words many of the thoughts and feelings I've had about running but am unable to articulate. And Christopher is a great writer - I laughed out loud many times throughout. He has a style akin to a Timothy Cahill - a great wit that was obviously aided by a wonderfully intriguing cast of characters.

As the sun was coming up this morning I was a bit sad to see this book end, and am already contemplating picking it up again. But only after I strap on the old, beaten up sneaks and get in a quick jog. Thanks so much for writing this book - I hope it changes lives and perspectives in the process.

The Cure for Modernity, May 11, 2009
If, when you finish with this book, you don't immediately get yourself outside and run like hell, then there's probably not a drop of living blood in you. This book is the perfect antidote to everything that's wrong with modern running and the way to find everything that's still so right with it. Even if it were all a work of fiction McDougall's tale would still be worth the price of admission. Fabulous.

5 stars for inspiration, 3 stars for some hyperbole, July 5, 2009
I have to ditto other readers who said this book changed their life. And that is not hyperbole. Prior to reading this book I viewed myself as a fast short distance runner and I rarely, if ever, ran more than 3 miles at a time. I felt this was just the way things were and that I should accept it.

"Born to Run" completely changed my internal thought process about running. I was already aware of the running shoe issue. I've been slowly using Vibram Five Fingers for over a year and I've been trying to alter my gate from heel strike first to toe strike first. I found that it just takes patience and time to adapt in getting those muscles developed. McDougall is no liar - we've been screwed over by the running shoe companies. The first time I ran with the Vibram's I could barely walk for a week I was in so much pain. Now I can climb mountains in them.

What changed for me after reading this book was just the simple notion that I wasn't limited by some personal flaw or lack of will. I was failing to run longer distances because both my mindset and my running style were flawed. One, we can all run farther than we think. Two, don't get obsessed over speed or time, just run at a pace that feels comfortable. Your body will tell you when you can step it up a notch. In other words, just enjoy the experience.

Before I started the book my max was 3 miles with a hard push on the first two. Five weeks after reading the book I can now do 8 miles or more. I can probably do 10 or more now, but haven't pushed because I'm still working on getting those calve muscles stronger and adapted to the new running style. Don't get me wrong - I'm running slow! But wow, does it feel good. I'm enjoying running more and I feel better than ever before. My blood pressure, which was high, is now below normal and I feel great. One of the points McDougall makes in the book is that many experienced ultra runners don't run that fast. Many of them are just doing 10 minute miles. That's part of what caused me to rethink my obsession over speed.

Unfortunately, as a few critics have pointed out, McDougall's book does come off as hyperbole in some parts. I also strongly disliked his focus on extremists. "Barefoot Ted" is one example.

Just search the net for the term "barefoot running" and you'll find some of the most absurd absolutist garbage about how the only way to run is barefoot and anyone who stoops to using shoes (even the likes of Nike Free shoes or the Vibram's) is misguided or even stupid. The sad reality is that we have all been lied to by the shoe companies - Nike especially. These lies are pushed on us by the alleged "experts." I recently picked up a pair of Nike Hayward Prefontaine runners. "Runners World" gave them a mixed review and slammed the shoe for not having enough support. So we have the barefoot absolutists telling us to ditch our shoes and we have the mainstream press telling us we need to wear the very shoes that are making us weaker runners. And the accepted normal shoes do make us weaker - I was told by a doctor after two major ankle injuries that I'd be limping for life if I was injured again. That ankle is the strongest it has ever been after changing my running style.

You don't change people's minds by using extremists to make your case. And that's unfortunately what comes across at times in McDougall's book. I would have personally preferred more information about his personal transformation and less on the likes of "Barefoot Bob" and the other runners who share very little in common with everyday people who just want to get into shape.

I don't think "Born to Run" is going to be that interesting to those who are already hardcore runners. The more you already run, the more the hyperbole will stick out. But I do recommend the book to those who thought like I did about what was physically possible for them. After reading this book you won't be able to watch a marathon again and think of how it's beyond your abilities. You won't make it into the Olympics, but the odds are you can run a marathon.

And speaking of marathons, McDougall makes an earth shattering point about older runners and their ability to outrun teenagers. The age at which you can beat a teenager (in long distance running), assuming you've trained appropriately, will blow your mind. Since it's one of McDougall's "secrets" I won't post the spoiler here. It's just one of his many points that will make you rethink your own ability to run.

EDIT: I have to scoff at all the critics of this book who say to take it all with a grain of salt. Each person is obviously different so your mileage will vary. Nonetheless, the central message in McDougall's book is that YOU can run and you can run longer distances than you think.

I served in the Army and I was a runner in high school. And yet, at almost 40 - with heart disease and a stent implant! - I'm now running longer distances than I have ever run in my life. One of the reasons is simply because I took McDougall's advice. I'll never run ultra-marathons, but that doesn't matter.

There are nuggets of truth and inspiration in this book along with all the exaggerations. If you're already a long distance runner there's very little meat for you to digest and the hyperbole will annoy. But if you're one of the many people who've never gone more than a few miles there's a powerful message here.

I now can outrun all 3 of my nephews (15 to 24) nephews in the long distance. On one fast 4.5 mile mountain hike (Mt. Monadnock in NH) I beat my athletic 15 year old nephew by more than 3 minutes. He led the entire run/hike until the end when I left him in the dust after he ran out of steam. He had the speed, I had the stamina - just like McDougall presents it in his book.

running-yes, Tarahumara-?, August 18, 2009
I am not a runner, but I did find the running portions of the book interesting. However, the parts about the Tarahumara people was another example of outsiders glorifying one portion of a peoples' lives and ignoring or not reporting correctly the rest.
I lived on the western edge of the Copper Canyon for five years amongst the Tarahumara. They are amazing runners! I had the privilege of watching not the long races, but the shorter 5 to 10 mile ball races in which the men split into usually two groups of about 4. They take turns kicking a wooden ball to a designated spot then return. Bets are placed on the runners and teams. Women also have a races. The races can take hours and the teams are very soon lost to sight, but the crowd stays put and waits. Bets range from chickens to tesguino #homemade corn alcohol# parties #the later being far more popular#.
However, though the races are exciting, they are only one small highlight in the often miserable lives the Tarahumara live. One review used the word frugal in relation to the Tarahumara. I rarely have seen a word used so wrongly. Most live in extremely small homes built of logs or planks, while the more remote live in small caves. They have nearly as close to nothing as humans can get. This is NOT by choice; they are desperately poor. Often men will commit crimes so that they can be put in the small town jails where they receive a blanket, clothing, and regular meals #once a day of usually beans and corn tortillas#. The people try to grow corn #not sweet#, beans and squash, but the terrain is rocky and steep, and the dirt is poor for crops. Most must apply fertilizers they receive on a debt schedule from the government. Though many have goats, these are not for eating, they are instead used for fertilizer. If a goat dies, then it gets eaten. The list of privations is long and sad, especially concerning the children #an area of Tarahumara life that is often far from glorious#. And they are vicitims of drug growers, just not always how we think of victims.
My criticism is not of Mr. McDougall's admiration for the Tarahumara runners because he is correct: they are fantastic runners. My hope, however, is that people will see far more than just the running.

Not just for runners, May 23, 2009
When have you seen a book with this many reviews and none below 5 stars? You know what this book is about from the other descriptions and reviews. Here's how I feel about it. This is the first time I've reviewed a book on Amazon.com and it's the first thing I wanted to do when I finished the book ten minutes ago. The second thing I will do is email many of my friends to urge them to get the book. I will NOT loan them my copy! My wife will be reading it next, though I interrupted her so many times to read portions of it that she is already thinking of people to tell about it.
I've been a serious runner (sometimes more/often less) for 40 years and have read countless articles and books about running. This is the best. It satisfied my running soul and my academic mind. I couldn't wait to finish it and I didn't want it to end.

Strong finish, just like a great marathoner, August 23, 2009
If you'd asked me for a review halfway through this book, I would have said that it was pretty good, but it was also annoying. I enjoyed the travel adventure aspect and the and sociology study of the Tarahumara people of Mexico, but I was annoyed by the author's hipster language and gung-ho, X-games style. (I find that type of writing to be designed to make you feel guilty that you're not as cool or fearless; but I always think, well, how does this guy's wife and two kids feel when he leaves for 5 weeks to go on an adventure for an article?)

But at some point, the author found his stride (or perhaps I found a way to match his stride), and I was hooked. McDougall has a fantastic finishing kick, in the sense of tieing things together. He wraps up disparate ideas from sociology, history, biology, modern athletic competition, nutrition, and X-games type partying into one satisfying whole. And, contrary to making me jealous, the book potentially will change my life. I'm starting to work on the running style that he advocates, and I hope that it will reduce or eliminate the persistent heel pain I've had for more than 5 years.

McDougall, is an established freelance writer who's not afraid of challenges (war reporting, X-games types of adventures, etc.). He's not your average guy, despite his effort to portray himself as such. But the one nagging thing for him is that he's been unable to become a decent distance runner despite years of effort, expensive equipment, and the help of a multitude of doctors, massagers, and physical therapists. At the point of his worst failure, he decides to find out if a radically different type of running style will give him the breakthrough that he is seeking.

And thus, McDougall goes in search of the Tarahumara, "tribes" of natives who live in the Copper Canyon region of Mexico. Living in an extremely harsh environment and desperate to hide from centuries of human predators (conquistadores, Mexican government, drug smugglers), the Tarahumara have developed super-human abilities to run long distances in the heat and without much water or food. Are they just rumor, in the same way as the legendary running monks and other endurance specialists? McDougall sets out to find out if they exist, and then if they have learned techniques that can be translated to the lifestyles of the rest of us.

The descriptions of wandering around Tarahumara territory are fascinating. The land is a bunch of dirt trails and shantytowns of 5-20 buildings, set impossibly deeply in canyons and almost invisible from 50 yards away. But with the help of an American, Micah True, who's refashioned himself as Caballo Blanco and become a part of the Tarahumara community, McDougall gets to meet some runners and see them in action. He's convinced that they are doing things differently, and he agrees to help Caballo Blanco by publicizing Caballo's dream of a race between the Tarahumura and the world's best distance runners. Actually, the Tarahmuara have raced -- and won -- ultramarathons throughout the US West; but Caballo's idea is to bring the modern world's runners down to Tarahumara territory instead.

As we build towards the race, McDougall explains how the Tarahumara run: literally. The Tarahumara run in homemade sandals from discarded tires, and they can go 50, 60, 100 miles a day over unforgiving terrain. The different is that they move differently than those of us who use highly padded running shoes. They use their whole feet and their legs to absorb impact, rather than landing on their heels. Apparently, our high-tech shoes have made our arches soft, which has then pressured our Achilles, calves, ankles, etc., and that's why so many of us distance runners have chronic injuries.

In exploring this difference, McDougall gives us quick history and biology lessons, covering evolution, the Olympics, and utra-distance running. It's great stuff. And he introduces us to Scott Jurek, perhaps the world's most accomplished ultra runner, and a never-quit guy; up-and-comers Jenn Shelton and Billy Barnett, two surfer-hipsters who eschewed proper food and normal training; Dr. Joe Vigil, an elite running coach who also believed in the innovations of the Tarahumara; and Rick Fischer, a runner and entrepreneur who first brought the Tarahumara out of the Canyon. Other characters abound, too.

It all comes together unforgettably on the road trip down the Canyon, complete with near-death experiences, warm cultural exchanges, and the ultimate respect that world-class athletes have for each other.

And if this book has exposed me to a running style that will reduce my pain, then it will literally change my life. How often can you say that about a book?

A Run Revolution is BORN, May 17, 2009
There is no confusing the message of this book and it starts with the title. It is a message of adventure, inspiration, hope, revelation, and living your life unconditionally. If you are a runner, you will want to read this book so slowly, not wanting it to end. And, you will most likely be wanting to head out for a run after each chapter anyway. If you are a frustrated runner with injuries or a beginning runner, this book gives you HOPE and possibility. Quite simply, McDougall lays the foundation of how we were all Born to Run and tells you why we "should" be running.

Most of all, this book leaves a lasting "runners high" for runners and non-runners alike. This is a story about following your passion and how powerful self belief can be.

We are all born to run, but maybe even more important, we are born to be individuals, and McDougall is masterful at taking a true running adventure with real characters and illustrates how powerful running can be to life, and how powerful life can be to running.

One of the best books I have ever read, September 20, 2009
One of my favorite things about Born to Run is how the author explores several technical myths (mostly perpetuated by athletics companies) about exactly what you need to do in order to be a great distance runner, and dispels them.
I've been a casual runner ever since my late teens, but I've never been able to get beyond the 8-mile mark due to some knee and hip problems. Information in this book led me to restructure my form and diet after a long break from running, and now I'm doing 6 miles a couple times a week and my old joint issues haven't so much as reared their heads. I'm training for my first half-marathon in November, and I plan on doing a full one soon thereafter if all goes well.

But the technical stuff only occupies the smallest percentage of what this book is all about, and isn't the best reason to check it out. Not by a long shot.

Born to Run is, at it's heart, an adventure story. It's hard to imagine a book about distance running being very exciting, but Christopher McDougall's (completely true) account is full of so much action, it could be made into a Hollywood blockbuster. From his surprisingly dynamic and exciting descriptions of the few footraces he chronicles in the book, to the close-call brushes with death the characters must face (among them some chilling encounters with territorial drug traffickers), this book is as entertaining as any novel I've ever read. Near the end of the book when the author describes the race mentioned in the title, I swear it was like watching Top Gun for the first time when I was a kid.

And yet that's not all this book has to offer.

Born to Run has the power not only to make you love running, but to spark in you a greater love for being human and humanity as a whole. McDougall makes an extremely powerful case for several novel ideas, among them that the ability to run for extremely long distances (a very unique ability in the animal kingdom, and indeed the major one that sets us apart from other creatures, second only to our intellect in importance) was the primary reason for our species' success in it's earliest infancy. He also suggests to us that because running is so intimately tied to our survival as a species, it is also intimately tied to our most important emotion for survival: Love. Love is by far the biggest theme evident in this book, and it doesn't seem at all like a coincidence that it shines through to an amazing degree in the personalities of each and every one of the athletes mentioned. Love of life, love of running, love of others, love of self.

To sum it all up, this is a truly three-dimensional work of literature that had a profound effect on me. Intellectually, it changed the way I think about the human race, our origins, and our place in the world. Physically, it gave me information that allowed me to improve my performance as a runner and aim higher as an athlete. And spiritually, it reinforced the lessons of unity, compassion, peace, and brotherhood that great men and women have been trying to teach us for thousands of years which still, somehow, get pushed to the wayside when we look for the easy way out.

Best $20 I ever spent.

Great book, May 12, 2009
I am not a runner, but I want to become one now. I picked this book up not as a fan of ultra distance running- I had always considered ultra distance runners as masochistic freaks driven by the runners high as their body tries to cope with this grueling activity that they were never meant to do. After reading this book, I still think ultra distance runners are freaks, but not masochistic ones. They are freaks because they are some of the few who understand that man was designed to run, and run long distances. The book centers around trying to unearth the secret of the Tarahumara Indians- how are they able to run long distances on insufficient nutrition on bad terrain with little foot protection without injury? While doing this, McDougall winds through the entertaining history of ultra running and its quirky athletes along with scientific evidence for the health benefits of endurance running, and barefoot endurance running in particular. This book is funny, mesmerizing, thought-provoking, and, if you thought you were not cut for running, may make you give it another go. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The most important book in karate history from the greatest martial artist: The World Champion Judah Friedlander.

Finally a Karate book that prepares you for real-life dangerous situations! This book includes chapters on how to beat up Bigfoot, how to beat up someone with one arm, how to beat up someone with three arms, and how to beat up someone on a unicycle. Plus how to beat up street gangs, attackers with weapons, ninjas, dinosaurs, and gangs of street ninjas with weapons riding on dinosaurs!

This book contains more than 500 photos! And lots of words! All guaranteeing that you'll learn how to beat up anybody!

The World Champion is the greatest athlete in the world, has sex with lots of women, and is a role model to children. For the first time you can now witness his training techniques. Buy this book before he beats you up!

Reviews

Makes all other books irrelevent regardless of genre, October 20, 2010
Perhaps you think you could stand a chance in the Octagon. Maybe you think you could take out everyone in a biker bar given the right situation. Or perchance you'd like to go toe-to-toe with a drunk midget wrestler. Well, after you read this book there is no more "maybe." The fact of the matter is that after you read all 208 action-packed pages, you will be able to UTTERLY ANNIHILATE ANY OPPONENT regardless of size or strength.

I am a serious student of the martial arts. I have studied a variety of deadly fighting styles on two continents. But after reading this book I realized my skills were akin to those of a drooling toddler attempting Tai Chi. Fortunately, Judah's instructions make everything crystal clear when it comes to using the magnificent gift that is the human body to maim and destroy people you don't like.

Five out of five stars. Martial Arts has a new name, and its initials are Judah Friedlander.

Scrumdidliumcious., November 30, 2010
I don't own any instructional books besides the Joy of Sex and the Joy of Cooking, but HOW TO BEAT UP ANYBODY is more useful than both of them combined.

This book cures diarrhea!, November 30, 2010
I was pissing out of my butt when I picked this book up in a friend's bathroom.
Immediately after reading the first sentence, my diarrhea was cured.
The rest of my movement was as firm as a day old baguette and as odorless as a bottle of water.

THANK YOU JUDAH!!!!!!!

Grade School Bully? Not anymore!, November 30, 2010
I read the title "How to Beat Up Anybody", and -- I have to admit -- I had my doubts. Anybody? ANYBODY?

A title like that is only a dare, and I can never resist a dare.

I bought the book, read it, or at least skimmed it and looked at the pictures, as I'm a pretty busy guy. That seemed like enough, as just lifting up this tome of hefty pummelling knowledge gave me the strength and confidence to defeat my enemies. I paid special attention to the chapter with the strippers, and after examining it closely, did a bit of googling, and found out where my grade school nemesis Sean McG. lived. It wasn't too far away, so I used my new mad hovering skilz to hover on over to his parents' basement, where he wouldn't be expecting me.

Man oh man, he wasn't ready for me. I used the belly-expansion technique of Chapter Zero to bust down the door, where I found him cowering over the birthday cake of his four-year-old boy, all ready to celebrate and stuff. Perfect! I adapted the lessons of Chapter Fourteen, pulled hedge clippers out of my pants, and clipped him right in the nuts! He wasn't expecting that AT ALL. He was screaming "My junk! My junk!" like a silly girl, and his son was screaming "Daddy! Daddy!", which distracted ol' jerkface enough so I could punch him so fast his head caught fire. Ha ha! Who's the smelly-pants now, BIG BOY!

Anyway, he was there comatose while the rest of his son's birthday party was freaking out, and I must have got caught up in the moment. I should have read this book more thoroughly, as I let myself be distracted. Eventually I found myself in jail, and couldn't remember how to break myself out. The guards weren't helpful, not letting me have the book to finish, or even have internet access to look the rest of it up. However long I sit here thinking about my glories past, I know that I owe the WORLD CHAMPION a TREMENDOUS DEBT, and as such am passing this review on to my Mom on scraps of used toilet paper, for her to type up here on my behalf.

THANK YOU, WORLD CHAMPION, for finally letting me show my grade school bully WHO'S NUMBER ONE, NOW!

Not Funny Once, December 22, 2010
I really liked Adam Carolla's "In 50 Years We'll All Be Chicks" and laughed out loud on most every page. It felt so good to laugh so hard that I bought this book after seeing it down at the "other people who bought this book also bought" section. The reviews were great so I figured it was a can't miss. I got one-third of the way through and didn't laugh once. I didn't even smile. In fact, I felt embarrassed to be reading it. It's written for someone in the first-grade and is about the level of humor you'll find in an Easyriders motorcycle magazine joke section. It's so bad I deleted the thing from my Kindle because I was embarrassed to have it in there. I don't write book reviews but I'm doing this to help others not make the ten dollar mistake I made. Not to mention the portion of my life I'll never get back wasted on looking for anything funny. Trust me on this. The only thing funny is that the joke's on me for buying it.

Sure it is funny but.., December 16, 2010
The book is funny, but not as funny as the unanimous 5 star reviews would have you believe.
The writing style in very much the same as Maddox' book for those familiar with him. The book definitely have some fun and unexpected parts but if you have read this type of book before you might get a little tired by it.

Also, in many of the pictures it is really hard to see anything. I am sure there is some preprocessing that could have been done before converting it to the kindle to alleviate this.

God's gift to humanity., December 1, 2010
Reading this book is like being dipped into a pool of sweet honey dipped in karate sunshine. It's just that good. Open this book and increase your dexterity by 10 million points instantaneously and gain the ability to ward off hundreds of millions of attackers by the time you are finished reading the first page. In this book you will learn how to turn your flimsy punch into an escalating domino effect of destruction. Learn the ancient technique of the Karate Fart. Learn the subtle technique of levitation. Learn to re-size yourself to infinite proportions to take on opponents of any size.

