Bodybuilding Book Reviews

A must-read for anyone with an interest in bodybuilding and the competitive bodybuilding scene! (I'm going to start this review the same way as I'm going to finish it).

I read a review of this book in the Sunday Times in November, and thought 'oh, I've got to read that', so I jotted down the author and title and gave the scrap of paper to my girlfriend, winked and said 'Christmas pressie please!'

Sure enough on Christmas day I unwrapped this book and went upstairs to the porcelain library to read it. My initial thoughts were as it's written by a journalist, it's bound to be all anti-steroids and having digs at so-called inflated bodybuilding egos.

But it was anything but that.

Hotten spent a few years researching this brilliant piece by following the competitive bodybuilding scene in the UK and worldwide, both currently and retrospectively, in order to write a completely impartial how-it-is in depth review. He interviewed many current and past champions and people who run the scene including Dorian Yates, Wayne DeMilia, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Gunter Schlierkamp, Kerry Kayes, Grant Thomas and even The Governator himself, Arnold. He also looks into the shocking death of Andreas Munzer at great length, again completely non-judgementally.

The great thing about Hotten is, although a non-bodybuilder himself, he really gets into the scene and appreciates it through the eyes only a bodybuilder could appreciate it. Sure steroids and other drugs do get mentioned in detail, but not in a negative light. Indeed at times, I felt Hotten, for all his detailed research, was still a little naïve as to the full extent drugs are actually used in bodybuilding.

Buy this book, you'll love it. Infact it will be an eye-opener and even be enjoyed with equal appreciation by someone who has no knowledge of the sport of bodybuilding. A must-read for anyone with an interest in bodybuilding and the competitive bodybuilding scene!

A fantastic book for the beginner. Here you'll find everything you need to get you started - exercise form and routines, diet, supplements, steroids, contests - nothing is left out!

This book is superbly written in a way that will put a great deal of information across to even the newest of trainers - this was the first book on training I ever read and due to its clear, concise information remains my favourite.

A huge book which contains the pick of the best articles from the world-renowned Ironman magazine. A wealth of information is to be found here and everything you could possibly want to know can be found in here without being overly complex or scientific.

Having so many articles from so many authors does of course lead to differences in opinion and even some contradictory information which could potentially confuse some newer trainers. This book is a valuable addition to someone who has already learnt the basics and is aiming to increase the scope of the knowledge.

A selection of the finest articles from the archives of Ironman magazine on how to make the most of drug free training. The book covers all aspects of natural training including the best exercises, diet and supplementation.

This book presents a great deal of information on ways to maximise your natural training and is not suitable for the absoloute beginner due to such a large number of different training routines on offer. For a natural trainer who already has some experience and is keen to make the most of their training this is an excellent choice.

With a good background as to the beginnings of bodybuilding and weightlifting this is an excellent read for all levels of trainees. Providing good information on how to start bodybuilding, from selecting your gym and training wear right through to final stages of pre-competition training and posing, this book is a must for all entering the bodybuilding world. Greatly inspirational for all.

Dr. Hatfield very well known in the strength-training field for his work and record-breaking lifts goes a little deeper into what happens when we train. The book was written way back in 1984 and has not been revised since - this means the contest winners list is rather lacking and some of the supplements and steroids mentioned are a bit outdated.

Having said that this book contains a lot of good information, principally for someone who has been training a while and wants to learn a bit more about the processes of muscle building. Questions about what happens inside muscles when we train and the digestion process are covered. There are also topics on steroids and psychology of training. Despite a few flaws relevant to its age this book has some excellent information within and would be of interest to someone who has been training a while and wants to take their knowledge of training up a level.

Given the importance of diet in Bodybuilding there are relatively few books around which focus solely on the subject. The book covers pretty much everything you will need to learn in order to become a successful trainee from the diet viewpoint. Everything is well written and accessible for all levels of experience. Although personally I would not go exactly with the suggested meal plans it does provide good clarity for those that require guidance.

