Ironman's Ultimate Bodybuilding Encyclopedia
by Peter Sisco
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Book Summary Information
Author: Peter SiscoEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1999-01-11
ISBN: 0809228114
Number of pages: 464
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Book Reviews of Ironman's Ultimate Bodybuilding Encyclopedia
Book Review: Informative and Enjoyable Compilation of Ironman Articles
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been reading this Ultimate Bodybuilding Encylopedia for the last few weeks and I find it very useful and motivating.
This is very different than Arnold's encylopedia, not better or worse just different. If you want a systematic and comprehensive guide to bodybuilding exercises and their performance then Arnold's is what I would recommend. Note that (in my opinion), many of the routines are geared more for someone w/ performance enhancing drugs and would severly overtrain most natural bodybuilders. Still, Arnold's book is incredibly comprehensive and has been updated since the original release.
The Ironman encyclopedia is more of a collection of articles from Ironman issues over the years. The great thing about that is you get a variety of points of view and approaches which is excellent.
The price of the book is VERY inexpensive compared to what one would have to pay if you were to buy the same volume of valuable information in magazines.
Personally I'm not a big fan of the overall direction bodybuilding has gone with the extreme juice monsters, but this book has a mix of material that can cater to a natural bodybuilder as well as those into the more extreme aspects of the sport. In addition to the many excellent articles, there are photographs which contain bodybuilders from both "schools" of bodybuilding which is not something you find very often.
I've recently purchased the Ironman Natural Bodybuilding Book which is also excellent for those interested in focusing specifically on a drug free approach (though certainly some of the extreme supplementation used by "natural" bodybuilders almost approaches a middle ground between completely natural and pharmaceuticals).
For me the most important thing has been learning the difference between how to approach training from a natural point of view. I train for health and appearance, but not even remotely with the idea of competition, and it's been great to learn so much about how to workout hard without overtraining, especially for someone drug free like myself.
A lot of attention is paid to the fact that natural bodybuilders/weight trainers really have to learn how NOT to overtrain, something I most definitely did many years ago. I worked out way too much and really hit a wall.
Anyway, the different articles contained in this book has a plethora of interesting information that I think most people interested in pumping iron will find useful and enjoyable to read.
Another thing I really appreciate in the book is the honest discussion of the various drugs being used by non-natural bodybuilders. I especially liked the fact that Ironman had the guts to have interview with the anonymous IFBB Olympia competitor who frankly discusses the insane drug combinations he uses to stay competitive and the dangerous health issues he faces from that use. It's such an over the top interview that it actually had me going "Is this for real?", but most certainly it is. I've talked with several athletes who have used performance enhancing drugs and they suffered greatly from the side effects so this interview rang true to me.
It still amazes me that the IFBB hasn't tried to clean up and legitimize this sport into a sport that people can take seriously. Instead, they've taken a great sport and turned it into a freak show. They've created an environment that is horrific for the athletes, men and woman who should exemplify health and instead exemplify drugs. This Ironman book, while still featuring many "juiced up" bodybuilders, at least doesn't shy away from the truth about these drugs where many other publications have a "don't ask don't tell" approach.
Highly recommended!
Summary of Ironman's Ultimate Bodybuilding Encyclopedia
Continuously published since 1936, Ironman is the dean of bodybuilding magazines. Ironman has been showcasing every major bodybuilder, training technique, and scientific advance, along with other aspects of the iron game, longer than any other bodybuilding magazine. With articles by and photos of the greatest names in bodybuilding, the Ironman archives represent the best of bodybuilding in the 20th century. Here, in one definitive, information-packed volume, you have the best that Ironman has to offer. The articles and photos reprinted in Ironman's Ultimate Bodybuilding Encyclopedia are of enormous and enduring value to beginners and experts alike. A tour de force of bodybuilding information with stunning photos of unrivaled quality, this massive volume covers every aspect of bodybuilding with authority and depth. Included is complete information on:- Bodybuilding fundamentals
- Bodybuilding physiology
- Shoulder training
- Chest training
- Back training
- Arm training
- Abdominal training
- Leg training
- Training with a system
- Training with the champions
- Tricks and secrets to boost growth
- Training for mass
- Training for power
- Mental aspects of training
- Natural bodybuilding
- Bodybuilding nutrition
- Bodybuilding injuries
- Drugs in bodybuilding
Bodybuilding & Weight Training Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
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