In the first ten minutes of reading this book, I successfully confronted and beat up a pack of wild and rabid grizzly bears that had storm-troopers with machine guns attached to their backs.

Ninjas will bow to you. World leaders will want to shake your hand.

Buy this book, and you are a winner. The Alpha-dog. The Champion.

6 out of 5 stars.

Probably the funniest book I've ever read., December 1, 2010
I had never even heard of Mr. Friedlander until a few weeks ago when I saw him on Attack Of The Show! and then on Conan. I think those were the two, and then again on Jon Stewart. Anyway, he was hilarious on these shows so I took a chance with the Kindle version of his book. Many times I had tears of laughter pouring down my face. I know tears is not the Karate way, but there you go. Get this book now, the Kindle version even has all of the pictures, which is a must-have for this book.

Attention Parents: Mr. Friedlander is a role model for children, December 1, 2010
Mr. Friedlander's book should be mandated into the school curriculums nationwide. As a parent, I am outraged that these secrets have been kept from our children all this time. Our youth have lost sight of the importance of personal values. No text in this generation has shed new light on these fundamental issues. Until now. Mr. Friedlander uses a step by step and easy to understand approach to implementing strategies designed to foster self esteem, essentially through self offense.

Mr. Friedlander opens up his personal journey to the public so that we can all benefit from his wisdom. He begins by outlining the challenging childhood years that molded him into The World Champion he is today. But in addition to teaching that one can overcome adversity, Mr. Friedlander goes on to teach about diet, enjoying nature, navigating the subway system, and even giving back to the community through charity work. Never before has a book this comprehensive, this relevant, been made available to our children and I am strongly advocating for school policies to bring it to the forefront of every classroom.

Mr. Friedlander is a role model for children. Parents, don't ignore this opportunity. Our children need us to give them the tools to beat up anybody today. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Complete Runner's Day-By-Day Log 2011 Desk Calendar is just the thing for the passionate individual who knows the joy and benefits of running and wants to note daily accomplishments and set down goals. The Complete Runner's Day-By-Day Log 2011 Engagement Calendar provides ample space to record runs and workouts and includes great tips, inspiring quotes, exciting full-color images, and Marty Jerome's first-rate monthly essays. Humans are built to run. This calendar is made for those natural-born runners. ... Read more

Reviews

Just What a Runner Needs, November 1, 2010
I've been using this spiral bound calendar since James Fixx published his first one thirty years ago.
It is an excellent way for any athlete to log training activity, daily, weekly and annually,
and it is especially suited for runners who want to keep track of their distance, their weight and
the quality of their work outs. Along the way, there are short monthly essays on running and weekly
tips on running, safety, and prevention of injury.

33 Years With This Runner's Log, September 17, 2010
In 1979 I started using Jim Fix's first log, the precursor of this one. It was the first year of publication. The current log is very similar and is nicely designed. So I have used every edition printed since the very beginning. Highly recommended!

great format, steady for over 20 years, December 1, 2010
I started with this guide in 1987 back when it included 16 months and was written by John Jerome. I have a lot of friends who have upgraded to Garmins and I may do that as well, but this calendar is a steady background rhythm for my ups and downs over the years. I run a number of races every year and it's fun to track my performance. I'm nearing 50 so my PR years are behind me, but the great thing about this journal is it's a steady force, always there, ready to be filled in, looking lonely and disappointed if I go more than a few days without making an entry.

If you want something to help keep you on track with running, this has worked for me for a long time. On the downside, the running advice is pedestrian at best, and a lot of it seems recycled almost verbatim from previous years. But I would be very bummed if I lost this tradition, so I'm going to keep buying as long as I'm still able to run.

Simply the best!, November 12, 2010
I have utilized this running journal for the past 14 years; last year, I nearly went crazy trying to find a copy because I waited until late December and all the vendors had sold out. It offers the right mix of advice, humor and, of course, a great format for logging all your running activity. If you want to increase your mileage, start using this journal. You'll enjoy tracking your activity and I can almost guarentee that you'll find you're logging more miles. Enjoy! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Lot's of good info, December 24, 2009
There are an incredible number of exercises in the book. The quality of the photography is great and represents how to do the different exercises. The exercises are presented with multiple variations and easy suggestions such as changing the type of grip to vary the exercises. The only thing I would have improved on would have been to add a brief explanation of what effect on the muscles being exercised the variations provide. However, that is only a minor flaw in my opinion considering the vast amount of useful information the book provides. The book is an excellent buy.

Effective Guide for the Self-Guided Weight Lifter, January 30, 2010
I have bought a lot of exercise books over the years. The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises is one of the best. This useful book has a fair amount of general information on diet, fitness, and training for specific sports, but what makes it stand out are its descriptions of individual exercises, photos, and versatility. The main part of the book is broken down by muscle group (chest, quads, hamstrings and glutes, upper and lower back, biceps and triceps, core). Each section has several exercises that use barbells, dumbbells, cables, or body weight, with good descriptions of how to do the exercise and good color photos. I don't always trust myself to do a lift without instruction from an expert, but every new exercise I have picked up from this book has felt right and targeted the right muscles. I have used the book to fine-tune an existing workout, adding or swapping out individual exercise, but the Big Book is also packed with suggested workouts, including a series of 15-minute workouts for people who are new to lifting or have no time for elaborate workouts. There is also a section devoted to exercises that work several muscle groups at once. I have liked every workout I have tried, and am impressed that the book targets both the gym (with a section on the best way to get a good workout in when the gym is crowded) and the home. I have a bunch of dumbbells, and have focused on the dumbbell and body-weight exercises, but if you have a barbell set or cable machine at home you should find the book helpful, too. I am a runner and cyclist and drift toward the low-weight, quicker workouts, but there seems to be plenty here for the more serious lifter too.

In a word: Outstanding!, December 23, 2009
Where to begin? First thing that jumps out right away is the quality of the photography. Absolutely incredible. Next, the number of variations of well-known exercises is unbelievable (just the push-up variations alone are worth the cost of this book). I have been scouring the web for over a year looking for new ways to challenge myself in the gym. There are variations detailed in this book I have not seen anywhere else. This book is so comprehensive, I know I will learn something new every time I pick it up. The sheer volume of exercises shown in this book will keep me busy for quite some time.

My only regret is that I didn't pre-order the women's version as well. That will be my next Amazon purchase. I am over the moon with this book and highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for new ways to push themselves in the gym. I would give it 10 stars if I could.

I think this would make a great gift for a personal trainer. What a wonderful resource for them to be able to continue to challenge their clients in new ways.

Boost your gains with the help of this book., January 15, 2010
While the photography isn't the most important thing in a book, it is of keen value in a book of this type. I don't think you'll be disappointed with what you see in the way of photos that fully explain the exercises. They're most effective.

You'll also find a large variation of popular exercises that have been around forever and remain valuable. You'll even see the old push-up fully explained. And there's no better exercise than that. But, you'll also find some lesser-used exercises that can be very effective.

The author also discusses using the Swiss ball and the medicine ball for core exercises.

Actually, the number of exercises in this book is astounding. And knowing how to adjust your grip to hit different parts of a muscle is great knowledge.

In truth, most of this information is not new. But it is presented in a very effective way that can help you regain any losses you've had and to boost your gains.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

One of the best fitness books ever., October 30, 2010
I've been into fitness and healthy lifestyle all my life. I've purchased countless books on the subject and I have to say that this book is in my top 5. Maybe even top 3.

The photos are outstanding. The exercises are excellent. The information in this book is simply awesome.

The diet section of this book is also great for a general "good health and weight loss" program. Follow this and you will see results. But, if you really want to "get ripped" and look awesome at the beach come summer time (awesome abs, wicked chest, swooping quads, bulging hamstrings, etc), most people will have to diet harder than this book suggests.

If you're on the fence on this book, get off of it and buy it. It will help you no matter what stage of fitness you are at.

Get your sexy on!, May 17, 2010
Good book loaded with lots of exercises and variations that i have never seen. Great plans for eating and workouts for every body type. I like this book because i can keep switching my moves after a month with the same core exercises but work them at different angles. I think the organization could be better since some of the plans list page numbers and they do not match up sometimes but all in all a great book. Every man who hits the gym should have this because if you buy the magazine for the workouts and meal plans, this will save you a good ton of money since its all you need.

Great book!, March 19, 2010
Nice color photos with minimal detail on exercises and repititions. There isnt very much detail on nutrition. This book is for someone who already knows what a set and repitition is. All in all a good book. A definite value for the price. You get more than what you'll pay for in this book.

Okay, March 12, 2010
I like some of the excersises in the book and there are numerous routines to choose from. Each chapter is titled with the muscle group such as tricep, chest, back ect... But the problem is that with all the variations to the basic exercise, it doesn't tell you how it hits the muscle differently. Like using a thumb grip as opposed to a pinky grip for a bicep curl, what's the difference?

Great!, September 20, 2010
In this book I found excellent description of exercises,so now before I go to the Gym I red and try exercise and in Gym I have awesome workout. This book I would recommend everyone especially to the beginners. Its great for beginners mainly but is directed to everyone, is very scientific but on the same way shows lots of good exercises and variations that one can perform. I think is a great source of knowledge but that the workouts are a little hard to follow so I'd say get info from here and integrate it to your routine. This is one of the best books on lifting. It gives you the basics and training schedules for the beginner to intermediate to the advanced.

Leroy Ford
Build Your Dream Body (Volume 1)

Good book, September 17, 2010
Well as described it is a big book of exercises. It shows you different angles so that you can keep form when doing exercises. I liked the random tips and stats that where given in each chapter. One thing that could be improved; and why i gave it four stars, that each exercises is shown and tips are given; but it doesn't tell you what it is working. for instance, a wider grip on a barbell bicep curl activates the short head of your bicep and a inside shoulder grip activates the long head. Things like that would have been great. ANDDDD it comes with exercise plans for whatever your fitness goal is which was definitely a big bonus ... Read more

Editorial Review

Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training is the new expanded version of the book that has been called "the best and most useful of fitness books." It picks up where Starting Strength: A Simple and Practical Guide for Coaching Beginners leaves off. With all new graphics and more than 750 illustrations, a more detailed analysis of the five most important exercises in the weight room, and a new chapter dealing with the most important assistance exercises, Basic Barbell Training offers the most complete examination in print of the most effective way to exercise. ... Read more

Reviews

Learn How To Do It Right, January 15, 2007
I'm not really the intended audience for this book. It was written primarily for coaches wanting to improve the strength of their young athletes through effective strength training. Me? I'm just a 40-something bodybuilder wanna-be who never stepped into a weight room until 18 months ago. At one point in my struggles, I wanted to learn how to squat and deadlift. I looked around on the internet for information and pestered a couple of people for tips on form and how to not injure myself. I got a lot of bad advice and was lucky to survive with my back in one piece until a friend recommended that I read Starting Strength.

Starting Strength is very detailed and methodical in its explanations of the basic lifts. Where other descriptions of a properly executed squat can be a single paragraph in length, this book dedicates 50 pages to the topic. The descriptions begin with step by step explanations of how to execute a lift followed by information on fixing various problems that might arise either initially or later as greater weights are lifted. The language gets technical at times, but never to the point of incomprehensibility. The material is completely within the grasp of an average Joe like me. There are many excellent pictures and drawings that clearly illustrate the concepts conveyed in the text.

After reading Starting Strength, I changed almost everything about how I do squats and I now deadlift with confidence knowing that I'm using the right form. And with good form, my weights lifted have increased dramatically. I highly recommend Starting Strength. If you are seeking a better education in proper lifting, this book is the right tool for the job.

Update: A lot has happened since I wrote the above review. I got my squat up to 360 pounds and hit 410 on deadlifts before transitioning to competitive Olympic weightlifting. My back and knees are holding up great thanks to the good training foundation I received from Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength. There's now a second edition of the book that includes additional useful information for lifters of all ages.

By far the best training book I have read, July 18, 2006
I am a physician and a trainer. I came from a middle distance running background. After medical school I continued to run but of course never got to the point where my fitness was at the level that it was when I was competing in college. I started adding strength training using mainly Olympic Weightlifting. While I was certainly gaining strength, it was not happening as fast as I would have liked. About 5 months ago I purchased Starting Strength. The book is very detailed, but unlike most books on training, it does not put you to sleep. It holds your interest through the plain language, and often funny, explanations of what should be done and also why it should be done.

I used what I learned in the book to modify my training, and I saw results fast. Lifts such as the Deadlift that had been giving me problems based on the form training I got from other sources improved quickly. My leg strength improved rapidly as I began squatting correctly. I did not focus on the bench press as much as the other lifts, but my strength there improved as well. Exercises that were not directly related to the training found in the book, such as pull-ups, also had big improvements. One of the biggest improvements to my performance was my improved running speed. Although I was spending less and less time running, and more time on strength, both my distance running and my sprinting have improved dramatically. The explosive speed that I had back in college has returned. It is amazing what doubling your leg and back strength can do for your overall fitness. I am in the best shape of my life.

I have also used what I learned extensively when I train other people. I have yet to come across a problem with form that is not addressed in the book along with a method of fixing it. I am also able to tell my clients why they should do something so that they understand the importance and will remember it. By using the cues that I learned in the book, I am able to see someone on the far side of the gym doing something that could be unsafe and correct it before there is an injury. I can't express enough how much reading the book has improved my confidence in my ability to train strength movements. So far I have not been at a loss at how to correct a problem. There is always a drill available that can be used to effectively address an issue. This book also increased my appreciation for the slow lifts and encouraged me to emphasize them more when I train other people. The short and long term results have been fantastic. Every day I fix someone's form on a squat or deadlift and have people say things like: "It is so much easier this way. Is it allowed?"

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who trains any type of athlete, including distance events, and to anyone who is interested in improving their athletic abilities or even just their basic functionality. It is true when the authors say, "Physical strength is the most important thing in life."

For All Lifters, March 13, 2006
I have been involved with weight training for over thirty years; HS and college athlete, competitive powerlifter, national level referee, meet promoter, gym manager and gym owner, coach and personal trainer. During that time I have read dozens of books and texts about training with weights, and of all those, Starting Strength is the best. Subtitled, A Simple and Practical Guide For Coaching Beginners, it is all that and more. As stated, this is not necessarily a "how to lift" book , but rather a book that explains how to teach basic weight training movements. The focus here is on developing strength in young athletes: what are appropriate exercises, how those exercises should be performed for maximum results, how training programs should be constructed, what equipment is necessary, and how to do this all in the safest manner possible.

This book begins with instruction in the squat, then moves on to the bench press, deadlift, press and lastly, the power clean. Each chapter builds on the skills and techniques used in previous ones. And though the program seems simple, this book is rich in detail. No aspect of a lift is left unexamined, such as hand placement when squatting, foot placement when benching, positioning the head while deadlifting. It is in these fine details that this book rises above its predecessors. Such insight is evidence of the authors' wealth of experience, which is hard to match. They have been there and done that as far as weight training is concerned. They have learned what matters through decades of observation and participation. The science is there, too. The authors have the academic credentials necessary for validating their training advice. Starting Strength is well illustrated with clear photos and anatomical drawings. As an added feature, a series of photos of each lift is located in the margins of each page. Flip the pages quickly and watch each lift as it should be performed. More importantly, you can examine each lift at any point in the lift. Best of all, this book is well written. It is easy to understand and it is fun to read.

Though Starting Strength is designed to train young lifters, this book will be of special interest to everyone involved in training with weights. For all lifters, this is a very helpful book. If I had had this information when I began lifting weights I could have saved myself alot of time, a lot of money, and avoided more than a few injuries. Even experienced lifters will find information here to improve their training. I did. As for those of us that coach, this is an important book. The health and safety of our students depends on our expertise and no single source can do as much to further our knowledge. Also, for Athletic Directors this book is essential. In an age when almost every school has a weight room and every coach wants their athletes to lift, it is crucial that the AD have a fundamental knowledge about weight training. Lastly, Starting Strength needs to be required reading for the parents of young athletes. Training with weights is a productive and efficient way to enhance athletic ability, even for pre -teens, but it must be done correctly and safely. For all the obvious reasons, parents should be aware of what goes on in the weight room when their children are training. The style and manner in which this book is written allows even those who have never been in a gym to understand the correct way to weight train. These authors have provided a valuable resource and all of us who have an interest in weight lifting can benefit from their work.

Excellent Strength Training Book, March 20, 2006
I was doing CrossFit for about six months before I bought Starting Strength. I was 6'1" and 160lbs and was neither gaining weight nor getting better at the workouts.
Since picking up Starting Strength - 1.5 months ago - I have put on at least 5lbs and my core strength has gone way up, which allows me to perform better at exercises I don't regularly do.
Starting Strength will help you teach yourself and others how to safely lift heavy weights as well as an effective progressive programming.

A Great Resource for Anyone Interested in Strength Training, December 7, 2005
A book very much in the spirit of Bill Starr's classic "The Strongest Shall Survive". Indeed author Mark Rippetoe was a protege of Starr's and although he is clearly his own man who has arrived at doing things in his own way, Starting Strength has the same authoritative feel that Starr's book has. While it is not specific to the game of football, or any other sport for that matter, it quite effectively fills a large void in the strength training literature, namely an approach to teaching the basic barbell strength exercises (squat, deadlift, bench press, power clean and press) to raw beginners and to school age boys and girls.

Authors Rippetoe and Kilgore offer not only clear and concise technical/coaching advice and methods, but also use their sports science backgrounds and the professional sports science literature to clear up the confusion surrounding when, how and even if, youngsters should strength train. Their answers to the common misperceptions about strength training are so common sensical that it left me kicking myself that I hadn't arrived at similar rebuttals years ago. It also left me wishing that that particular chapter was first in the book and even more in depth.

As a freelance strength coach myself, currently teaching Olympic weightlifting movements and kettlebells to high school baseball, basketball and softball players, this book is a wealth of practical, readily usable information. It should be included in the library of anyone interested in strength training or in coaching strength training and especially anyone training youth, regardless of coaching experience. Excellent!

Single best instruction manual on the major lifts, October 1, 2007
I have been lifting weights for almost 40 years. I have a couple dozen books on weightlifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding which I have read and reread and used in the gym. This is one of the top 3 must-have books for the weightlifter. I bought it over a year ago, and it taught me things about technique that I did not know. For instance, I've always been a very strong bench-presser, but this book taught me that my hands were in the wrong position. Just a slight adjustment, as demonstrated in the book, has taken the pressure off my wrists.

Age has reduced my strength somewhat over the last 5 years. But the excellent explanation of technique in this book enabled me to bring my deadlift weight to within 20 pounds of my top weight from 35 years ago.

But probably the single best part of the book is the extensive instruction on the squat. I'd given up on the squat, using leg press only, for the last 20 years because I kept injuring my lower back. But this book has helped me make some major adjustments in squat technique, from position of elbows (back), to position of bar on the back (lower), to proper flare of the knees (wide). After practicing technique with light weights for a few sessions, everything clicked into place. I've now been squatting injury-free for over a year.

If you think, like I did, that you know how to perform the major lifts, unless you've had coaching or have read this book, you probably don't.

I recommend this book unreservedly, for young and old weightlifters.

Best, most balanced, credible book I've seen.... (ex physiology teaching fellow), September 6, 2007
This book is simply amazing and appeals to a wide audience. This is evidenced by all the 5 star reviews and to my knowledge no reviews marked lower. I was skeptical that it could really be that good, but it exceeded by expectations in every respect.

This book contains very detailed instructions on how to correctly perform the core lifts of the squat, dealift, press, and power cleans. It explains how to do them correctly, why they work, contains good references, excellent diagrams and all the fine points you need to know collected all in one place.

If this book has a real fault, I haven't found it. It is dense with material and as far as I'm concerned worth it's weight in gold. If you are even thinking of performing squats and dealifts without it, I would recommend it as cheap insurance that you get these lifts EXACTLY right.

In addition, Starting Strength is humorous and easy to follow. He takes a swipe at orthopedic surgeons who have never been inside a gym to lift weights or don't understand the biomechanics of proper exercise technique and then goes on to cite the number of powerlifters who do this regularly without any significant back injuries compared to the general population.

This is a must buy for anyone serious about weightlifting. It is particularly useful to hard-gainers, people getting into weight lifting and seasoned lifters who are skeptical of the value and safety of core movements as the basis of building mass.

The Best, Period, December 15, 2006
Experience meets theory. This is the best book available on learning to squat, bench, deadlift, overhead press, and power clean correctly. Real tools for troubleshooting form problems are presented in a highly readable format. Don't miss this one.

Great resource for coaches and athletes, November 7, 2005
Starting Strength is an excellent text for those individuals who seek to improve strength and athletic performance. The text is very detailed, yet very easy to read. The authors use a conversational style of writing to help the reader understand the nuances of resistance training.