The book covers all nutrition matters such as contest preparation, weight loss, weight gain, meal ideas and also a dedicated section on supplements. I think this book is an excellent choice as everything you need to know is covered and there is information that will prove of use to all levels of trainees.

Stella’s kitchen is a refreshing change from so many of the healthy cook books out there. Why? Because the dishes actually taste good. People don’t even realise that what I am serving them is health food.

I enjoy using this book because not only does it have a huge number of different ideas to suit all tastes, but it also has helpful suggestions such as the cuts of beef to buy and what to do with all those leftovers – not that there are any after I cook these culinary delights!

Stella’s approach is also great for the time poor and disorganised, as many of the dishes can be whipped up with just ordinary ingredients and not those only found in speciality shops. And if you don’t have the ingredients on hand, Stella offers many helpful modifications.

There are so many suggestions and troubleshooting ideas in this book that even those that are terrified of boiling water will soon shock their friends with amazing and, importantly, healthy gastronomic delights."

A very good book which covers the all-important principles of good diet and also touches on the subject of supplementation. There is a wide array of information on meal planning and the best types of food to choose.

This book covers a lot of information and would be a worthwhile purchase for most bodybuilders from beginner to intermediate who are keen to learn more about diet and how to put it into practice.

Frank Zane is a former 3 time Mr Olympia so I figured reading this book might give me a bit of inspiration. (Well kick up the butt at the very least!)

I'm not sure what I was expecting, probably something along the lines of Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Arnold: The Education of a Body Builder". (Which is a great book). But this book is not like any bodybuilding book I have ever read. Its hard to pin point it but its basically day to day workout routines with some poems,drawings and spiritual ideas of Frank Zane's, not forgetting some parts of his personal life.

If you think all Body Builders are just vain meatheads with attitude, then you really should read this book because Frank Zane is one very deep guy. His Poems are very deep and his outlook on life is very deep (getting the picture yet?)

What is great about this book is that Frank has included some of his most memorable routines here, along with poundage's as well! Seeing what routines and weights Frank was pushing in 1977 is great reading in my opinion.

This book also contains some of his more recent routines and also includes pictures of exercise's and stretching.

All in all a great book which gives a deep insight in to the mind, body and spirit of Frank Zane.

Thoroughly Recommended.

This is a great book for beginners and people wishing to learn more about good form and the structure of the body. It provides detailed descriptions of the joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles as well as full skeletal and skeletal muscle diagrams. It lists nearly all the fundamental exercises for bodybuilding and provides detailed descriptions of exercise execution alongside the mechanics behind the execution. An excellent introduction to bodybuilding and weight training.

"How to gain 30 pounds of muscle in 6 weeks" is the claim of this book - it is emblazoned on the cover. Though this program has been shown to do this, it was under mitigating circumstances.

The book is narrow in focus. It is about the 20 rep squat program and nothing else. It is however, an excellent book full of useful information about the squat whether you plan to do this routine or not. The 20 rep squat routine is probably the most brutal form of training possible, hence why the claims made are questionable. Many try it, many put all they have into it but very, very few have the will to do this routine as it is intended, it is so harsh as to be unrealistic.

Aside from all this, I strongly recommend everyone read this book, as it is an education in the merits and benefits of hard work and wondrous effects of squatting. This is a genuinely classic book. Though full of rhetoric and bold claims it still, in my opinion, benefits all that read it.

This is a great book for a wide range of sports people. There are loads of delicious nutritional recipes for drinks. Most of them are juice-based or smoothies based on fruit or vegetable juices with some chocolate ones too. Each recipe has clear directions and also the protein, fat, carbohydrate and calorie nutritional breakdown.

The book is clear, well presented and also has an introduction briefly covering nutritional requirements for sports people. Both authors are State Registered Dietitians in the UK and experts in their field. There is also a chart suggesting which drink for which sport/activity.

In short - an excellent addition to the library of any keen sports person!