While the text is geared toward the training of begginners, I believe this book can offer something to everyone regardless of training level. Many intermediate-level (and advanced) trainees would benefit from reading this text as to correct any mistakes that might have been previously learned. The book containes hundreds of pictures, illustrations, and figures, to help convey the message of the authors.

The authors do an excellent job of blending scientific evidence and real-world application. This text should be included in the library of anyone interested in improving muscular strength and performance.

Fantastic book, recommend to anyone who is lifting weights., January 25, 2006
This is an amazing book. It explains how to squat, deadlift, bench press, military press, and clean - and takes over 240 pages and hundreds of pictures to do it. The section on squatting is 50 pages long! It really spells out all the steps and tricks to performing the exercises correctly to get maximum benefit and minimize the risk of injury. I can't recommend it highly enough if you are interested in doing these exercises. It was intended to educate coaches on the best way to teach the movements to their athletes - but its great for anyone who is going to do them as well. This may be the best instructional book I've ever read on any subject. And... it costs a lot less than back or knee surgery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Common Sense Book for People New to Fitness, December 22, 2010
I am a huge Tony Horton fan, and have completed one round of P90X, so I jumped at the chance to get this book. I absolutely admire Tony's enthusiasm for life and ability to motivate people in improving their fitness and eating habits.

For the $14 or so you pay, the book is substantial and well illustrated. Much of its content was copied from his blog. After reading, I found the book to be decent, but lacked any new or breathtaking material I could work with. Overall, I felt this book is great for most people in need of motivation and basics, but not good for die hards who have completed P90X.

Here are my two major beefs:
1. The book includes approximately 80 pages (of its total 284) of strictly photos of him doing various exercise moves, a la Men's Health Magazine. In an interview Tony did a while back, he joked about how difficult it is to replicate those little diagrams of the exercises you see in fitness magazines, thus the reason following exercise DVD's such as P90X is so great. So, if working out to a DVD is superior to looking at tiny photos, (which I agree with) than why develop this book with so many little photos?! You simply can't see the correct form very well, and it's uninspiring. What are readers going to do, carry the book into the gym with them? In a way, this book actually conflicts with P90X by deviating from it and rarely even refrences P90X. Tony, you have sold over 3 million copies of these dvd workouts, so why make an exercise book that rarely refrences P90X?

2. The book targets every possible deomgraphic- young, old, male, female, etc to the point that it is boring. It lacks the insight and depth you would get from a more serious approach to fitness. In my opinion, most people who gravitate toward Tony are drawn to the great challenges he presents in P90X. I would agrue that most people who support Tony are extremely ambitious, driven people. (Otherwise, how could they actually complete the grueling P90X schedule?) So while there is certainly a place in society for a one size fits all fitness book, I feel that coming from Tony, it should have had more serious, heavy material. For example, I don't need an entire page and table to determine my resting heart rate. (I've know that since 6th grade phys ed class.) I had hoped that this book would include more motivation, anecdotes from Tony's fascinating past, etc.

Bottom line, if you are new to fitness, this is a great read. However, if you completed P90X and know the difference between a complex carb and a simple one, than this book will be something you will skim quickly so that you can resume working out.

Great for people new to Tony and just enough for graduates of P90x, December 22, 2010
Tony's success has put him in an awkward position; so many people have had their lives drastically changed by p90x that they look to each new product to recreate that phenomenon. As a p90x graduate, I approached the book with medium-expectations.

It's clear that the people who will benefit the most from this book are people who are new to the Tony Horton "brand." But, don't get me wrong: there is still enough knowledge, advice and motivation for everyone to get hyped about making positive changes in their life.

The one thing that I've always appreciated about Tony is his no gimmick, no-nonsense attitude towards health and fitness. He has capitalized on the fact people are tired of being offered the magic pill, potion or equipment piece to solve all of their fitness problems. This book's tone is no different. Most of his suggestions are very common-sense, but he cuts through the bull so you can apply them to your life.

For people new to Tony, this book has a wealth of information that has helped change people's lives all over the world. I believe that you will find the advice refreshing because of its sincerity. It has everything you need to get started to change your life: nutrition, workouts and motivation to keep you on track. Tony really believes in being all-around fit, so expect a good mix of strength, cardio, balance, and flexibility moves throughout the program.

For those who have used P90x, this book still has some benefits. There are several challenges, maxims, and lists to follow to bring your results to the next level. If you are stuck in a rut and need some motivation, this book is definitely worth a look. As far as the workouts, they are more or less similar to p90x with some different moves here or there, but the format can still be useful.

The format allows for amazing customization. Since all the moves are included in the book with pictures, you can create your own plyo/cardio workout and make it as extreme or pedestrian as you feel you are ready for. There is also a consistent theme in the book that is focused on finding other activities outside of working out for you to engage in. This can also be helpful in finding the next step after P90x.

While this book probably won't recreate that amazing, unparalleled change in your life that p90x did, there is enough new material here to give this book a look. For those new comers who want to start to be introduced to what all the hype is about, I would definitely recommend this book.

The Book is Good, but P90X is WAY better., December 23, 2010
This book should be your introduction to Tony and P90X. If you have P90X then you do not need this book. The book has many of the P90X moves in it and the nutritional/exercise book that comes with the disks (P90X) is way better than this book. If you are a beginner then this book is just as good, if not better than most books on the market. Tony hits the nail on the head when he says you have to put in hard work to get results. There are no short cuts. Get this book if you are just starting your journey into looking and feeling better and then do yourself a huge favor and pay up for the disks with the books that come with the disks. If you want to to look better, feel better and perform better, get the disks and get ready because its coming!! (A line from the warm up in the Plyo disk).

High on the What's and How's; Low on the Inspiration, December 27, 2010
For avid P90X disciples, a fitness book from Tony has been on many a wish list. So with great delight I downloaded it as soon as it hit shelves this Christmas. Wasn't looking for radically new exercises beyond those I already know and do, but was mainly hoping to learn more about Tony himself, beyond his screen presence as an amiable but very demanding, and inspiring drill-seargent. In that regard, the book comes up a bit short on the inspiration front, and is rather academic, focusing on the mechanics of exercises, which expectedly is hard to convey via static pictures. Yet, the book does deliver a holistic approach to fitness that knits all the disparate elements of health together in a logical, smooth sense. Tony could have done a bit more of what he does best - Inspire! Perhaps shared more anecdotes from his life that the average reader could relate to (downhill extreme skiing is not the best example to use for a large demographic, although the storytelling there was compelling). To connect and convey to the broader spectrum of readers , it would have been more relevant and real to describe more commonplace anecdotes (perhaps how he battled and overcame injury if we was injured, ways to stay motivated to exercise, etc). There are some real jewels in the book though that compensated my time and money investment several times over. The first is about the notion of exercising daily, the second is Tony's approach to nutrition (including giving up caffeine, sugar, gluten, alcohol, animal products), and the third is his advice on supplementation. Tony's coverage of those three subjects are excellent and thorough. For readers looking to push themselves to their next level of personal fitness, Tony's guidance there those should pose a challenge no less demanding than the P90X program itself. Overall, still a must have reference book for your bookshelf, electronic or hardcopy.

Tony just gets it!, December 19, 2010
I have to say the more I read this book the more I realized Tony is in touch with all of his audience. His ideas are precise and to the point. He is very critical on his approaches and will definitely get you in the mood to change your life. A must read for any person looking to get fit!

Doesn't bring anything new, December 27, 2010
I was excited to get a companion book to go with my P90X program, which I thoroughly love. I read the book Christmas Day and didn't find anything not previously said on the blogs, you tube, or P90X literature. It is nice to have some photos to go along with the DVD's, but overall the book didn't bring much to the table and was a bit of a disappointment.

I agree with a previous reviewer - I expected a more personal side of Tony Horton to come out in the book. Like a mini-biography to what got him here and how the program was developed.

This is a good book for someone looking to skip purchasing P90X and for someone who will work out to a book or written plan vs a visual/interactive plan.

I didn't see anything revolutionary in it. I've been following a different diet plan (Fat Flush) for years and much of his information mimics the things she has been writing about for over a decade. The exercise's were P90X exercises, not revolutionary there either as P90X is not a new program it was introduced several years ago as well I believe.

Bottom line, Tony Horton's programs work. He's talented and dynamic, I'd rather see him in person on my DVD working as a trainer. This book is good for someone who wants to skip the DVD's and is highly motivated on their own.

plain, simple, stuff that works....., December 22, 2010
Good stuff here.

Large book as far as size but it is filled with good foods, recipes, full color exercises and workout plans and lots of modivation. One thing i really like about this guy is everything he says is straight and to the point. Reading and listening to him, i feel that everything he says is almost stuff that i already knew but he reinforces it and drives it home. He explains there are no shortcuts. IM still making my way through the book but so far, so good. If you follow his programs (and i imagine this book) to a T, your body will have no choice but to have amazing results. IF you dont follow it, you wont. IF you kind of follow what he says but "cheat" and are not honest with yourself on your nutrition or your exercises, you will get results but you wont get great results. One thing i have learned from him is JUST DO IT....stop making excuses and just do it. IT works.

If your thinking of P90X, start with this, December 25, 2010
When i first heard Tony was writting a book i was excited to see what he had to say. Its broken up into sections based on your fitness level. Theres a Beginers, Strivers, and Warrior workout. Each has a cardio, resistence, and yoga section as well as a weekly workout section. The book had all the moves listed in the workout in full detail along with full pictures to aid newcommers. I can see that for someone new to fitness this would be nice to have. It also had a meal plan along with some recipies so you can start eating better. All in all its almost like a mini P90X for people, if you are thnking of P90X or you are out of shape start here. For people that have a general level of fitness, they might be able to make new workouts based on moves (I never thought about doing pike presses using medicine balls). For P90X grads this is what Tony has been saying from the start just in a different package. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Comprehensive & Incredibly Useful, December 29, 2009
Very comprehensive overview of hundreds of exercises that can be done using gym equipment, home equipment (stability balls, dumbbells, etc.), and/or no equipment. The photos detailing each exercise are in full color and the accompanying explanations are detailed, specific, and easy to follow.

The book is broken down into chapters dedicated to body parts: Chest, Back, Shoulders, Arms, Quadriceps & Calves, Glutes & Hamstrings, Core, as well as chapters for Total Body and Warmup Exercises. There is also a chapter on how to put various exercises together for specific-goal workouts (e.g. "The Get Your Body Back Workout", "The Skinny Jeans Workout", "The Bikini-Ready Workout", "The Best Sports Workout", "The Best Three-Exercise Workouts"). In addition, there are chapters dedicated to Nutrition, Cardio Workouts, the importance of Weights, etc.

All in all, this is an extremely comprehensive book that is not at all about gimmicks or shortcuts but is simply well researched and well presented. It will literally replace several books I've bought on this subject in past years. I'm not easily impressed by books on this subject and yet I'm extremely impressed by this compilation. Well done Adam Campbell and contributors!

Amazing book!, February 24, 2010
I just received this book in the mail and I am much happier with it than I could have ever expected. The book is comprised of the following: a FAQ section, a diet and exercise plan, 14 exercise programs to choose from, a nutrition chapter, a cardio chapter, and chapters of exercises for each of the following: chest, back, shoulders, arms, quads & calves, glutes & hamstrings, core, total body, and warmup exercises. The pictures in the book are very clear and easy to follow. As for the equipment needed, I've found that most of the chapters have exercises that can be done with or without access to a gym.
My favorite part about this book is the chapter on different exercise programs. This book offers the following exercise plans: "The Get Your Body Back Workout," "The Best Workouts for a Crowded Gym," "The Skinny Jeans Workout," "The Bikini Ready Workout," "The Wedding Workout," "The Hard Body Workout," "The Lose the Last 10 Pounds Workout," "The Best Sports Workout," "The Best Three Exercise Workouts," "The Prenatal Workout," "The Time Saving Couples Workout," "The Best Body-Weight Workouts," "The Best 15 Minute Workouts," and "The Spartacus Workout."
Overall, I would highly recommend this product. This is the only book I'll ever need for weight lifting exercises!

It's Alright., February 4, 2010
The book is excellent for having colorful detailed pictures of 619 varying forms of exercise movements using weight or strength training. My only issue with the book is that the Women's version is nearly identical to the Men's version. I bought both, one for me and the other for my husband, thinking it would offer something different, because a woman's body is different than a man's and does not lose weight or build muscle at the same degree. I was sadly disappointed. Buying both is a waste of money. The information is exactly the same as well as the exercises, it also has the EXACT amount of pages in each book.

The diet plan section was too brief and did not go into enough detail. The cardio section was dismal at best. Some of the nutritional information was iffy, like High Fructose Corn Syrup being nutritional similiar to sugar,that's a crock. Look up HFCS and find out how they manufacture it. Any synthetic food should be limited, but natural is better thank synthetic, and as the book states both should be limited. But it didn't say any of the harmful effects that HCFS has on your liver and how it's works harder trying to process HFCS. My theory, if God didn't grow it, don't eat it.


What I did like was the exercises, I like how the sections were divided and how it went into detail describing the muscles being worked for that section and why it is important to work that particular muscle group. It's very easy to navigate through and it has exercises to perform for home or for the gym.

I think the price is too high for what they deliver, but if you can find it cheaper than the listed retail price which is 24.99 plus shipping which is nearly $4, I say go for it. But it's definitely not worth 28.00.

I will be sending this book back and keeping the Men's Big Book for my husband.

Excellent Resource, October 18, 2010
I work in physical therapy and as a personal trainer and this is one of the best exercise books I have ever seen. Not only is it full of good exercises, but the pictures show them being done with perfect form (something you don't see often.) It is the only book of exercises I would recommend to everyone.

A personal trainer on your services for life, September 13, 2010
i have a degree in the science of sports and physical education and i ve been working for a long time with athletes and people who want to improve their general health.i ll say with certainty that this book is one of the best alternatives for someone who cant afford hiring a personal trainer but he's willing to impove his health,physical condition and overall quality of life on[[ASIN:1605295493 The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Sexier, Healthier YOU!] his own with the less equipment possible..its wrtten in a very simple way, its accurate and detailed concerning the description of the exercises and it can be used from people of all physical condition levels.i hghly reccomend it .

Who needs a personal trainer when you have a book like this?!, July 22, 2010
I used to have a personal trainer, but after 20 sessions I had to quit. I missed having someone show me different exercises to transform my body but not anymore! After ordering several exercise books that were sorely disappointing, I was skeptical about this one. But after reading all of the positive reviews I thought I would give it a try. I am SO glad that I did! There are TONS of exercises for EVERY body part and the best feature is that the pictures are ALL in color! There is an example for every single exercise in the book and variations or modifications for many of the exercises too! I have always enjoyed the Women's Health magazine and this book exceeded my expectations as well. This is a must have for any fitness enthusiast!

Best exercise book ever!, July 3, 2010
This book is fabulous! I do a lot of working out, but was doing a lot of it wrong so I ended up in physical therapy. My PT showed me different exercises in the book to do as I was healing up. There are multiple levels of each exercise so if one is too easy, you can step up to a more challenging version. I have done one of the circuits in the back of the book, and yes it is hard, but I have really strengthened up now. I have purchased this book for two others now also. It's awesome!

Valuable Resource For All Levels, January 27, 2010
As this is the beginning of a new year, it seems appropriate to be doing a fitness book review. The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises by Adam Campbell is a comprehensive and valuable guide to fitness for women. There are fantastic color photos used for examples, hundreds of exercises targeting specific body areas, and it even includes specializedworkouts and great information on nutrition. It reviews the importance of using weights in a workout program and why it is so important.

Overall, I really liked this book. It has an enormous amount of useful information that is broken down into simple terms and examples, so that even a beginner can use it effectively. It truly has something for everyone. However, it may be best for someone who has access to a gym which already has all the required equipment. Many women (particularly those just starting out in fitness) simply don't have all (if any) of the equipment required to accomplish many of these exercises. Other than that, it really is a valuable resource!

This book was provided to me for review by Rodale Publishers.

One of the best fitness books ever., October 30, 2010
I've been into fitness and healthy lifestyle all my life. I've purchased countless books and DVD's (at one time VHS tapes) on the subject and I have to say that this book is in my top 5. Maybe even top 3.

The photos are outstanding. The exercises are excellent. The information in this book is simply awesome.

The diet section of this book is also great for a general "good health and weight loss" program. Follow this and you will see results. But, if you really want to "get ripped" and blow everyone away in a bikini come summer time (awesome abs, super sexy butt and legs, well defined arms, etc), most people will have to diet harder than this book suggests.

If you're on the fence on this book, get off of it and buy it. It will help you no matter what stage of fitness you are at.

No mention of vegetarian protein options but great resource overall..., August 17, 2010
This book is fabulous!
I won't reiterate what the other reviewers have mentioned about how well the book is organized - suffice it to say I totally agree.
My only disappointment was with the diet section. I wish they had included tofu, soymilk and some other vegetarian protein options for those of us who don't rely soley on animal protein.
Perhaps the next edition will be more on trend with the growing number of people who are seeking out protein alternatives to meat, dairy and cheese - even if only for variety.
Otherwise, its well worth the price! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Reviews

Entertaining and Stimulating, April 3, 2010
I enjoy reading world literature and appreciate nice translations. I also liked the questions interspersed through the text. Far too few people read nowdays and from that small pool few seem to question or think about what they read. Recommend for fairy tale lovers and those interested in a glimpse of Indian values/thoughts/literal culture.

Excellent read and new stories for the american mind to absorb, November 10, 2009
The Stories Present in the text is Very interesting with some good morals. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories to my Room mates. Good read for anyone looking to broaden their horizons.

I loved these stories!, November 6, 2010
I love fairy tales and folk tales of all sorts, and these stories are no exception. I loved reading them, but I like to be able to share fairy tales with the children I babysit when they go to sleep, and they always ask me to tell them some new story. But these stories are much too long to be told as a bed-time story! It took me a good 40 minutes to tell one properly! Of course, the kids didn't mind staying up to hear it... :) The questions do make it fun to read to them, though

Children's Stories, December 28, 2010
This is a book of nine stories which have been translated from their original language into English. The book was first published in 1919, so there's a distinct air of ethnocentrism hovering about it, although it manages to be very fair and open about other cultures and gods.

Actually, I was overall very impressed by the lack of a condescending tone in the book, which often occurs with early translations of stories into English, AND often occurs in books of children's stories.

The stories themselves tend towards the long side, but they are broken into chapters. Each chapter is very short and ends with a series of simple questions ('what is the chief lesson to be learnt from this story' or 'what would you have said if you had been the woodcutter?'). I didn't care for the questions because they interrupted the flow of the story slightly and gave the overall feeling of reading a textbook, but they were easy enough to ignore and didn't detract from the stories.

The book does not have an active table of contents, and includes some occasional typo-like errors from the scanning process. It also seems to have a very odd interpretation of, where commas should go--but nothing to turn you off from reading it.

The stories included are:

The Magic Pitcher
The story of a Cat, a Mouse, a Lizard and an Owl
A Royal Thief-Catcher
The Magic Shoes and Staff
The Jeweled Arrow
The Beetle and the Silken Thread
A Crow and His Three Friends
A Clever Thief
The Hermit's Daughter ... Read more

Editorial Review

Combining modern genetic science and evolutionary biology, The Primal Blueprint dispels a number of the myths that modern medicine and conventional wisdom have come to accept as fact. Author Mark Sisson takes the reader on a fascinating journey through human evolution, comparing the life and robust health of our hunter-gatherer ancestors with a day in the life of a modern family - exposing potential health issues that arise from trying to do the right things living in the 21st century. Sisson offers a solution in 10 empowering 'Blueprint Lifestyle Laws' that can help us reprogram our genes away from disease and pain towards a direction of effortless weight loss, vibrant health and boundless energy. The reader learns how the right high-fat diet can actually help one lose weight; how popular low-fat, grain-based diets might trigger illness, disease, and lifelong weight gain; why doing too much cardio exercise might actually suppress the immune system and how some of today's most common medications might make a health condition even worse. The consummate book on 'Paleo' or 'Primal' health. ... Read more

Reviews

A Blueprint for Life, Indeed!, March 3, 2010
I've been involved in diet, nutrition and exercise for many years. Mark's foundation of information, based on insulin regulation, rips apart the clutter and gets right to the core of why America is so obese and ridden with diabetes. By applying some simple principles, a much greater life can be had. My recent path of research took me on quite the journey - from the issues we should all have with Monsanto and the amount of corn in our food, the horrid industrialization of our meat sources and the overwhelming studies that show saturated fat is NOT to blame for the issues at hand. Primal Blueprint addresses these issues and has a community of followers that grow by the day with stories of success. At 42 I've brought my bodyfat down to 10%, I'm in excellent shape and I eat to my belly's satisfaction. My blood/lipid panels prove this plan is the real deal. Most other plans might CLAIM this, but can they say it again and again?
If you are overweight or diabetic - run to get this book. For everyone else - it's time to take the "Matrix pill" and wake up to a whole new world.

A Must Read Book And A Gift of Good Health, May 19, 2010
I've always felt intuitively that eating low carb is the way to eat because whenever I ate any other way, I'd gain weight and feel sick, exhausted and unmotivated most of the time. When I met my husband seven years ago, I was in the best shape of my life, and I was eating "primally", but my husband said it was unhealthy and that I should be eating a grain based six meals a day, work out to the point of exhaustion on a daily basis, etc...etc. So, ultimately I gained weight, was starving all of the time, was exhausted, and was working out like crazy never seeing any results. Then the depression set it. So one day I just sat down at my computer and did some research. I came across Mark's Daily Apple and it just clarified everything I had already sensed was the right way of eating and living, and I haven't looked back since. And I can't say enough good things about the book either. The best part of all of this is that my husband is now on board and we both feel better than we've ever felt before. He was fed up because he was having terrible heartburn on a daily basis and instead of the doctor looking at his diet, he put him on a pill (which, since eating primally, he no longer needs!). I had a similar situation where I was getting terrible migraines (with aura) four times a week and instead of eliminating things from my diet, my neurologist gave me a pill that could ultimately kill me. Fortunately, I was able to figure out on my own that caffeine was causing my problems, but I'm still amazed that he never considered looking at my diet at all.
I truly believe that what we eat is the root cause of so many of our illnesses and common ailments, and that grains are at the base of all of it. This book answers so many of the questions that I had about eating low-carb and it couldn't have been written at a better time for me. I'm back on track and am almost back to my "normal" weight. I'm relaxed, I feel strong, and feel healthy once again. I love how he talks about eating intuitively in his book as well because we've all become puppets who will seemingly do anything that other people tell us to do (especially those in the business of making money) despite the fact that it goes against our own common sense and is making us fat and sick. I'm looking forward to this getting out to all of those who are "stuck" in the conventional wisdom ways of thinking and am pushing everyone I know to pick up this book and give it a good look. Are you?

Following Primal Laws, March 17, 2010
According to the author "the human species reached its evolutionary pinnacle about 10,000 years ago. After that, we started to take it easy, and get soft..." For that reason the author suggests reprogramming our genes by following primal laws that were validated by two million years of human evolution. These laws that enable us to live long and healthy, be fit and lose weight, are the following:

1. Eat lots of plants and animals
2. Avoid poisonous things.
3. Move frequently at a slow pace
4. Lift heavy things
5. Sprint once in a while
6. Get adequate sleep
7. Play
8. Get adequate sunlight
9. Avoid stupid mistakes
10. Use you brain

Some of these lows are just common sense and obvious, some others require some explanations, yet others might disagree with some people's perception. This is why you need to read the book to find out what the author really means and why. The author explains how to apply these lows in our modern society that is used to consumerism and quick fixes rather then the pursuit of health. It is often not easy and for some readers this book might be revolutionary. Especially for those who like having their coffee with skim milk rather then with cream so as not to consume too much fat. Surprisingly according to Mark Sisson eating meat, eggs, and high-fat diet is not only healthy but it is also the key to losing weight, being healthy and energetic.

Yes, do eat less carbohydrates but don't get crazy working out in your gym. Intense strength sessions and sporadic sprints can be more beneficial to your health then grueling daily cardiovascular workouts.

This book certainly deserves more than a casual glance. For those interested in more reading about the natural way of living, eating, breathing, exercising and generally living the life that the Nature has intended I suggest checking the book titled Can w e Live 150 Years?

This book has changed my life., October 5, 2009
This book is absolutely amazing. It's refreshing to find someone out there that truly wants to help people. Mark Sisson doesn't try to get you to buy products/gimmicky DVDs/equipment - he offers simple, honest advice that works and that anyone can follow for FREE. Every single health problem I had in the past is GONE after following his advice for only FIVE MONTHS! I've lost 35 pounds, my depression is gone, my endometriosis has cleared up and I'm pain free for the first time in years. This book (and it's companion[...]) has changed my life.

Good book, but needs improvements in certain parts, October 18, 2009
So I read Sisson's book and have been a regular reader of his website [...]

I found that the book gives a good introduction to the Paleo-style way of life (cut the sugars, grains, processed carbs, and processed fats/trans fats) and focus on proteins and fats (good fats). This is from the simple premise that we evolved in an environment where grains weren't highly available and that sugar was difficult to extract (as there were NO government-subsidized grain programs and NO Green Revolution of the 1960s to mark the explosion of cheap grain availability). Furthermore, our primitive ancestors tended to be a lot more active than what we have been especially over the past half century (hugely to blame thanks to sedentary-style desk jobs that much of America has switched onto).

It all makes sense, and I do believe with everything Mark is saying --- and I would recommend this book.

The only reasons why I gave this book a 3/5 was because I felt that the biochemistry needed a bit more explanation as it was a little unorganized (he gives some basic facts about human metabolism but doesn't really explain it all the way through), and then goes on giving recommendations for how to do the program. It would have been helpful if he gave some more quantitative data as well.

For instance, he doesn't really explain how much higher carb intake to fat deposit turnover is compared to fat intake to fat deposit rates. It's important to describe these things quantitatively (and I understand it can't be too too complex given the audience) because a 100% rate stands out a lot more than say a 5% or even a 1% rate compared to the other.

So he will describe some basic biochemistry (which again is appropriate) but neglects to fill in some other pieces that make the entire picture clear.

The second minor complaint was that the book never really made references to its sources for evidence WITHIN the text and it should have used footnotes and not endnotes at the very least. The way the book is setup is that it makes verifying his claims more difficult to do because he doesn't cite sources when he needs to. This is important because it lends more credibility to what he is saying, and helps those who are doubtful to reassure themselves at the appropriate points when necessary.

Third, I don't like the subtle recommendations for his own supplements --- I mean, it's his book yeah, but I think it is unprofessional to be recommending your own products especially when you're trying to teach people the right thing. It makes the author look biased for the wrong reasons, looking for a quick buck especially when there are a lot of competing nutrition guides out there with similar claims. My advice is: Don't waste your money on any supplements as they're overpriced here, and you can find better deals at other stores. The only supplements that I use, btw, are a Centrum Multivitamin, Omega 3 fish oil pills (take 2 1000 gs a day), and 1000 IU of Vitamin D3 (I live in a high latitude/long winters). And how significant these benefits are by taking these specific supplements is still up for debate --- in Sisson's own words, you may be literally pissing gold. Mark, if you read this, you should realize that your message will be more easily accepted by people, who are already skeptical of supposed health claims, if you don't advertise in your book for your own personal profit.

Fourth, there should have been more recipes and a recipe guide/schedule in visual format that would help people get started on the Paleo-style way of eating.

The book is about 270-280 pages long, and it's in relatively big size font, and at the price it's selling at, I'm sure that the next edition (if there will be one),can afford and should include a good template for a beginner 30 day recipe guide for commonly/easily available foods/spices/condiments/etc. in American grocery stores.

Besides these points, the book is a good read, and is not overly complex or overly simple and it has a good balance of information and advice to follow.

Nevertheless, I would also urge all of you to read the book (and any other nutritional book) with a critical mind and don't just passively accept the arguments the author makes without verifying it for yourself.

Finally, I would also be cautious/wary of all the 5-star reviews that this book and any other book gets on Amazon.com and any other website --- especially seeing as you really can't tell if the writers work for the publisher/author, or if they may be influenced by a hive mind mentality (following the crowd), a placebo effect, or are just plain dumb.

Run Grok, Run: Go Primal!, May 6, 2010
What could you do in 5 months?

You could veg out, be a couch potato, and enjoy the odd six-pack. Or you could adopt the Primal Blueprint, like I did, and lose 58 pounds and 7 inches off your waistline; you could drop 15 percentage points of fat, and go from fairly obese to fairly fit. You may even find a different sort of six-pack - like I did!

The Primal Blueprint is not a fad concocted by some hack after a quick buck. It's an easy-to-follow lifestyle, developed by a former Olympic class endurance athlete, that's based on sound science, and, get this: It works!

Do your body a favour: Get this book; read this book; and go primal!

Finally!, April 30, 2010
Initially I was VERY skeptical about the idea of whole grains and gluten being contraindicated for good health. I majored in nutrition in college and had never heard that whole grains might be anything less than wonderful, healthy food choices. My brother directed me to Mark's website/blog and after reading there for hours on end, I bought the book. I had tried just about every diet possible to improve my health, dairy-free, vegetarianism, veganism, juicing, raw foods. Still my asthma, IBS, and carpal tunnel syndrome persisted, not to mention I suffered from chronic sinus problems and terrible hayfever. I spent 9 months of the year swallowing Claritin-D every 12 hours just so I could breathe.

I began eating primal in February of this year, and the change in my health has been nothing less than dramatic. My IBS is gone, my carpal tunnel is nearly gone, and I don't even know where my inhalers are at the moment because I haven't needed them in 2 months. I've been hearing on the news every day that the pollen count is the highest it has been in years. I have a box of Claritin-D in the cabinet and I haven't touched it. I guess that whole gluten/grains = inflammation is the real deal, huh?

I've also lost fat and gained muscle walking 5 miles a day, training with kettlebells, and practicing yoga (all of which I was doing prior to going primal) but the increase in definition and decrease in body fat has shocked me. I have always wanted definition in my arms and tried for 15 years to get it, but never could seem to achieve it. It's there now after only a few months.

I pre-ordered the cookbook recently and cannot wait to get it.

Buy it, read it, follow it!, January 18, 2010
A few short years ago I was a specimen of health. I ate right, I worked out constantly and took good care of myself. Then, as luck and age would have it, I herniated a disc in my neck and deveoloped GRAVES disease all within a short span of time.

I went from being able to work out regularly to getting out of the habit. The Graves disease caused me to lose my thyroid gland which of course, made me lethargic and put on weight. In the past few years I went from 208 lbs of raw hide and whip steel to 311 lbs of almost lifeless blubber. Weight creeped on me a little at a time. I ate lots of fast foods. I fought it by doing a little exercise, but not a regular workout. In June of 2009, I made some changes in my life. One of the changes was that I quit fighting the weight gain. I figured that it was a losing battle and that I was bound to be around only for a short time more.

I couldn't climb stairs without breathing hard. I would circle the parking lot of a store looking for a "close up" spot to park. I couldn't even get up off of the couch without extreme effort.

On December 6, 2009 I decided that if I wanted to live a long life, I was going to have to do something about my health habits. I visited my doctor (who happens to be my brother). He suggested that I read the PRIMAL BLUEPRINT.

I started watching what I ate, exercising as recommended in the book and incorporating the philosophy of the author.

Today is January 18, 2010. to this date, I have lost considerable weight. I have gone from 311 lbs to 278 in six weeks. My wife is also following the plan. Though she is not a large person (weighs approximately 120 lbs) she has noticed that her clothes fit her better. We also are noticing a change in attitude and general happiness. Our health appears to be getting better (less mucus production among other things)

I am not a doctor but I am glad that a doctor recommended this book for me. My doctor tells me that the more he reads and studies the book, the more medical sense that it makes. Incidentally, he and his wife are also following the book's instructions. I soon will be posting a video on youtube that will show you the results of my dieting week by week.

Healthy, Moving, Modern Humans - Not Cavemen, March 17, 2010
For the last few years, Mark Sisson has been a central figure in the growing movement of individuals who reject the politicized conventional wisdom on food and exercise, and instead have embraced a lifestyle that puts the "real" back into their world.

The main thrust behind the paleo or primal lifestyle is that we humans are hunter-gatherers, and our genes are partial to real food just like our ancestors. We have not evolved to adapt to the heavily processed, sugary, high-carbohydrate, grain-loaded, corn oil-crazed garbage diet of the modern era. Oftentimes, those of us who reject this conventional diet negatively refer to it as the Standard American Diet (SAD). The effects of this food have been devastating on all of human health, and not only in America. Everywhere the SAD is embraced, people are suffering all of the same afflictions associated with modern western civilization: obesity, diabetes, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, gluten intolerance, heart disease, cancer, ambiguous mental disorders (such as depression and anxiety), and dubious behavioral disorders.
In 2009, Mark Sisson released his book that promotes his principles of food and diet, as well as all the aspects of living that make us whole, healthy, and happy. Sisson's Primal Blueprint: Reprogram Your Genes for Effortless Weight Loss, Vibrant Health, and Boundless Energy, is based on the enormous amount of material Mark has made available on his superb and informing website, Mark's Daily Apple, since 2006. His message, in short, is eat real food, move around a lot, don't overtrain to gain, and get some sun without gobs of Coppertone SPF 85 covering your body and blocking that healthy - and necessary - Vitamin D.

- Anti-State and Pro-Person -

There are a few Kings of Paleo who have won international notoriety. Among the most well-know are Loren Cordain, PhD, founder of the Paleo Diet, and Dr. Michael R. Eades, MD, the prolific author of numerous books and proprietor of an outstanding website. Then there's Mark Sisson. Mark Sisson is a lean, blonde surfer-looking guy who, at fifty-something years old, can turn conventional wisdom on its ear. He is unique in that he is not a doctor or a PhD, but rather a former world-class athlete who has lived, obsessed, and lost from his many years of following the The Conventional Wisdom. As he puts it, his book:

"Represents the culmination of my primal philosophy, which has taken shape over the past 20 years through extensive research and life experience. I am not a scientist or doctor; I'm an athlete, a coach, and a student on a lifelong quest for exceptional health, happiness, and peak performance. I have an insatiable curiosity about what we need to do to achieve such goals and a growing mistrust of the answers that have been heaped upon us by the traditional pillars of health "wisdom" (Big Pharma, Big Agra, the AMA, the FDA, and other government agencies), the health and fitness profiteers glorified by Madison Avenue, and even the know-it-all multilevel marketer next door."

That paragraph doesn't need a Mastercard jingle alongside it to be deemed priceless. In addition, Sisson clearly affirms his lack of ties to any government agency or special interests that will force-feed and filter his message. He's just a regular guy who stands alone and passes on his immense knowledge from his years of research, practical application, and commitment to truth. In fact, the book's premise is to show you how to take control of your health and fitness through food and activity by making educated decisions based on relevant and clear-cut information. That's what makes him so unique and special in an industry - health and fitness - that misinforms, shills for special interests, and consistently trots out one moneymaking gimmick after another.

Mark Sisson is the first person that I am aware of who used and promoted the "primal" label. Primal and paleo are often used interchangeably by various whole food enthusiasts, but there are major differences between strict primal or strict paleo, or even general low-carb diets, such as diverging views on oils, grains, and saturated fat. Those are distinctions I don't really care about for purposes of this review. Readers can do their own research to judge the merits of various food worldviews. What I care about is adopting - and teaching - the habit of learning about, selecting, and eating only natural, whole, real foods that we, as humans, were meant to consume.

If you are a person who desires to cut corners in the short-term, slim down for your sister's wedding, or make a New Year's or "Summer Beach" resolution, don't read this book. It is not for you. This book is about lifestyle, not fad diet. The book recommends suitable activity that you can maintain without devoting tons of your free time or becoming an exercise addict. The book stresses the tenets of engaging life and health over time, not going from beer-and-bread gut to buff in sixty days, or looking thin for a one-night party or a series of wedding photographs.

What I like most about Sisson's book is that he can engage the average, curious reader where other authors have been less successful. For those who are interested in the more complex science of food, Dr. Eades and others have written phenomenal books for food and nutrition hobbyists. I love to read all of those books, but I know that most of my non-hobbyist friends will not stay interested long enough for the information to be absorbed and the good habits integrated into their lives. That is why I recommend Primal Blueprint to everyone who wishes to engage my knowledge on the topic of food and diet. Mark's style is for the layman. He takes science and pares it down to simple and intuitive principles for living. He offers no gimmicks, no promises, no regimens, and he doesn't offer to provide you with expensive and ridiculous meal plans. Again, the premise of Primal Blueprint is putting the responsibility for your health into your hands, and teaching you how to win control over your life in spite of the numerous sources of conventional wisdom that are consistently shilling for big politics, special interests, and the establishment.

- Practice, Not Perfection -

A unique perspective from Sisson, that he advocates before his introduction, is his "80% Rule." I like this inclusion because I've always lived by a similar standard. This refers to his belief that you avoid failure by not striving for total perfection. In other words, forget the strict regimen, and instead, as he states, "build momentum toward becoming even more compliant, with less effort, as time proceeds." After all, can you think of anything that leads to more "failures" and discouragement in peoples' lives than diet and/or exercise programs? Most people always fail at diet and exercise because they set painstaking regimens that can't be easily adhered to, and this results in disillusionment, and eventually, the person walks away and often goes on a binge in the opposite direction.

Don't get me wrong - Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint doesn't allow for "occasionally" ingesting toxic foods, or being self-destructive twenty percent of the time. Instead, he tries to lure the reader into dropping the obsessive, regimented mentality of most short-term "diets" while making the best decisions possible within the constraints of your current conditions. In essence, the Sisson eating philosophy takes into account that people have "real-world concerns" and they need to strive for obtainable goals.

- Challenging the Establishment -

Early on in Primal Blueprint, Sisson sets the pace for his dissent when he introduces his framework for challenging the conventional wisdom. He attacks and counters the traditional folly on grains, cholesterol, fiber, saturated animal fat, cardio training, strength training, sunlight, Big Pharma's poison, results-oriented goals, and most importantly, meal habits. He points out that the establishment view, which suggests that our genes determine our destiny and we just have to buy into the results, is pure fabrication. This perspective, in fact, supports the large and wealthy pharmaceutical and medical interests that claim you need its products/services to be healthy and whole. Thus the excuse mongering is a win-win for the powerful and wealthy establishment-based industries, and it is the equivalent of surrender for you, the individual.
The Sisson approach is that although some of us may have shortcomings or genetic tendencies, in the end it is we, as individuals, who make the lifestyle choices that determine our outcome. In a sense, he is staunchly denying the victimology that is promoted by the Conventional Wisdomists, and in its place he provides a program for what he calls "controlling how your genes express themselves in constantly rebuilding, repairing, and renewing your cells." In Sisson's view, it is almost impossible, for most people, to be,

"...lean, fit, energetic, and healthy following Conventional Wisdom." Instead, we succumb to the forces of consumerism designed to placate our pain with silly shortcuts, comforts, conveniences, and indulgences.

...A huge percentage of all doctor visits today are a direct consequence of lifestyle choices that are misaligned with the environmental and survival conditions that shaped our primal genetic makeup."

All of the erroneous information handed down by the Conventional Wisdomists over the years has led to, as Sisson describes it, "one giant step backward for mankind." Only lifestyle modifications at the individual level can turn the momentum around in your favor.

- It's the Insulin, Stupid -

In the chapter "Primal Blueprint Eating Philosophy," Sisson gathers up quite a few stones and heaves them at the establishment's hypotheses on some of the nagging issues of our time, like insulin, cholesterol, and macro nutrients. Here is where I come across one of the few quibbles I have with this book, and it's a relatively minor one. I think he should have turned the "calories in, calories out" concept on its ear. The problem for most people is the regimen mentality, especially concerning calories. Since we already know that body composition is more sophisticated than "calories in, calories out" (see Gary Taubes's Good Calories, Bad Calories), the system of counting calories - in meals, with pedometers, etc. - is, and has always been, a recipe for failure for almost everyone. This is one area I wish that Sisson would attack with more fervor. However, Sisson does emphasize that an eating program in the style of Primal Blueprint, with an 80% rule, will successfully optimize your end results.

The rest of the chapter is where Sisson really shines in his ability to make tedious biochemical particulars easily understood, and dare I say - exciting. Until people understand what it is that insulin does to their bodies, and how processed carbohydrates drive insulin production, they cannot possibly make informed decisions on food choices. Sisson does a marvelous job of simplifying some complicated concepts on the issue. Another big hitting point for Sisson is the vilification of cholesterol by the establishment hacks that do the bidding for Big Pharma and the medical establishment while they nurture your sickness to keep their industries in high demand.
He calls attention to one of the great scams of our lifetimes - the lipid hypothesis of heart disease. Along with that he discusses the irrelevance of total cholesterol numbers, and how the Lords of conventional wisdom have used that as a diagnostic tool for disease and, of course, the need for pharmaceutical drugs. Sisson includes several pages of important and easily understood material about cholesterol and its breakdown between HDL, LDL, and types of LDL. It's important that people understand how the medical establishment has come to demonize cholesterol and categorize otherwise healthy Americans as "sick" based on a numbers game - a game where the acceptable cholesterol numbers keep being lowered in order to get more people in the "sick" category, and therefore produce new patients for Big Pharma's very profitable statin drugs.

- A Couple of Real Pyramids to Live By -

The Primal Blueprint food pyramid, unlike the government's fraudulent apparatus, is not influenced by food subsidies, profiteering politics, special interests, or payoffs from powerful players in the food industry. You won't see a primal pyramid recommending 6 - 11 servings daily of bread, pasta, and cereal. Low-fat diets that emphasize grains have made people fat, and not just here in America. In Sisson's view, vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, fowl, and eggs should sit at the bottom portion of the food pyramid. He includes a primer on fats and oils - I especially note his wicked defense of healthy-yet-demonized fats and oils (coconut oil, unprocessed palm oil, lard, tallow, butter, etc.) that became politically unpopular because of the drive to promote the subsidized oils (think corn and soybean) that are heavily refined and genetically engineered. In keeping with the 80% Rule, even dark chocolate - with 70% or more cocoa - and alcohol make the grade when consumed moderately, in Sisson's primal world.

Sisson also gives his version of the primal fitness pyramid. Mark thinks people should spend most of their exercise time moving frequently, and at a slow pace. That is to be punctuated with moments of short intense efforts (intervals) and full-body functional strength sessions. Primal fitness has the goal of avoiding overtraining, or as Sisson often calls it, chronic cardio. This advice comes from a guy who was a pre-med student and a world-class endurance athlete. Sisson was a top five finisher in the 1980 US National Marathon Championships, and he won a qualifying spot for the 1980 US Olympic Trials, that is, until illness and injury took a toll on his athletic career.
Since he discovered that too much exercise is detrimental rather than beneficial, he has worked hard to convince others that chronic cardio or endurance sports lead to sickness, burnout, hormone problems, injuries, and the acceleration aging and disease. I often note that professional endurance athletes often look like aging skeletons at a young age. Most triathletes and marathoners look aged beyond their years, and even my favorite athlete, Tour de France cycling champ Lance Armstrong, looked like an old man at the young age of thirty-four.

- Your Doctor and Personal Trainer Are Making You Fat -

Early in the book, Sisson states in his book that his goal is to "expose much of the lucrative health and fitness industry as ethically and scientifically bankrupt." He follows that with his sage advice on a non-gimmicky fitness approach and some intense coaching on how to take total control over the food choices you make. Mark Sisson calls himself "non-political," but his message is unmistakably libertarian.

Adding my own two cents, I'd prefer to get a bit nastier than Sisson and make the statement that the majority of the mainstream mob of medical doctors, so-called nutritionists, dieticians, health experts, and personal trainers are know-nothing, conventionalist hacks with a paper degree who lack any real passion or knowledge of the topics for which they claim expertise. My burning question has always been this: what makes a medical doctor - even if he is a great doctor - an automatic "expert" on food and nutrition, let alone exercise? Answer: nothing at all. People make the mistake of automatically granting expertise to their (often overweight) family medical doctor who had very little in the way of basic nutrition training way back in those medical school days. Unless an MD has a burning passion for deeper knowledge on food and nutrition science, or has actually gone into the field professionally, he's not sitting around reading the food and nutrition science journals and following the hot and debated issues of the day. So, in my mind, you need to forget your family doctor's uninformed, pharmaceutical-influenced advice and learn to control your own destiny through a process of self-education.

Burning question number two: look around you at any gym, and tell me about all of the overweight, pudgy, or big-gut personal trainers you see training other people at $60+ per hour? Every day I see "personal trainers" doing the following: 1) sitting at their laptop and shouting out to their clients as they do a routine 2) lazily plopping down on benches and drinking huge, sugar-loaded coffees while they yell out useless instructions to a paying client, and 3) having clients do a zillion sets and reps of deep-knee bends or working with sitting machine exercises like leg extensions or useless abductor/adductor movements. When you realize how easily and quickly one can get a paper certificate to "certify" himself/herself as a "trainer," then you realize why the industry is such a joke.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that most of the personal training industry exists to keep out potential competitors - who don't have paper certificates - while it hoodwinks its uninformed subjects with lots of undelivered promises and ill-informed instruction at exorbitant prices.

- On the Eve of Destruction? -

To wrap up, Sisson makes some of his strongest - and best - statements in the book's conclusion.

Stepping back for a moment to grab a wide-angle view of the wide angles in the buffet line at a Vegas casino, it's evident how ridiculously out of control this situation has become. No offense, but Americans look like one giant yard of fattened cattle ready for slaughter, complete with a significant percentage of "downers" (a term for sick cattle that can't stand up; they are dragged with forklifts to slaughter).

Sisson's scrutiny is more than welcome here. He brings up one of my favorite topics, time preferences, which play a huge role in obesity, food choices, and selecting a fitness program. Of course, I have found that it is always very politically incorrect to associate time preferences with behavioral choices because people take those criticisms personally and tend to get defensive. Sisson points out:

"Today, peak physical and intellectual performance and self-discipline are no longer requirements for survival. Man has become self-indulgent and has reverted to behaviors that provide short-term gratification."

Therefore, it follows that Sisson's Primal Blueprint lays out a plan for humans who live in the modern world to revert to some of the habits and characteristics of our primal ancestors. Otherwise, the populace will become sicker and fatter, creating more permanent patients for Big Pharma and Big Medicine.

We know that bookstores are loaded with an abundance of "health" and "fitness" books that offer up one tediously conventional bit of useless wisdom after another. Just walk into a Borders or Barnes & Noble and look up front near the entrance doors. You'll see piles of books, all with fluffy names and great covers plastered with beautiful people who call out to you as you walk by. These books sell, but they are rarely read. It's just like the plethora of treadmills, Nordic Track skiers, Bowflex machines, and assorted home ellipticals that have come to make for handy clothes hangers in the home until they eventually sell for one-third price on Craigslist. Primal Blueprint won't provide a convenient spot to hang yesterday's sweater - it exists to be read. And then read again.

All said and done, I have not come across a single book that is so readable, so comprehensive, and so full of bona fide information, along with the presentation of an entire foundation for finally succeeding at food and fitness. Sisson is interesting, engaging, and fun. He plays Frisbee and runs the beach in five-fingered shoes. His writing pops out at the reader who needs a little coaxing, and it can hold the attention of the experienced primalist who needs a little brushing up or extra motivation. Compare that with the boring and unappealing Dean Ornish, with his fatty and inflamed face, who advocates a low-fat, vegetarian, pro-soy diet and sells the conventional lipid hypothesis of heart disease. Sisson's book, because of its variety, exceptional detail, readability, unconventional writing, and irreverence, is the single best book available on the subject of changing your life and health through diet and exercise. As hard as I looked for faults, I found very few points to criticize. Well, I can think of one bone of contention - he emphasizes a few too many sentences with exclamation points (!), and that could be tamed a bit.

I like Sisson's model primal human, Grok, and how he uses Grok as a symbol for model living. Grok lives in the modern world but reverts to the best habits of his ancestors in order that he may mimic some of those fight-or-flight survival tactics that made Grok so adaptive and healthy. I just don't fancy the mainstream media and its fascination with the use of the "caveman" term when writing about the primal or paleo real-food, real-fitness lifestyle. It gets a bit tedious and obnoxious. Sisson wisely avoids that comparison.

Get primal, get paleo - or what ever you want to call it. Just start to critically assess the received opinion that has made you a pawn for large, wealthy food and medical interests that use government to keep you in their vicious circle of bad food and enduring illness. Sisson notes that his book can be "the centerpiece of a vibrant community of people connected by the Internet and committed to living their lives to the fullest potential, challenging the status quo, and trying something old." Amen.

If you finish Sisson's book and are not completely motivated to have a `processed food throwing out party' and hit the ground running toward a more vibrant life of real food and real fitness, then there's probably not much in life that can motivate you.

It works!, January 27, 2010
Implemented the program in Aug 2009, lost 22 lbs in 3 months. Its now Jan 2010 and I have maintained my weight loss and feel better than ever! ... Read more

Editorial Review

ONCE A RUNNER IS AN INSPIRING, FUNNY, AND SPOT-ON TALE of one man’s quest to become a champion. Originally self-published in 1978 and sold at road races out of the trunk of the author’s car, the book eventually found its way into the hands of high school, college, and postgraduate athletes all over the country. Reading it became a rite of passage on many teams and tattered copies were handed down like sacred texts from generation to generation. Once a Runner captures the essence of what it means to be a competitive runner, to devote your entire existence to a single-minded pursuit of excellence. In doing so, it has become one of the most beloved sports novels ever published. ... Read more

Reviews

Pure excellence, but with a disclaimer, September 30, 2004
There are 87 other reviews here, so all I will do is offer the following breakdown for people interested in buying this book. Put yourself in one of these categories:

a) Competative runners: this is an increadible book, period. The best part about it is reading about a little tiny nuance in Quenton's running life and saying to yourself, "I know exactly what he's talking about, wow", which will happen literally hundreds of times. Your hopefully already-substantial appreciation for the sport will likely increase tenfold with this book.

b) The casual runner, recreational, or other athlete: this is an excellent book and is very highly reccomended. You probably will not appreciate it to it's fullest extent, but there are aspects of the story and how it is told that will be enjoyed by anyone with the capacity for excitement from sports or human physical endeavors.

c) The non-athlete: this book may not make sense to you. Not in the literary sense, but it may seem as though there is little direction in the story, and you might read it and then find yourself thinking that nothing interesting really happened, and you are not really to blame for this. There is still a good chance that you will find it enjoyable, but if you are looking for a piece of literature based on traditional merits (plot, character development, etc) there are likely better books out there for you to spend time on.

Clearly I thought this book was one of the best I've ever read. However, I hope this breakdown about who in particular might enjoy it the most was helpful.

-Andrew

The BEST book I've ever read!, January 8, 2000
I'm a sophomore in highschool and I'm also a extremely dedicated cross-country and track runner. This book has changed my life! The inspirational story of Quenton Cassidy's runner career left me breathless! The first chapter gave me goose-bumps because it decribed the start of a race perfectly. I read chapters from the book every night before a big race. Reading about Cassidy's determination gives any runner a boost. This book has to have the most accurate description of a runners mentality ever written. This is the best book about running I've ever read!

Not what I hoped., May 8, 2009

Just wail on, August 14, 2005
The book was great, easily one of the best I've ever read. The only times I ever put it down were to eat, sleep and run. There was one quote from Cassidy that i feel sums up the book, the main character, and competative running. I don't know how some one can read this and not be in the mood to run. "It's a simple choice: We can all be good boys and wear our letter sweaters around and get our little degrees and find some nice girl to settle, you know, down, with...take up what a friend of ours calls the hearty challenges of lawn care...Or we can blaze! Become legends in our own time, strike fear in the heart of mediocre talent everywhere! We can scald dogs, put records out of reach! Make the stands gasp as we blow into an unearthly kick from three hundred yards out! We can become God's own messenger delivering the dreaded scrolls! We can race dark Satan himself till he wheezes fiery cinders down the back straightaway! They'll speak our names in hushed tones, 'Those guys are animals' they'll say! We can lay it on the line, bust a gut, show them a pair of clean heels. We can sprint the turn on a spring breeze and feel the winter leave our feet. We can, by God, let our demons loose and just wail on!"

a book every runner has to read, July 1, 2001
I stoped running for over a year because of an serious back injury (from track)but then I came to the US as an exchange student and decided to go out for track again. My season didn't went very well, my times were way of the my PRs from home and i struggeled with injuries and asthma. in the middle of the season one guy from my distance team had the book in the bus to a meet and I started reading and took it home to finish....( I'm not a miler but still practiced with the distance team)This day, even I hadn't finished it yet, I ran my PR for this season and never felt better in a race. It didn't matter to me anymore if I would place or what my time would be. I just felt proud to be there and to do what I loved to do for many years but lately I didn't mean anything to me anymore. I ran for myself and not for the people watching.It motivated me so much that I finished the season although I was close to quit a lot of times.I don't know if I can ever run track competitive again but I'll always keep running. Every time I don't want to put on my shoes and go for my daily run I remember Quentin and his intervale workouts and that we have to work hard to get somewhere in life. Why not starting with something easy like actually getting up early and finishing the morning workout?.....for me this book changed my life...

The Gold Standard, November 24, 2002
Once a Runner is the best running book I have ever read. Unlike training guides or running stories that spend far too much time explaining the beauty of running and trying to introduce people to the wonders of jogging around, Once A Runner really goes into the life and mind of a runner (though the book uses fictional characters, they are easily recognizable and realistic). It describes the dedication, hard work, and goofiness that is required to be successful and what makes runners a very unique, though cetainly interesting breed. The story itself, of a young college-aged runner and his quest to run the fastest mile he could while in school and after he got kicked out, is extremely well paced and smootly written, just as a good race. It is a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it for beginners, enthusiasts, or someone who just needs a little motivation.

A Runner's Required Reading, December 29, 2001
Once a Runner is the best book about running I have ever read. It has all the elements of an excellent novel-a good plot, well-developed characters, excellent writing-but for runners it will seem much more like a biography of one of their own. Quenton, the hero of the story, and his fellow runners are all intense, focused, quirky, unique people who any runner can easily recognize and relate to from their own lives. These characters struggle to endure the "Trial of Miles" necessary to compete on the top level and throughout the book wonder if and why this sacrifice is worth it. These are questions all athletes ask themselves from time to time, and through Quenton, John L. Parker does an excellent job of explaining the answers he has found. The book draws you in immediately and, just as a good race does, gets more exciting as it moves along so that I never wanted to put it down. This is a very inspirational book, an excellent read, and reminded me why running is such an amazing sport. Once a Runner is a must-read for any serious runner and would be a wonderful story for anyone who either wants to understand why people run or may need a little motivation to start doing so themselves.

How Did I Miss This?, May 9, 2005
If you were a high school or college distance runner in the 70s or 80s, as I was, Once A Runner will provoke waves of nostalgia. Every character in the book will ring true and remind you of someone. As a runner since 1977 and a high school track and cross country coach for the past ten years, I'm not sure how I missed this gem.
Quenton Cassidy ran 60 440s in 63. Of course this is "not the way to train" in the words of one Amazon reviewer. Other manifestations of obsession and committment are not for us mere mortals either. I wouldn't reccomend climbing Mt. Everest . It is not the way to train for 99.9% of us. That is because most of us couldn't come close to accomplishing it. Bruce Denton, Cassidy's mentor, knew what it was all about. "Look, runners deal in discomfort. After you get past a certain point, thats all there really is". When he had completed the workout, Cassidy had learned some very important things about himself - things most of us will die without learning - but for those few seeking what Bruce Denton and Quenton Cassidy are seeking, essential things to know.
Once A Runner is the most useful and inspiring book on runnning out there. If you are a serious runner, you will find reassurance here. Your obsession will be validated. Let's face it, obsession scares us these days. We think of it as unbalanced. We all seek to be "well rounded". We need all the mental ammunition we can get sometimes to get through that 6 AM 23 miler in the rain. I want to thank John L. Parker for helping me to embrace my obsession and renew my commitment.

Once a Runner, Always a Runner, November 28, 2004
"Once a Runner" is the ultimate book for anyone who runs for any reason. Whether it be for sport or for fitness, the book will connect with any runner on multiple levels about the hardships of running and the sheer determination that we all possess. Runners are a different breed, and "Once a Runner" exemplifies that in a way that no other book has accomplished.

"Once a Runner" follows Quenton Cassidy through grueling workouts and hardships in his social life. It describes the sacrifices he makes in order to continue running and highlights both our accomplishments as runners in training and our failures as runners in competition. This novel defines the things that are important in life and the things that are superficial through a metaphor that is so moving that no other book about running could even deem itself comparable.

A must-read, especially for every runner.

Captures the Runner Mentality, May 10, 2002
With his character Quentin Cassidy, John Parker captures the mentality, work ethic, satisfactions, and frustrations of what it is to be a runner. He delves into Cassidy's non-running antics which include highly elaborate pranks, law school aspirations, and romantic relationships. In addition, he shows the amazing lack of understanding that non-runners have for runners. There is an excellent scene where Quentin is at a social function and is assaulted with all the customary runner questions and comments. People ask him what he thinks about when he runs and mention how they don't drive as many miles as he runs.

Parker also excellently depicts the daily grind and competitiveness of running. His book includes passages that berate Runner's World and, instead, focus on the quest for glory that running can become. He makes Quentin a very real and believable character. This book is a running classic and rightfully so. It has an excellent story, great characters, and great discussions on running. To be a runner and have not read this book is equivalent to blasphemy. ... Read more

Editorial Review

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"Being fat isn't your fault; staying fat is." That's what Jackie Warner, America's favorite no-nonsense celebrity fitness trainer tells her own clients, and that's why no one delivers better results than Jackie does.Now for the first time, Jackie shares her revolutionary program, showing readers the best ways to drop pounds and inches fast, without grueling workouts or deprivation, and keep them off for good!Her two-tiered approach provides a complete nutritional makeover and a failure-proof condensed workout routine PLUS all the emotional support and encouragement you need to get to the finish line and beyond.With Jackie's core principles, you'll discover once and for all which behaviors are making you fat, and which can finally make you thin forever-and some may surprise you:

�ADDTO LOSE:In Jackie's 2-week jump start, no food is off-limits.You'll actually add food to your diet in order to lose weight.

�CHEATING IS ALLOWED: Eat clean for 5 days, and then indulge in whatever you want over the weekend!

�FAT IS NOT THE ENEMY: Fat doesn't make you fat; sugar does! Nothing you eat should contain over 9 grams of sugar

�SKIP THE CRUNCHES: They just build muscle under the fat.Discover the fastest way to burn calories, tone muscle, and spark your metabolism for rapid fat loss

�LESS (EXERCISE) IS MORE: Workouts shouldn't take over your day-give Jackie 20-minutes and you'll see results.

Find out today why THIS IS WHY YOUR FAT (AND HOW TO GET THIN FOREVER) is your first and last stop on the way to the new fit and healthy you!

... Read more

Reviews

Celebrity trainer says you can get fit in less time without a miserable diet., April 21, 2010
Warner spent five days a week, two hours a day writing the book, according to a recent article in The Advocate. She's trying to come back from the loss of her Bravo show, Workout. The loss of her show followed some insensitive remarks about a woman's breasts. The woman's husband called Warner out when he overheard the on-camera quips about the shape of his wife's breasts. She had undergone reconstructive work after a battle with breast cancer. After considerable pressure, Warner's sponsors pulled off the show. Many fans dropped her and her status as a role model was losing steam.

Another show she planned was cut down before it aired. So, this book is one step in her comeback and attempt at redemption. And certainly it will sell well because people rush to buy this type of book --- and she still has a following --- though not as much of one as she once did.

About the book she says, "It's different and better than anything else out there," She says the Atkins diet is a program that can't be maintained because "deprivation doesn't work." I think we can all agree with that.

She says in her book, "We are a nation of sick, unhealthy people wasting away and mutating into sad, fat, and lethargic people, just getting fatter and sadder by the second. We are an out-of-control nation with out-of-control waistlines. I have noticed that a mass panic is setting in. I see it every day in the faces of people and desperate e-mails from around the country. So many people are tired, always dragging and feeling exhausted. Many are a walking medicine chest, dependent of pills to control everything from high blood pressure to sleep deprivation, and are chronically fatigued and depressed. Others can't climb a flight
of stairs or walk a block without gasping for air. Millions of people are alive, but hardly living."

I find what she said so sad yet so true. I'm old enough to be Jackie's mother. I can tell you that I have more strength and energy now than I did twenty years ago. And it's due to changing my lifestyle in a manner similar to what she recommends. I only wish I would have learned about it sooner.

I was never obese but often overweight. I don't care so much about looking sexy anymore. But I do care about feeling strong and well and having my blood pressure and other numbers where they should be. There comes a time when we care less about the shape of our butts and more about the shape of our health. So some of you are still motivated by looking good. Others by feeling good. And hopefully many of you about both.

My point is, Warner speaks to the root of the problem and to the soul of the reader. She gets right down to the hurt. That sets her apart from others who write this sort of book.

She says she's passionate about "showing people how powerful they really are." That talks to me. I'm all for empowering myself and others and I know from personal experience how great it feels to hit 65 and be able to do ten times what you did at forty five, to be stronger and smarter and wiser. And that's a mixture of physical strength along with self-confidence. This is what Warner teaches. And for that reason, I consider her the top of the lot.

She starts out by telling you why you're fat. That's important. Why? Only when you know why you're fat are you able to go in reverse and start over --- doing the right things that will make you slim and keep you slim. You have to know why you got fat in order to correct it.

Hormones are the cause of fat, according to Warner. "Out of whack hormones disturb your body chemistry and cause weight gain," she says. She adds, "When you control your hormones, you can control fat!"

She goes on to say that there are hormones that can make you thin. Here she talks about human growth hormone (HGH). Of course, it's illegal to take the pill HGH. But she discusses ways to get your body to create it naturally --- pretty exciting stuff because HGH is truly the fountain of youth.

She also tells you how to eat to create more testosterone. And yes, that's a very powerful and important hormone for women as well as men.

She says, "The best testosterone diet is a healthy moderate-fat/high-protein/moderate-carb diet --- which is how my nutrition program works." She goes on to say that type of diet creates a hormonal environment that the body uses to burn fat and put on lean muscle.

In discussing exercise, Warner tells the reader to see herself/himself as "an athlete." She says, "When I tell my clients that I see the athlete in them, they actually work harder and complete those last five reps. Your behavior is consistent with your identity."

She hit the nail on the head there. You become pretty much what you think about all the time and who you think you are. She says, "When you look in the mirror, do you see a lazy, fat, out-of-shape person? If so, your behavior will follow to match that identity --- you will in effect act like and be a lazy, fat, out-of-shape person." She goes on to say that if you see your inner athlete, motivated to change, you become that person.

Warner says crunches are worthless. By looking at her famous six pack, I'd say she certainly does her share, however. Those don't come naturally or easily to anyone.

But what she says is true --- they can cause injury after several years of doing them --- if not less. She says it's all about cardio (which, much like myself, she hates.) She stresses doing "power circuit" training to the point of exhaustion. Again, I think she goes a bit off on this. A person can do far too much of anything. Exercising until you throw up or whatever doesn't appeal to me one whit! If you like that sort of thing, more power to you.

Warner allows sugar in her eating plan but not much. She believes that sugar and not fat is the culprit. I certainly agree with this as science backs it. The book also offers lots of food choices--including pita bread, pork roast, and yams. Her plans call for three meals and two snacks per day. Two "treat meals" weekly are allowed. You can have any junk food you want as long as it has no more than 1500 calories.

I don't agree with the idea of cheat meals or cheat days. A study in the International Journal of Obesity showed that people who ate a consistent number of calories all week long were 50% more likely to maintain their weight than those who stuck to a stricter plan Monday through Friday.

In other words, if you're strict five days a week and then go on a two day binge or cheating spell, you're likely to put on pounds. Moreover, doctors warn against cheat meals. Even one meal that's not healthy can have ill effects on your heart. This is above and beyond what it can do to your weight.

About the title of the book she says, "I fought very hard for that title. "It's inflammatory, but I am tired of turning on the TV and reading diets that are not going to help."

The foods she recommends are easily available and affordable.She suggests you don't weigh or measure. If a piece of meat will fit into your palm "that's cool." Gotta go along with that.

I found the book interesting and some of it useful. I certainly don't agree with it all. I think Warner tends to go to extremes at times and I think she's wrong at times.

I did find Warner's book unique and head and shoulders above most of the so-called diet books or fitness books available. One need not agree with everything to get good from it. Her talk on metaphysics was very interesting and inspiring.

You'll find lots of exercises, complete with small photos of Warner doing them to show you how. You'll also find many really great-looking recipes that should be easy and fast to make as well as healthy. She does suggest, and rightly so, that you use organic food, including eggs. In fact, she suggests two eggs per day.

I found both the exercise and the food preparation sections very good. I also enjoyed the motivational sections. All in all, a very complete book for the person wanting to get in shape.

While Warner does not come across as a caring, compassionate person, her writing makes her sound like one. And people who are miserable because of their weight and the shape they're in need that type of talk. Her book speaks to a need deep inside all of us.

I think anything that will get you motivated and moving is a good thing. This book could very well be just that catalyst for many people. If so, it's well worth buying and considering.

Recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

Awesome, April 21, 2010
While I'm not obese, I am slightly overweight. After beginning a vigorous exercise routine, I was having a hard time finding a diet that would help me be healthy from the inside out and shed this annoying layer of belly fat that won't go away. I purchased this book and read almost the entire thing in two days. I began implementing Jackie's suggestions and I'm already feeling better, feeling lighter and my stomach is already a little less pudgy. Jackie's book is not a diet--it's a lifestyle change with a ton of information explaining why you're fat including a lot of info on hormones, detoxing, exercising (including what seems like over 20 exercises you can do at home), supplements, gym etiquette, the food industry and how it's making you sick, an eating-out guide and more. Her plan is easy, practical and very doable. It's real-life nutrition set in a world where crap is shoved in your face everywhere. Yes, it's hard to make a change from eating carrots instead of oreos but it's WORTH it. I have cut sugar and now can barely tolerate any when I actually have it. I used to love soda but now it tastes downright nasty. The two cheat meals she allows you will keep you on track and stop you from binging. If you want to really treat your body well and "eat clean" to give your organs a break and age better, this is for you. It is NOT a get-thin-quick fad diet thing. It's real changes to make you healthy and regain power over your body. You're worth more than chips and triple chocolate cookies. Jackie has yet to disappoint in my opinion and this book will remain a staple in my life forever! THANK YOU Jackie!!

Not just another diet book, April 24, 2010
We've all seen diet books or tried the new "in' diet or how about those infomercials with a new machine guaranteed to help you lose weight. And it's fast! And.....it may work for a little while then it stops working or you get tired of trying.

Well, when I picked up this book, I was skeptical. Seriously? Another diet book. But This Is Why Your Fat is totally different, I swear! From the introduction to the end of the book, Jackie speaks out to you as a friend, one on one, and totally gets it!

The first few chapters are about toxins, chemical balances, hormone balances, and etc. It makes sense that if your body chemicals aren't balanced, your either going to lose a little bit or your going to gain. Fluctuate. Yeah, that's me!

She then goes on to explain what foods you can eat that will balance those chemicals. And they aren't expensive hard to get foods either. You probably have them at home right now. There is a huge chapter on sugar. Sugar is bad, but we already knew that. But you will be amazed of all the foods sugar is in. Did you know that the average adult intakes about 30 tbs of sugar a day? Crazy!! And she lists all the different names for sugar that you will find on an ingredient list, which is very helpful.

Jackie starts you off for two weeks eating what you are right now. I know, crazy right? But there's a small trick. While your eating what you want those two weeks, you have to incorporate more food in your diet. She lists a few things you have to eat everyday for 2 weeks while your eating what you want. Her reasoning is to get your body chemicals balanced.

Then, after those 2 weeks, you switch over to a menu plan. You knew that was coming didn't you? But by following this menu plan for five days, you then get to eat what you want twice on the weekends!! There's also an exercise program, of course. But instead of all those lengthy work-outs, you work out 20 minutes a day for five days, a really intense cardio program that will soon have those inches coming off and you'll be looking and feeling your best.

I just finished reading this book today but I am totally going to try this!! Jackie lays out the science with her method and that is where she got my attention. Layman's terms that I can understand. So if your looking for another diet book, try something different. Pick up THIS IS WHY YOUR FAT by Jackie Warner. Who doesn't want to look their best and feel great? I know I do!!

Like the book but....., May 31, 2010
Having loved the show Workout and being a big Jacki fan I was thrilled when this book finally hit the shelves. While the book doesn't necessarily offer any new information to the reader it does give some great insight/information on how to eat healthy and build muscle.

One of the bigger things about the book that bothers me is that there are very few footnotes indicating Jackie's sources. The second thing is that there are a few parts that are confusing (for example, Jackie gives the reader 3 workout routines (A, B, C) to do 3 times a week. Each routine has 3 circuits. It is unclear if you are supposed to pick one of these circuits per workout or if you are supposed to do all 3 circuits during 1 workout session?

Despite this I would recommend the book, particularly for the diet, which is simple and clear. It would be helpful if Jackie had an interactive webiste where readers could ask questions(although, if parts of her book where clearer this probably wouldn't be needed).

One of the best fitness / nutrition books I've read, April 24, 2010
I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to make a change for their health and personal fitness. A lot of what Jackie says about sugar and chemicals and pesticides in our food was a real wake-up call. Her detailed, simple explanations regarding diet and exercise went above and beyond the normal "calories in / calories out" explanation (which is true to a CERTAIN extent, but that's a very simplified way of looking at things and there's a big difference between an 80 calorie cookie and an 80 calorie hard boiled egg). I changed my eating habits to follow her advice in the book and I can already see a difference in the way I feel and look. I never really got into the show "Workout" but I really enjoyed Jackie's writing and her advice WORKS and it's very easy to follow. You are worth it; I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in changing up their diet and fitness routines!

Best Diet Book, May 26, 2010
After 30 years of dieting and reading diet books I have seen it all. I purchased this book and have been on the plan one week (after the first 2 weeks). I lost 2 pounds and 1 inch, and my stomach is flatter than it has been in years. I find the diet easy to follow and it fits right into my life style without purchasing tons of products or specialty foods. I basically can eat what my family is eating just eliminating a few things. For me, the treat meals work well. It gives me something to look forward to and gives me motivation to stay clean the other 5 days. The exercise plan clearly is very clear and can be done at home with minimal equipment. I highly recommend this book.

Putting it Together and in layman terms makes sense, August 13, 2010
I started out with a sample of this book on my iPhone and instantly got intrigued and purchased the book. I have been reading a little bit each night. I am 54 and have been working out for the past 25 years consistently. I watch what I eat, know probably more than most but what I really needed to know was WHY sugar was so bad. Jackie explains this is in simple terms and it makes so much sense. I have been using Splenda for years in my coffee and threw it all out. I am now using Truvia which is excellent and no weird after tastes. I am also using her little grab bag suggestions, i.e, hard boil eggs prepared and put in a baggie with salt and pepper. So easy for me to grab and take a cheese stick and an apple. I do not cook but from her book it does not seem you have to be in to cooking just having the right foods ready to go. Although I never was a soft drink drinker, I now add lemon to my water and make sure I drink at least 64 ozs a day. At night if I am hungry maybe a small cottage cheese and always keep blueberries in my freezer. Although I have been trying for years to get 5 lbs off, which is the hardest, I am more confident I will do it. My exercise routine is pretty much in control, train with a trainer 2 x week and do spinning (done this for years like clockwork). It was more my eating and the older I am getting the harder it is for me to keep the weight down. I will add that I do own a scale and get on it about every other day (used to be everyday). This really has helped with keeping my weight down because I know if my weight is up a day I need to back off on whatever my food is for that day. Now, I think if I plan my meals better and pack my cooler, which I did anyway I will see some results. Also, I have not had any sugar to speak of in the past few days but I will say that when I pick up a food I am not familiar with that will be the first thing I look for on the package is how many grams of sugar. All in all I would recommend this book to anyone that wants simple reading and not much of a complicated eating routine. As we all know if you stick with lean protein, fresh and/or raw foods you can't go wrong. I also keep a container of raw almonds in my car and spread my one serving out throughout the day; meaning each time I get in the car I eat about 4 almonds and don't exceed the container suggestion of a serv. If you just make those small changes in baby steps I believe this is how you can benefit from Jackie's book.

Great, but a word for exercise newbies..., May 27, 2010
I've been doing the circuit training for 2 weeks and following the diet for 1 week. I haven't yet added the cardio because I'm waiting for a foot injury to recover. The fact that I'm already seeing results has me pretty psyched - my arms are sleeker, my stomach flatter and my waist narrower. I'm pretty excited to see what happens when I'm able to add the cardio.

That being said, I think that attempting to follow Warner's exercise routine to the letter would be nearly impossible for someone who hasn't exercised regularly before. I've been regularly power lifting and running for over a year and these circuit workouts are kicking my rear end pretty bad. If you're new to fitness, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you couldn't finish these routines and got discouraged. I would encourage you to take it easy at first, do fewer sets and reps than listed and then progressively work up to the full routine.

FINALLY! SUCCESS!!!!, September 27, 2010
I tried everything. Haven't we all? This is the first system that has ever come close to working for me and this has been a miracle. 42 out of my 50 pounds goal are gone. Why did this work when everything else for me has failed? The cheating. Mentally I needed the cheat. At first. Now I don't even need the cheat! Here is why. I used to take the blame and call myself a baby. I would last 3 days on a diet and when I fell off the wagon, I stayed off. Why, and why do I no longer think I'm a helpless fool of a baby needing his comfort treats 24/7? Because I am no longer a sugar addict, that's why. It was so simple, so obvious, so right in my face literally I was too close to see it. I beat the sugar addiction once Jackie opened my eyes, slapped me in the face with her straight-forward explanation - and it made me a new person. Better then I was, inside and out, not better then anyone else who has not had their break through yet, just better then myself. And that is all I wanted. This book saved my life and that is an understatement. Please believe me - it's the sugar!! Listen to me, will ya? Don't believe ME, believe Jackie. I promise you. I wish I could say it 1000 times and in every language. Ditch the sugar, eat good foods, cheat when Jackie says and exercise. DO NOT starve yourself! Once I beat the sugar addiction, I don't crave anything and am always eating. I eat when hungry so there is no suffering. 42 pounds in 14 weeks, eating all the time, walking and bike riding for exercise. That's all. Beat the sugar=beat the devil.

Food Guide Pyramid minus milk + calcium supplements, May 13, 2010
I am a person that has been "naturally" skinny my whole life. I fluctuated between a size 3 and a 7 for most of my adult life. After having 4 kids close together, my body seems to have taken a swing, and I cannot drop the 20 pounds that I put on with the last baby. I was excited for this book because she talks about hormones and how eating can change these levels, and help you to lose naturally. I think this might be my problem. I eat pretty good, and exercise okay, but I have not been able to lose the weight.

So, I downloaded the e version of this book (cheaper) and read it over the course of a couple days. I liked it. It was a good reminder of what I learned in the fourth grade.

Good: She basically outlines your 5 fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean meat, low fat cheese, no-little milk, and NO SUGAR. It is your food-guide pyramid minus the milk. I think she is right in sugar being a culprit. That part of the book was a really good reminder, as I love kids candy. She has the basic portion control, and the 3 meals, 2 snacks a day. I like her circuit training ideas at the back of the book.

Not my favorite: She mentions a lot of studies that she does not endnote or footnote. That bothers me. I like to check facts. She links cancer to non-organic food. We have a genetic history (tested and verified by doctors) of cancer in our family. It isn't as simple as she makes it sound. No variety in meals, and for certain things, she just lists a bunch of vegetables, basically ones that I already eat, and common ones in the grocery store, again, nothing that you haven't heard from elementary school. She lists all the hormones in the body, and the specifics, and doesn't really get into the food specifics, just lists things again, telling you more like a medical book than a to-do diet book. I don't like supplements. Sure, your basic vitamins etc., but I think milk is a good thing, not too much of it, but I don't want to do a calcium supplement instead. I am lactose intolerant, and have been told my whole life, find a way to get your calcium through food, not supplements, and add in the calcium supplements as you get older.

All in all, it was a fine book. It is a huge lifestyle change to follow everything she does, and if you have a family, it doesn't seem realistic. I will follow some of the ideas. Most of them I already knew, many ideas were unfounded, and I am surprised that they let her publish references tie ins, without the actual reference noted. That is sloppy.

This is not the diet bible that everyone makes it out to believe. I think body for life is better than this, and that also requires a lifestyle change. ... Read more

Editorial Review

See inside every yoga pose! With clear, expert instruction and full-color, detailed anatomical drawings, Yoga Anatomy depicts the most common asanas to provide a deeper understanding of the structures and principles underlying each movement and of yoga itself.

From breathing to standing poses, see how each muscle is used, how slight alterations of a pose can enhance or reduce effectiveness, and how the spine, breathing, and body position are all fundamentally linked.

Whether you are just beginning your journey or have been practicing yoga for years, Yoga Anatomy will be an invaluable resource—one that allows you to see each movement in an entirely new light.

Author Leslie Kaminoff is a recognized expert and teacher in anatomy, breathing, and bodywork. He is the founder of The Breathing Project, New York City’s premiere yoga studio dedicated to the teaching of individualized, breath-centered yoga practice and therapy. ... Read more

Reviews

See "Inside" Your Yoga Poses, May 25, 2008
Yoga Anatomy is a book that gives the reader a look inside the human body as it is put in various yoga positions.

Chapter 1 covers the dynamics of breathing and actually covers some breathing physiology as well. Chapter 2 talks about the spine and gives some pretty detailed spinal information. Chapter 3 is short and covers the asanas.

The rest of the book, Chapters 4 through 9, make up the "meat" of the book and contains most of the anatomy information most readers probably bought the book for- what muscles are used in what poses. The way the book gives you the information is quite handy- it has a section on standing poses, sitting poses, kneeling poses, on-your-stomach poses, on-your-back poses, and arm supported poses. Sooo, all you have to do is pick a position/pose, and there you'll find pictures of what muscles are involved (and let me say, they show you some great angles of the poses to make sure the reader can see ALL the muscles that are involved). In addition to learing what muscles are involved, the book also tells you what joint actions are involved, as well as what body parts are working AND which ones are lengthening- neat!

A great reference book, its simply perfect for the yoga enthusiast that has become acquainted over time with muscles they never knew they had- but will now after reading this book! Also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if plantar fasciitis pain keeps you from doing your yoga.

Extremely Detailed, August 2, 2007
"Yoga Anatomy" by Leslie Kaminoff, is a must have book for yoga instructors and practitioners. Although there are a few books on yoga anatomy currently available to choose from, I was pleasantly surprised by Kaminoff's offering. First of all, the illustrations are absolutely crystal clear (the amazing artist, Sharon Ellis, is a medical illustrator). The drawings show exactly what your muscles and bones are doing in each pose. The coolest part is that we get to see some (not all) of these poses from interesting angles - not just the side view and front view - but also from the bottom and top, which really adds a lot (the author accomplished this by shooting pictures of the models from below, using a large sheet of plexiglass suspended by two ladders!). For example, imagine seeing "Bakasana" (Crane Pose) from underneath! You can see the Serratus Anterior and Iliacus at work - two things that may be difficult to view in traditional yoga anatomy books.

For each pose featured, Kaminoff provides information on the joint actions, what parts of the body are working, what is lengthening and what obstacles you may encounter. Sanskrit and English terms are provided along with pronunciations of the Sanskrit. The author also gives a very detailed chapter on the Dynamics of Breathing as well as a chapter on the Spine. These additions are invaluable and very clear. So much information is presented, it is almost overwhelming - but unlike other anatomy books, it doesn't feel dry or boring. This would be a great manual for any yoga teacher training program as well as for anyone who would like to "see" what is happening in each asana.

The book I've been waiting for, August 22, 2007
This book is a godsend for anyone who studies or teaches yoga. It reflects so much care and work and attentiveness to detail. It really is anatomy for yogis. I've been studying yoga for close to 40 years and have been exposed to a variety of corrective allignment forms of body work. So when I'm having trouble in a posture I often refer to standard anatomy books but they can be overwhelming and aren't geared towards helping me understand what is going on in a given posture. Despite taking several anatomy classes including a wondrous anatomy dissection class, I still don't have enough knowledge to translate what I read or see in an antomy text into what I'm doing and not doing in a given yoga posture. There are books that aim to be more inclusive, like Mel Robin's book on the physiology of yoga--but I just get overwhelmed by that much information. This book helps me see the main muscles working in a given posture and the main reasons I might be having difficulty with that posture. Of course I would like even more--how can I strengthen or lengthen the muscles that I'm needing to employ in a given posture. But that is asking for too much and I think really requires work with a well trained teacher. This book is just the right size, user friendly and chocked full of information. The illustrations are remarkable, showing postures from different angles and reflecting the author's extensive study of both anatomy and yoga. I highly recommend it.

Essential reference guide, August 11, 2007
As a yoga practioner and teacher, I have always been in search for an easily understandable anatomy book on yoga-- and Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff provides that. Each asana (pose) that is explained shows the following:

- a beautiful illustration of the pose showing the muscles and bones that are used in the pose (joints and organs are shown some asanas too)
- the English and Sanskit name (along with the pronouncitation)
- Classification and Level
- Joint Actions
- Working (muscles being used)
- Lengthening (muscles being stretched)
- Obstacles and Notes (mucscles, bones or joints that may hinder the yogi to coming into the pose, and provide helpful hints to overcoming that)
- Breathing (suggestions on how to use the breath and where to direct the focus of the breath)

Leslie Kaminoff explains many of the most commonly practiced asanas--including standing, sitting, kneeling, supine, prone and arm support poses. There is also a chapter on the breath and another on the spine.

My complaint is that the muscles mentioned in the text weren't completely identified in the illustration. For example, if there are 40 muscles involved in the pose, only 10 or less are pointed out in the illustration. This can get slightly frustrating because unless you are an anatomist or physical therapist, I do not memorize all the muscles, bones and joints and their placements. It may be asking too much to show each and every muscle mentioned into the drawings, so I refer to another book, Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais-Germain for reference (this book provides a breakdown of body parts and the muscle groups). But nevertheless, the illustrations are invaluable in providing a deeper understanding of the pose.

Overall, this is the best anatomy book on yoga I've read so far. I have read H. David Coulter's Anatomy of Hatha Yoga, and a book as thick as the bible is sure to overwhelm. Yoga Anatomy provides a fairly easy-to-understand format, however it is not for newbies. This book is more for serious yogis and teachers who already have a basic knowledge of anatomy and would like to learn more.

After the first two chapers, it's a great resource., January 26, 2008
This was assigned to me as a required resource for Shala (Yoga Teacher Training). Having no background in anatomy, I am really struggling to tie the written descriptions in the first two chapters to the illustrations. Perhaps there is an assumption by the author and illustrator of a certain level of anatomy knowlege that this reader doesn't posses. I find that the illustrations of the thoracic cavity (lungs, central tendon, diaphram) and the spinal column (discs, tendons, vertebrae) more confusing than helpful. I needed to consult with my Shala yoga instructors and 3 different anatomy books to understand what the author was trying to teach me. Chapter two is no better. The illustrations of the spine, tendons, discs are all superbly drawn, yet don't quite sync up with the written text if you're a newcomer like myself.

After these two chapters, it's a great resource. As the other reviewers have stated, the illustrations of the muscles used during different asanas are right on and quite helpful. This is a resource I'll keep and use again. However I'd like to see the first two chapters revised so the illustrations are presented better for the novice.

Yoga Anatomy for the Rest of Us!, October 25, 2007
Rest assured, you can relax and breathe easy as you meander through the pleasant pages of this book! Other great books connect yoga and anatomy, including the highly regarded titles, Anatomy of Yoga, by H. David Coulter, and The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga, by Ray Long. However, Yoga Anatomy is so user-friendly even those of us who drift off during yoga anatomy workshops can enjoy absorbing the wisdom in this book.

There were no anatomy books specifically designed for yoga teachers when I studied anatomy at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco in the `70s. I was already overwhelmed just learning how to place my feet in Triangle Pose and could not get my head into the daunting standard anatomical textbooks used at the time. If this book had been available, I might not have gotten a D in anatomy!

The beautiful illustrations by award-winning medical illustrator Sharon Ellis are based on photographs of various models. As others have mentioned, some perspectives illustrated are quite unusual because they were shot from underneath. The book shows a photograph of a photo shoot where the model is balanced in Crow Pose, on a long piece of plexiglass secured between two ladders. The photographer is lying on his back on the floor, shooting the pose from below.

The sight of this photo prompted me to do something I have not done in 30 years of practicing Downward-Facing Dog. I placed a sturdy mirror, one foot wide and four feet long, in the center of my yoga mat. I went into downward-facing dog in such a way that my hands and feet were pressing on the mat, and I could see the pose reflected in the mirror. I turned to the book, and there was a picture of the view I had just seen in the mirror.

I am fond of telling my students to turn the pages of yoga books sideways and upside down so that they can better see the connection between the various poses. The views shown in Yoga Anatomy make this concept crystal clear and help you see yourself and your students with X-ray eyes. Yoga Anatomy is definitely an essential resource that will illuminate your practice for years to come!

Suza Francina, author, The New Yoga for Healthy Aging, The New Yoga for People Over 50, and other books. www.suzafrancina.com

a missing link has been found, August 23, 2007
excellent book... well-organized by asana. first book i have seen that applies so clearly and crisply per pose: alignment, detailed notes on anatomy involved, joint & limb actions, muscular actions, risks, levels of difficulty, notes, sanskrit translations, and crisp drawings based upon photographs from multiple angles. primary focus approached via breath and the spine. this is a treasure trove and not a million pages either - each pose is one to three pages - digestible in mini-sittings and at a glance.

Every yogi should have one, July 9, 2007
This is a great book, thorough & easy to read, with wonderful illustrations. Leslie Kaminoff has a wealth of knowledge to offer: knowledge of the body, of the dynamics of the breath, and of the asanas. This is the kind of book that instructors & practitioners alike should own for reference. The breadth & depth of the material is amazing.

An excellent work on yoga anatomy for a very reasonable price!, December 11, 2007
Yoga anatomy is a detailed work on how the various yoga asanas impact us at an anatomical level. For a variety of standing, sitting, kneeling, supine, prone and arm support yoga poses the key anatomical structures, joint and limb actions, working and lengthening of muscles and breathing involved in the pose are described. The obstacles to getting into the poses are also described. I found this to be extremely useful. The diagrams are detailed and by looking at it one would know what muscles and joints are involved in the yoga posture. Getting into a posture is not very difficult for many; but the question is if they are doing it the right way by involving the right muscles and joints. For example the book clearly mentions that in Uttanasana (standing forward bend) hip flexion is the main joint action but if the hamstrings are tight then spine flexes to compensate for it. By being aware of this fact, one can focus on flexing the hip and correctly get into the pose without flexing the spine much. By being aware of the correct muscles groups/ joints my yoga practice has benefitted immensely. My hip has opened easing pressure on my spinal muscles and my back pain has eased considerably because of that. For some poses, the book does not pictorically depict all the muscles mentioned in the description. The book talks about latissimus dorsi lengthening in Utkatasana but the illustration does not show that. Overall, this is a great book for a very reasonable price!

Yoga Anatomy, August 28, 2007
This book is a great tool for yoga teachers and anyone wanting to further their knowledge of yoga and anatomy. The drawings are incredible. The notes accompanying the drawings are exactly what I need to deepen my understanding of yoga anatomy. The layout for each asana is clear and easy to understand with everything I would want to know about that posture. The text about the Breath in general is thorough. The text about the breath in each posture is not something I have found in other texts. What an incredible resource!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

From elite bodybuilding competitors to gymnasts, from golfers to fitness gurus, anyone who works out with weights must own this book -- a book that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could write, a book that has earned its reputation as "the bible of bodybuilding."

Inside, Arnold covers the very latest advances in both weight training and bodybuilding competition, with new sections on diet and nutrition, sports psychology, the treatment and prevention of injuries, and methods of training, each illustrated with detailed photos of some of bodybuilding's newest stars.

Plus, all the features that have made this book a classic are here:

Editorial Review

Reviews

The best. Period., January 17, 2008
In my opinion, the goal of this book is to give people who want to compete in triathalons a scientific, self-coached training plan. Does it deliver? Absolutely. The book accomplishes this through six, cleanly divided parts.

Part one, "The self-trained triathlete" is concerned with the "philosophical" basis for methodical training. It deals with things such as attitide and commitment, which are as important to me as the physical training.

Part two, "From lab to real world" talks about the scientific foundation of training and goes into the science and priciples of training (i.e. progressive resistance, periodization, etc.).

Part three, "Training with a purpose" seems to pull together parts one and two in which a system of purposeful training is described. This part will help the reader to determine exactly what their training needs are and the best ways to address them.

Part four, simply titled "Planning" is really the heart of the book. Here the book helps you design your own training plan for a season, week by week.

Part five, "Racing and recovering" takes you through the many details of preparing to race and recovering after. In other words, it gives you info on what to do before and after the actual race. This information is essential as many athletes neglect to recover properly before starting training again for the next race.

Part six, "The competative edge" talks about other supplemental aspects of training that can contribute to peak performance. Here the book covers things such as swimming tips, weight training ex's, eating tips, keeping a training diary, etc. I like to think of this chapter as a kind of "tie up the loose ends" section.

Truly a book that lives up to its name, I can't see many readers coming away from this book without picking up much useful information- from the beginner to the experienced. Athletes who have shoulder trouble that interferes with their training might also find Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff helpful too. Happy training!

Comprehensive and scientifically proven, September 6, 2000
After reading this book, many other books and articles on the sport seem to be poorly written. The author provides the whole picture for his claims by mentioning relevant scientific studies both supporting and nullifying his training method. He does not base any of this book on opinion, but does point out that there is also an art to training that has nothing to do with science.

He gives excellent instruction for all three sports including how to devise a training plan customized for your goals, the special skills required for each sport, and nutrition. It is a very comprehensive book and will take at least a couple of weeks to finish, but the education is priceless. I never raced a triathlon before this book and after reading it, I felt like I had more information in my head on the subject than most seasoned veterans.

The only negative about this book is that there needs to be more on swimming and to truly become a better swimmer you will need another resource; I believe he suggests Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin. Joe Friel's web site is http://www.ultrafit.com/ and you can go there for more tips or to inquire about personal coaching services. I sent him an e-mail questioning something in the book that I didn't understand and he responded the same day. I constantly quote the book to my friends. Maybe that's why it's called the "Bible".

informative, August 28, 1999
Not being of the multisport athlete ranks myself (I'm a runner)I endeavoured to branch out this year and try a triathlon using the advice given in this book. I found that not only was this book incredibly useful for the novice triathlete, it was also the best book on running I have ever picked up. Advice on training cycles, nutrition, strength training, and racing was invaluable even for runners alone. I would highly recommend this book for any endurance athlete.

This book is essential for any self-coached triathlete., December 13, 1998
This book is as comprehensive as it gets on training for and competing in triathlons. The author outlines training programs for triathlons of all distances - sprint races to Ironman. He takes you through a self-evaluation that assists you in determining your strengths and weaknesses. This is a tremendous help in guiding you towards improving your performance, at whatever level you are competing.

The information in this book is very current and will help any triathlete avoid the many pitfalls of the over-ambitious nature of triathlon training.

The title says it all..., November 20, 2001
The title sums up what this book is about and who it is for better than any other training book on the market. It is a complete program for competitive athletes. If you are currently doing triathlons just to stay in shape and enjoy yourself without worrying about your finishing time, stay away from this book. Stick to your swim a little, bike a little, run a little and see what happens training program. But the second you find yourself saying, "I want to beat my previous time" or "I want to see how fast I can go", this is the book for you.

It is one of the only books out there that teaches you the information necessary to develop a customized training program that is perfect for only one person - YOU!

Beware of all the books written by the stars of their respective sports that show you what they did to win, then tell you to adjust their program accordingly. Granted, many of these books are interesting reading and have some insightful hints, but they don't teach you the skills to think up your own program that fits your lifestyle.

This book offers facts. It lets you decide how to incorporate all these facts into your own training, whether you are a first timer or elite competitor. The instant you decide that your last triathlon was not your best effort and you get competitive with yourself, buy this book.

training bible...., September 9, 2004
Training bible? Maybe for the top 5% of triathletes worldwide. But seriously though, I enjoyed reading the historical references and the way the author used evidence based data to solidify his arguments. However, at many points in the book, I found the authors writing style kind of dry and uninteresting. The section on periodization nearly put me to sleep (and I'm usually into that stuff). I didn't like the chapter where he used peoples personal training stories and regimens, I couldn't relate to that schedule. If you are like most recreational triathletes and don't have forever and a day to train, this may not be the first book to consider.

If you are serious..., August 17, 2002
Joe Friel writes for serious athletes. This does not mean you have to be a professional, it simply means that you need to be willing to invest the time both to understand his training concepts and to follow the training plan you develop. If you are looking for a "quick fix" then visit his website and have a computer develop a training program for you.

Joe's insights about specificity and periodization are well accepted by top coaches and competitors. By reading this book you will understand how to peak for your most important competitions. In real life this means that you will "race" and not just "survive" your chosen events.

I originally bought the Cyclists' training bible, and I used it to train for a 200 mile bike race from Denver to Aspen, Colorado (and I placed in the top 10). I subsequently bought this book for my wife, an avid triathlete. She used it to put together a training plan that brought two PRs and improved her times in every leg. Joe's methods work.

Easy to follow training throrough training manual., December 8, 1998
Joe Friel's latest training book is possibly one of the most encompassing books about triathlon training out there. It covers nearly ever aspect of the sport. While some people may disagree with some elements of Friel's training schedules, there is little doubt that they are solidly based. It is extremely easy for a reader to make their own schedule from this book. It makes the process simple and easy to understand. This book is a must for any triathlete who wishes to either know more about training, or who wants to set up their own schedule for periodization triathlon training.

Not for the Beginner Triathlete, March 19, 2004
I have been doing triathlons for three years and I feel this book is not for the Beginner Triathlete. This book reads like a College Text Book and is appropriate for the seasoned triathlete as it has invaluable technical data. I do not recommend this book for the beginner triathlete because I feel that it does Not address the mental and psychological aspects of doing a triathlon. Both of which I feel are extremely important hurdles for people to overcome when entering mutisports races. I recommend "Triathlon 101" by John Mora for beginning triathletes.

The Holy Grail of Individually Trained Triathletes, June 21, 2001
Joe Friel has done an amazing job on preparing this comprehensive triathlete training manual. Engaging as a read from start to finish, yet cross referenced well enough for virtually anyone to open it and find specific areas, this book covers it all. Friel believes in the art and philosophy of training as well as the scientifics--of which there are plenty, so the reader is given a "why" as well as a "how." You will be immersed in training ideas, nutrition, physiological data, calendars, and more. This book was vital in pushing me from being a recreational participant to a legitimate competitor. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Over 1 million copies sold! With new exercises, additional stretches, and more of Frédéric Delavier’s signature illustrations, you’ll gain a whole new understanding of how muscles perform during strength exercises. This one-of-a-kind best-seller combines the visual detail of top anatomy texts with the best of strength training advice.

Many books explain what muscles are used during exercise, but no other resource brings the anatomy to life like Strength Training Anatomy. Over 600 full-color illustrations reveal the primary muscles worked along with all the relevant surrounding structures, including bones, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue.

Like having an X-ray for each exercise, the anatomical depictions show both superficial and deep layers and detail how various setup positions affect muscle recruitment and emphasize underlying structures. New pages show common strength training injuries in a fascinating light and offer precautions to help you exercise safely.

Author and illustrator Frédéric Delavier is the former editor in chief of the French publication PowerMag. He is a journalist for Le Monde du Muscle and a contributor to Men’s Health Germany and several other strength training publications.

Reviews

==Lots of Strengths==, January 8, 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.

Execllent Anatomical Reference for Weight Training, July 18, 2002
This book is an excellent weight training reference for insight into the anatomy of the major muscle groups, and the exercises best suited to train specific muscles.

The book is broken down into seven major muscle groups: arms, shoulders, chest, back, legs, buttocks, and abdomen. Within each muscle group are multiple exercises, each comprised of detailed anotomical illustrations, instructions on performing the exercises, and key information such as variations (for specific focus on particular muscles) and warnings (to aviod injury).

Using this book, one could easily select a variety of exercises to build a total body workout program. The selection of exercises also allows for some routine variation to keep one's workout from getting stale.

The illustrations are of an exellent quality, as are the materials. The pages are of heavyweight paper, with a semi-glossy finish.

Although I rated this title highly, I did so with the understanding that it suits a very specific purpose, and is not a general purpose introduction or guide to weight training. This is an ANATOMY REFERENCE, specific to selected weight training exercises. It does not contain any other information concerning weight training, diet, exercise, etc. In fact, there is not even a brief introduction by the author, simply the reference material itself. But, in terms of its intended purpose, it is an excellent reference. If you already have some sort of "Bodybuilding Encyclopedia", you probably already posess much of the information contained in this title. Having no interest in the history, self-promotion, and general testosterone driven attitudes of many of those types of titles (as well as the phonebook sized package), I much prefer this concise book as an exercise reference.

very useful !!! excellent, February 5, 2004
Lots of good info. However, it is an anatomy book so the information is limited to anatomy. This book shows you what the involved muscle does during a specific exercise. This book will not teach you how to work out, and has no info on diet or nutrition. If you are a beginner you may want to start with a different exercise book. If you already work out and you need to know which exercise hits which muscle and how, this is the book to get.

New 3rd edition - with red cover - is even bigger and better!, March 26, 2010
Frederic Delavier's stunning Strength Training Anatomy (Sports Anatomy Series) is an essential resource for any strength training enthusiast. While others have tried to mimic Delavier's incredible illustrations of muscle performance during strength training, no one comes close to capturing Delavier's level of detail and style. The pretenders either deliver sterile computer models or come off as second rate approximations of Delavier's unparalleled artwork.

One look and you'll be sold. The cover touts selling over a million copies of Strength Training Anatomy and its been the best selling strength training title at Amazon year-in and year-out.

This newly released 3rd Edition packs even more information on strength training, sport injury and prevention, and now adds material on stretching/flexibility for the first time. At 192 pages, this edition is 50% longer than the original 2001 publication. It now contains over 600 full-color illustrations.

Believe the hype - this is a FANTASTIC resource! Highly recommended!

Excellent strength training resource from a company with top-notch customer service, March 24, 2010
I bought the 2nd edition of this book well over a year ago when I was on a working out kick. Unfortunately life got in the way and I stopped going to the gym for several months, and even when I started back I only dabbled with cardio workouts. About 4 months ago I started back on weights and dug out this book. Prior to that I hadn't opened it. The book as it turns out had serious printing issues, making much of it unusable. It was long past the time frame in which I could have returned it to Amazon so I contacted the publisher, Human Kinetics, instead. Their customer service was excellent! They were aware of a small number of mis-prints that fit my description and were more than happy to replace it. The CS person asked if it would be ok if the replacement was delayed a few weeks until the 3rd edition was available which greatly pleased me. I received the new book about a week ago and it was in perfect condition. Many thanks to the HK folks for their fine customer service!

For those that don't already know what's in this book let me explain in detail. Everyone has seen the anatomy posters on the gym walls. The individual caricatures on the posters display a cut-away model of the human body sans skin. It highlights a muscle or group of muscles and then shows you an exercise that you can use to work that specific muscle. There usually isn't much more detail than that. Text is minimal. This book is at it basics a book version of those posters. However this book goes much, much further. The caricatures for individual muscles and muscle groups in this book usually have multiple exercise options. Text in this book explains in detail how to properly perform the exercise. It also provides useful tips on how to slightly alter the exercise to accommodate common injuries (ie, turn your wrists this way to not engage a torn wrist flexor). There are several pages of guides and background information on how to avoid certain injuries such as not fully extending your arms when doing curls to avoid tendinitis down the road. As another example the book goes into detail on how and why crunches should ALWAYS be performed with an inward curving spine (ie, fetal curve). This is to minimize the usage of the Psoas Major & Minor hip flexors and avoid the back injury they can cause. There are several excellent section of pure information in this book. The caricatures in this book are truly excellent. The artist did a fantastic job positioning and drawing the body to emphasize exactly what the reader needs to see and understand. The 3rd Edition also adds text on proper stretching among other things.

I highly recommend this book to every single person lifting weights at all levels. I've shown the book to friends, coworkers and people at the gym. I've even sung its praises to complete strangers in checkout lines and restaurants. I can't say enough good things about it. The only negative thing I can think of (more of a wishful thinking thing) is that it's only available in paperback. I wish it was also available as a hardback. Taking this to the gym with you will wear it out eventually. Of course for its low price replacing it is inexpensive. It's an excellent resource.

A Must-Read if You Lift Weights, July 30, 2006
I'm very impressed with this useful book. I've lifted weights for a long time and I appreciate knowing how best to work certain muscles. I also like to do lifts that are easy on former injuries but still work the muscles. This is a perfect book for that.

Knowing what muscles your exercises use is critical to someone serious about gaining strength and building muscle. This book has those answers and is very easy to read and understand.

The book is the best one for both men and women. The author's book for women only deals with the lower part of a woman. News flash . . . we have an upper part too. And furthermore, we care about it just as much as our butts and thighs.

This books covers it all and also has drawings of women as well as men. It's really a great book and if you lift weights (and you should) this book is something you really should have.

It gives you instructions for all of the exercises you'll need and it shows exactly what muscle groups or muscle it works. It helps you avoid injury as well.

A great book. I highly recommend it to both men and women.

Great learning tool, July 6, 2002
I bought this book because it's hard to find a strength training book that isn't full of oversized bodybuilders talking strictly about building HUGE muscles. This book is perfect for the average person who just wants a scientific explanation of which muscles do what and the proper strength training technique to use for each. I found almost all common exercises included, and they are easily organized by body part.

Not very useful, January 28, 2003
Propably the first thing you notice when you open the book is quality. The paper is thick and glossy and the quality of printing is good. The pictures are beautiful, and it's easy to find exercises for a certain muscle group.

Then the bad news: While the pictures look great, on many occasions they are too detailed, to the point of being unclear. Every exercise is given a full page (two pages on some occasions). But the majority of a page is filled with large drawing of the exercise, with the stressed muscle groups shown. The performance of a given exercise is given far less detail, on some occasions only a few lines of text. I think it would be far more benefical to give more detailed explanation of correct performance and/or common mistakes, and print the picture a bit smaller.

The exercises in the book are divided on seven sections, based on which muscle group they mainly stress. This is OK, but the division of muscle groups is a bit odd. There is a separate section covering exercises for buttocs, but at the same time all other muscle groups in the leg are combined as "legs". It would be more reasonable to combine buttocs with quads, or thights, and give calves a separate section.

There are about 110 different exercises, and variations on some exercises. The selection of exercises is a bit odd in my opinion. For example, there is a page on seated calf raise (on a machine), and the author advises that as a variation you can do the exercise without a machine, using a barbell across your legs. Then, on the next page that very same exercise is presented as a separate exercise! And there are some basic exercises missing, like toe presses on leg press machine, for example.

Perhaps the main problem of the book is that it doesn't expalain the muslce mechanics at all. It would be great if the kinesiology of given muscle group would be explained at the beginning of each chapter, but there is no explanations at all about what a given muscle does, and how it affects the whole body. For example, the book says that seated calf raise targets the soleus, but there is no explanation what this means in practice. And there is no explanation which exercise I sould use if I wanted to emphasize the outer calf, for example.

As a conclusion, I would say that in certain circumstances this book can be a valuable asset, but you can't use it by itself. You need to have some books on kinesiology, and some books which describe the correct performance of each exercise in detail.

Indispensable!, December 12, 2002
I buy lots of fitness and strength training books, and this one is by far the best I've purchased. The book may look small, but it provides an extensive listing of exercises and includes tips about variations that will change how you work each muscle. This is important for a couple of reasons.

To maximize your gains in the gym, you have to constantly change your program so that your body doesn't hit a plateau. Regularly incorporating new exercises will also keep you from becoming bored with your workout. This book will show you how using a rope attachment with the pulley works a different part of the triceps as opposed to doing bench dips or doing a kickback. Also, the illustrations show you the auxiliary muscles that are recruited during compound movements like presses and deadlifts.

At first I was worried that the book might be too much for me to absorb, but it's not because the author does not get overly-technical with the explanations. The text is concise, yet thorough, and the pictures are highly detailed.

This is a wonderful reference book, and I highly recommend it.

Visually engaging and concise, February 19, 2005
This book has been very helpful to me in free weight training to validate if I am concentrating on the correct muscles in an exercise. The presentation is colorful, rich and engaging. This is the only exercise book I have seen that approaches the weightlifting body from the inside-out. In addition to the terrific musculature and skeletal diagrams on each page, the exercises are explained briefly but in sufficient detail with pointers for what to do and not do. The most popular exercises are presented here, organized by major and minor muscle groups.

This is not another encyclopedia full of exercises (though I find those helpful too). This book helps make you more aware of your muscles so you have another way of visualizing correct form in an exercise. The diagrams depict both men and women in a realistic way so both genders can benefit from the book. However, Delavier has another edition of this book showing other exercises popular with women.

I work out at home so without the benefit of trainers or other experienced lifters around me, I have found this kind of info invaluable. Make yourself a smarter lifter and get this book for education and reference into the future. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Matt Long, Where do they grow people like him?
Let me start by saying that I had a whole different perspective of this story...My Brother, Dr. Dean Lorich, is one of the Trauma Surgeons who would not give up on Matt when lesser Surgeons with less skill may have been way out of their league. My Brother called me the day that the bus rolled over Matt and I had been an avid follower of Matt's successful ride back from Death's Door. The beauty of Matt is that he knew that a lesser man would have died. A man with less intestinal fortitude would have never made it. His courage is the kind that only few have, usually reserved only for Firemen, Police Officers and the Men and Women serving in the military but Matt should be an example for anyone suffering in one way or another. I've listened to Matt's story as told by my Brother and seen his awesome story on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel and read it in Runner's World Magazine but "The Long Run" goes deeper into the Man, Matt Long...A true inspiration for any Runner, Doctor, Fireman....or just anyone who wants to a read a Rocky-like Comeback story....a good guy who actually does win...a triumph....Congratulations MATT....My Mother and I are thrilled that my Brother could be a part of your life!....God Bless.

A must read for anyone!!! Inspiration beyond belief.
This book is not only for athletes - it is for anyone. Matt takes us to a place inside each of us - that place where we reach deep and keep on keeping on!!!! Matt never gave up after being hit by a bus on his bicyle and being near death - he is truly an inspiration to anyone. You should share this book with your friends and family - it makes you forget about those little aches and pains you have when you realize all Matt when through and endured. If you know anyone going through depression or a major illness - please let them read this as it will help them through the tough times. I had the privilege of meeting Matt a month ago by accident(well I shouldn't use that word) and I just knew I wouldn't be disappointed with this book - he is just that special and it shows in his book.
Matt was kept alive for a reason and this book and his foundation I WILL are only the beginning!!!!

Totally inspirational and incredible to believe!
This story is amazing. From what life has brought to Matt Long and how he has handled the challenges, it is truly remarkable. I am not a runner due to knee injuries, but am inspired to give it more of a try than I ever have before. Thank you Matt for sharing the good, bad, and ugly details which truly encourages people to get motivated and improve their own lives. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Motivational !, May 16, 2000
I saw an add in Runners World for this book and sent away for it the same day! I had been searching for a motivational women's running book and had no luck finding one, until now! The advice and information provided pertains to both beginners and elite runners, and in my case someone who would like to get in better shape and become a faster runner. It helped to be reminded of just how beneficial running can be both physically as well as mentally. Just to name a few aspects of this book I enjoyed: it provided good advice on how to run and train smart, running programs I can follow without getting discouraged, who (if anyone) to train with, how to set and achieve goals, how to stay motivated and basically how to enjoy one of the easiest, cheapest and rewarding women's sports out there! Another one of my favorite aspects thoughout the book were the personal tips and stories the author provided, I can completely relate to some of her experiences and thoughts on running, both funny and serious. I think this book is a great tool for all women runner's to use and I hope other women can benefit from it as much as I have!

There is a runner in all of us, even YOU!, March 18, 2004
Although I had been working out for years, my stamina for running was just not there. I researched several running books, and this was by far the best. If you are a beginner, and need the basics, get this book. Age should not be a factor, but as advised-have a physical before you embark on running. I am physically fit, I had never ran, and I did not start until I was 41. There are women who write that they did not even begin until they were in their 60's! The program instructs on how to incorporate running into your workout, starting with as little as 2 minutes! You can do that right? It covers how to choose the right running shoe, how to avoid injury, and what you need to eat in order to maintain stamina for the long haul. Carb's are important here, take note. Dagny covers it all, and speaks from experience. She even covers overcoming the initial "embarassement" of running for the first time, and how to enter your first 5K and finish. I love this book, and still refer to it.

A good book for beginning runners, but a bit basic for intermediate runners, April 8, 2008
I am by no means an advanced runner. I run a couple half marathons a year and I average a 9 min/mile pace. This book would have been great years ago when I first started running and training for 5K races. It covers the basics and has some nice pieces on clothing, gear and injuries. I found this book to be comprehensive, but lacking on depth on certain topics, expecially injuries. I think this is a great book for those who are just starting to run or considering their first 5K, 10K and half marathon. However, for those of us who already have miles under our belt and the blisters to prove it, this book may not provide any additional insight that we don't already know.

Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running, September 1, 2002
Scott's approach to running revitalized my running training. After picking up the book 9 months ago, I started running again, after having burnt out on training a couple of years ago. I continue to run and improve 9 months later, without injury or burnout. The practical advice in this book address not only the mechanics of running - but uses a global view of running affecting the body, mind and spirit. I especially like the journals and quotes from women runners who are of different ages and stages. Definitely recommend this book for women with an interest in beginning to run for the first time as well as women who have run but have stagnated in their progress.

Terrific and complete guide, July 21, 2000
This book contains various training programs to take you from novice to marathon runner. It examines many issues relating to running, from body image to proper nutrition to running while pregnant. It was well-organized and motivational. It is a great investment for any runner or would-be runner.

Great for all levels, not just beginners, March 26, 2009
I could not decide between this book and the similarly-titled one by Claire Kowalski so I actually went to the bookstore and spent some time flipping through them both. They both seem very good and well-informed, but the Kowalski book is definitely geared more toward beginners (in tone, mostly, but also in content). I am looking to move from beginner to intermediate level running and found that this book fit my needs much better. This one I think is also good for beginners, but the Kowalski book has more of a motivational focus and this one concentrates more on striving for excellence in your running (racing, improving times, etc). It is really a book that can take you from the absolute, never jogged-before state to a marathon. The author's style is very accessible and easy to read, too. I read it cover to cover on a long flight and enjoyed it all the way through.

What a great motivator!, December 9, 2002
While training for my third marathon, I picked up this book to find some new training ideas. I couldn't put it down! It covers all facets of women's running - beginning to long distance, pregnancy, nutrition, balancing family and/or job with running and motivating factors. I used the charts, stretches and training ideas. I've recommended it to countless friends and often discussed ideas from the book while on long runs with training partners. Not only did I get some practical training advice, but I got a new resource for my running.

Complete Book of Women'srunning-Excellent, May 24, 2009
This book is a comprehensive book on women's running, particularly for those new to the sport. It offers recommendations on all aspects of running, preventing injuries, how to pace yourself, how to adavnce in speed, distance or both, the older runner, and running at different stages of your life and running career. This book has become my 'bible' of running.

Great book for beginners!, July 7, 2010
Out of the blue I decided that I wanted to run a half marathon, but I knew nothing about running. After hours and hours reading reviews I picked this book, and all the reviews were right. This book has EVERYTHING!!!! Everything from how to pick out the perfect pair of running sunglasses to running when you're pregnant. It has great stretches and exercises to keep you balanced. While avid runners may find some of this information common knowledge, I think it has great tips that every woman needs to be reminded of, like how to be safe while running. I feel that I now have a great basic knowledge of the sport now, and I'm on my way to finishing my first half marathon.

Excellent for New Runners, June 21, 2009
This book was so helpful, it covers everything without being overwhelming. I really think it's a great book for new runners! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Starting today, you don't have to live in pain.

That is the revolutionary message of this breakthrough system for eliminating chronic pain without drugs, surgery, or expensive physical therapy. Developed by Pete Egoscue, a nationally renowned physiologist and sports injury consultant to some of today's top athletes, the Egoscue Method has an astounding 95 percent success rate. The key is a series of gentle exercises and carefully constructed stretches called E-cises. Inside you'll find detailed photographs and step-by-step instructions for dozens of motioncizes specifically designed to provide quick and lasting relief of:

• Lower back pain, hip problems, sciatica, and bad knees
  
• Carpal tunnel syndrome and even some forms of arthritis
  
• Migraines and other headaches, stiff neck, fatigue, sinus problems, vertigo, and TMJ
  
• Shin splints, varicose veins, sprained or weak ankles, and many foot ailments
  
• Bursitis, tendinitis, and rotator cuff problems
  
• Plus special preventive motioncise programs for maintaining health through the entire body.
  

Reviews

Pain Freedom, June 8, 2010
Written by an author who has suffered with chronic pain himself, Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain takes a specific stand on why you're hurting and what you should do about it. In a nutshell, the idea is that chronic pain is due to imbalances in the body- mainly those of posture and alignment, which can be corrected through proper motions the book calls "E-cises". Here's a few highlights...

-the book starts you out with three chapters that go over its main ideas
-from there, you go to specific chapters for specific problems (like the foot, the back, the shoulder, etc.)
-you'll find lots of good pictures that do a good job of showing you how to do the exercises
-you don't really need a lot of equipment to do the exercises- mainly some pillows or something to rest your arms and legs on
-there are routines for maintenance, as well as specific sports (like soccer, football, etc.)

Mostly good stuff here, as you can see, and an all around sensible approach I thought. I did find the exercises simple enough, and will probably help relax a lot of pain sufferers to boot.

The negatives? Not many. The only thing I think that might turn off some people, is the time involved- sometimes its recommended you do them for 45 minutes to an hour. But, you get out of it what you put into it.

Worth a good look, I recommend any chronic pain sufferer give them a try. Those with back pain might also be interested in Treat Your Own Spinal Stenosis.

Buy this book *BEFORE* you need it., October 18, 1998
I'm going to have to lower my lathe about 4 inches. Hmm, well that's starting at the end. Back to the beginning: The first thing I noticed when I got the book was a blurb from Depak Chopra. Not very encouraging. The second was on about page 34 or so the author says the X-Rays are one of the biggest problems with modern medicine...and I'm an X-Ray Tech. The biggest problem is that all of the evidence is anecdotal, some even celebrity anecdotes, nary a controlled study in sight.

But I'm afraid I've become an anecdote myself. After doing the shoulder pain exercises for a couple of weeks, not only has the pain gone away but my shoulder height has dropped about four inches. I can tell, because both of my lathes were set to be at elbow height, and now they're far too high.

After doing the shoulder exercises for a month or so I switched over to the general exercises, and my feet, after 50 years, now point straight ahead when I walk instead of out to the sides. With a little deliberate effort at first, mind you.

The book makes consumate sense. And it sure worked for me. Far better to buy and follow the book now before our modern propensity for the sedentary life gets you in trouble.

Marathon Runner With Chronic Knee Pain - Now Cured, May 17, 2005
Looking through the many reviews regarding this book, I felt that I should add my own personal experience. In 2003, I developed chronic Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) while training for the Honolulu marathon. I initially tried to push myself through the injury, thinking it would just go away, and even forced myself to run half of the marathon before I just couldn't go on due to the excruciating pain. Multiple doctors, physical therapy, and cortisone shots have filled the last two years of trying to come back. Everything failed.

About two months ago, I went to an orthopedic surgeon and begged him to "fix" my problem through surgery so that I could start running again. He refused, and ordered me back to the same physical therapy program which did nothing before. Disheartened, I resigned myself to do nothing until I heard Mr. Escogue's weekly radio show one Saturday morning. Intrigued but wearisome of another fix, I decided to pick up the book at the local library since I didn't want to spend more money on something that may be bogus.

I began doing the exercises for knee pain approx. three weeks ago. After a few days, I began to notice some improvements. Five days ago, I began running again with zero pain. To test this miracle cure, I went to the gym to do full squats, something that I couldn't even do one of before with out some serious pain. I did four sets of twelve, again with zero pain. I've now ordered three of Mr. Escogue's books so that I can give them to friends and family with various forms of chronic pain. I can't predict how his methods will work for others, but they worked for me.

Great intro to good posture, but there are alternatives, October 7, 2008
Pain Free is the simplest, most direct explanation of the Egoscue Method available...if you'd like to save hundreds if not thousands of dollars over therapy, get this book.

Pete Egoscue deserves enormous credit for introducing the concept that structural integration - aka postural alignment - is the primary method for relieving all kinds of chronic pain. Western medicine is fantastic at combating "acute" problems (broken bone, heart attack), but has not traditionally been so great at tackling "chronic" problems... something that I think postural alignment really addresses much more effectively than most western physical therapy. I personally thought so highly of the Egoscue Method that after I bought and read this book I went to get treated at an Egoscue clinic (where I think they correctly diagnosed my problem), I bought his two other books, took the P3 seminar to get their lowest certification, and referred my dad and a good friend to Egoscue for their problems.

I would say that the biggest criticism I have of Egoscue is the time required to do the "e-cises"... these can literally demand 30-45 minutes PER DAY to apply appropriately. Also, Egoscue's depiction of the ideal posture, which I originally accepted as gospel because I had no comparison, I have since come to think of as slightly flawed.

I prefer Esther Gokhale's "8 Steps to a Pain Free Back" for two reasons:

1. It takes MUCH less time - you simply learn the Gokhale method and then integrate it all the time without separate exercises.

2. Instead of trying to figure out from an engineering perspective what's best for the body as Egoscue has done, Gokhale went out to indigenous peoples with very low incidences of chronic pain and simply observed what they were doing...her depiction of the ideal posture is based on this, and is what produces the slight variations with Egoscue's ideal posture. I think Gokhale makes a convincing case for her method because of this.

If you're sold on the Egoscue Method, then I highly recommend "Pain Free" as the book to get at the method the quickest (well-done book with illustrations and explanations); but I prefer Gokhale and would recommend checking that out as well.

It did not help me but ..., April 11, 2007
I bought this book based on the great reviews it has but the exercises did not ease my back pain. After suffering from back pain for over 20 years my hopes were getting lower and lower to find any relief. Going 3 years to the chiropractor helped somewhat but not really.

Reading another customer review I came across some exercises by DonTigny that correct commonly overlooked sacroiliac joint partial dislocation. This condition is most often overlooked as a source of severe and constant back pain. Even better you can download the program for free. Just google Richard Louis DonTigny home program.

This condition was totally unknown to me but after doing the exercises a few times something popped in my hip area and my back pain started to ease. Now 4 months later I am still pain free and can cut my own fire wood again something that was before simply out of the question.

If the Book Pain Free helps your back pain great ... if not maybe give Richard Louis DonTigny free exercises a try I am certainly glad that I did!

Egoscue's book appears both effective and economical., August 23, 1998
After two sessions with Egoscue's exercises, I've still spent less than $25, I can hold my head straighter, and my uneven gait from mis-aligned hips is much improved. Two sessions at the physical therapist would have cost $36 in hot-packs alone, never mind the cost of actual therapy. And I would have been treated for the hip or the shoulder, but probably not both.

Egoscue recommends reading the introductory chapters, then moving to the chapters specific to your needs. This advice works well with one possible exception: you may miss the story about the woman so misaligned that after 45 minutes in a relaxed, static back posture, she went into muscle spasm. This story indicates that it might be wise for people with considerable pain or strong mis-alignment to have someone with them during the first days or weeks of doing these exercises, to begin with the minimum times recommended for each exercise, and to expect to take longer to reach maintenance.

Egoscue might also have provided directions on how to get up after lying in some of these positions: I've found it helps to pull my legs in toward my torso, then turn onto my side before I try raising my head and upper body.

All in all, Egoscue's book appears very helpful. I now have high hopes for my own recovery from various chronic muscle ailments and recommend the book (I'm getting ready to have Amazon.com mail a copy to my sister right now).

Response to another review, May 6, 2002
Re: Fad exercises, April 19, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from Limassol, Cyprus

I was only in my 30's(not a pensioner) when I used this book and the results were amazing. Yes, they take time to do, but too many people want a quick fix via a pill or surgery. This book helps you avoid those if that is your choice. I made time by getting up earlier in the morning or staying up a little later. This book truly changed my life and many other people's lives that I referred it to.

handle with caution, March 31, 2006
Notice the number of rave reviews for this book, and notice how many of the reviewers describe "The Method" in terms that are more appropriate to religious recruitment. Reviewers here call this book a "bible", talk about "evangelizing" their friends, and there are only a few reviews that address what I think are serious dangers involved in an uncritical use of the exercises in the book.

I've had surgery for a cervical disk that was all over my spinal cord and was causing hyper reflexes and intolerable pain. I still have pain, because even after surgery, nerve roots from C4 to C8 are pinched by narrowed foramina. I also have cervical spine stenosis.

I tried the exercises here, some of which are based on common sense, and for those the author deserves credit. The book advocates movement and warns against hours of sedentary bad posture. Fair enough. Many of the exercises are similar to those recommended by my physical therapist, and used in moderation, could help someone possibly delay or even eliminate surgery. Great. But when I tried the "Cats" exercise, which hyperextends the neck, it caused a lengthy episode of excruciating pain that prevented me from turning my head the full 180 degrees of range that I had before. The nerve-root at C6-C7 flared up, with the familiar stabbing pain under the shoulder blade. It was enough to make me weep. Given the very individual nature of spine problems, to claim that these exercises are a "one size fits all" is a mistake.

I have to agree with the other reviewer who said that putting a big old curve on your spine is a terrible idea if you already have stenosis. Nowhere in this book does the author caution against the very compromising "Cats" position for people with cervical spine damage.

Rave reviews from adoring groupies notwithstanding, this book should be used with extreme discretion by chronic pain sufferers, if the pain is coming from a known spinal abnormality. If the positions shown here go against what your surgeon or pain doctor recommend, avoid them. Do get off your couch and move a bit! On that score, numquam satis.

Scientific Perspective on the Body, September 20, 1999
I'll add my voice to the others extolling the virtues of the Egoscue Method. What really impressed me, as an engineer and scientist, was Pete's recognition that the body must obey structural laws, just like a skyscraper. Buildings are designed so that weight is transferred through the girders, not the joints. In people, muscles position our girders (bones) so that they transfer weight effectively. When our muscles weaken from lack of use, the bones aren't positioned correctly. Our personal skyscraper begins to sway, and the wrong joints or muscles are forced to compensate. This causes or allows the myriad of ailments Pete describes, because the wrong joints simply cant bear the load -- knees wear out, backs hurt, etc. Don't think this program is easy. You must pay attention to detail when you do the exercises. It is hard, long work. Muscles that have weakened for years dont strengthen overnight. But feeling good, controlling your own health -- isn't that worth it? After five orthopedists and two chiropracters, it is for me.

Pain Free changed my life, December 29, 2004
This easy-to-read book was recommended to me last summer by my daughter-in-law. Because of scoliosis, I suffered from back pain all my life. Following Pete Egoscue's recommendations, I am now free of all hip, back, and shoulder pain, and I've increased my height by one-half an inch. Although the exercises take time and committment, the results are well worth it. I also recommend his book for computer users: Pain Free at Your PC. For a more in-depth explanation of Pete's techniques and how you can diagnose yourself, read The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion. ... Read more