Starting Strength (2nd edition)
by Lon Kilgore, Mark Rippetoe
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Book Reviews of Starting Strength (2nd edition)
Book Review: All you really need to get strong
Summary: 5 Stars
I came to learn about Coach Rip via Crossfit when he was still associated with Crossfit HQ. After reading SS:BBT and then Practical Programming (the second part of Rip's bible), I realized that like he says, strength may be the most important thing in life when it comes to being fit. The book covers all the basics anyone needs to get strong and, if desired, big. I heartily recommend all his books. Currently I am an intermediate lifter using Rip's Texas Method and making solid gains week by week. This is a no BS, common-sense program that will get you strong using the basic lifts plus assistance exercises, all of which are covered in adequate detail. I highly recommend this book in conjunction with Practical Programming, as the programming section of SS is a bit weak. The two books together are all you really need, though his writing style is so entertaining, you'll probably end up buying his other books and following his blog on [...] as well. As one reviewer mentioned, it's dense, with tons of detail on each exercise. That's so you do it correctly, don't get injured, and get the most benefit you can from your workouts. It's not a bodybuilding, Olympic lifting, or even powerlifting book; it's a book about the most efficient and effective way to get strong. And it works.Book Review: All I can say is "Wow!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me first state that I've been lifting weights for almost 30 years now and competed in several powerlifting meets back in the 80's. Although I have always felt strong, as I've aged, I began to feel pain in my joints when I was lifting, particularly my knees, back, and shoulders. I chalked this up to age and figured I guess I needed to just slow down and accept getting older.
This book has been recommended to me by Amazon quite a bit, but it just looked to simplistic to me and I figured I already knew how to lift properly. I guess I was wrong.
I finally decided to pick this book up after seeing some of its material crossed over on the crossfit website. After reading it I immediately started implementing some of the changes the book recommended into my routine. For the first time in years, I'm squatting pain free, without knee braces. My bench press has risen 30 pounds in just 1 month after implementing standing presses to my routine instead of doing them seated. I feel like an entirely new lifter, one who can continue to improve through his entire life, not just his youth. Thank you Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore for writing such a great book. It belongs in everyone's weightlifting library, and I can easily give it the highest possible recommendation.
Book Review: Excellent Manual for the Big Lifts
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is quite thorough and the terminology aimed squarely at coaches. As a bioengineering student, it was especially relevant to learn about the biomechanical aspects of each lift.
For instance, explaining how holding a deep breath or wearing a belt helps during a squat was actually an engineering problem in class. Many myths are dispelled and explain that it is quite safe to let your knees travel over your toes slightly, and to squat so that your hip crease goes below the top of your knees. And more than that, it explains how beneficial it is to squat deep.
I've read through this book twice. The writing is unpretentious and the writers don't just throw around scientific terms to wow you. It is as concise as it can be, considering it troubleshoots the squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, power clean, and assistance exercises. This is definitely the book to recommend to beginners.
Both my girlfriend and I do a similar 5x5 program that is recommended in this book and the results have been fantastic. We are one of the few doing squats properly in our gym. The results have been great and the lifts much more fun than just doing a million isolation exercises (such as curls and abs).
Book Review: Thumbs up from Older Novice
Summary: 5 Stars
Age 47
I really just had general health/fitness goals in mind when I starting looking around for something to do with the weights that were gathering dust in my basement.
I was lucky enough to stumble across Starting Strength. I started with a very patient attitude toward learning the techniques. I also got my wife involved by making her read the chapter on squats and tell me if I was doing them right (I wasn't). Now she's doing the lifts too, and we watch each others form. Her doctor was thrilled to hear what she was doing considering her risk for osteoporosis.
Now, a year later I've missed only a handful of workouts and have had no injuries. My stats are steadily going up, although I have friends who insist I should be doing 400lb squats by now because that's what they can do on the leg press. I'm ignoring them. Because I'm battling high cholesterol without drugs, I'm not able to eat as much as I should to get strong super fast, though I'm always trying to eat enough to make gains each time I lift.
If you are older, and have to balance concerns, good form and patience are the main keys. This book will definitely teach the first. The second is up to you!
Book Review: Beginner's Mind
Summary: 5 Stars
The first thing I noticed when I picked up Starting Strength is that Rippetoe and Kilgore spend 60 pages on the squat. That is, put a heavy bar on your back, lower yourself down, and stand back up again - 60 pages. Sure, there are plenty of helpful illustrations and photos, but the pages are packed with text telling you how to squat. The crazy thing is, they don't really repeat themselves. Sure, they'll provide a new focal point that might help with the same aspect of form previously discussed, but they unload so much information in the pages of this book that it's stunning. I never imagined there was so much to know about putting a heavy bar on your back, lowering yourself down, and standing back up. The depth of their knowledge is stupendous and their ability to convey that knowledge clearly is equal to the task. There are many pursuits in life where you boil things down to basic principles, get the hang of it and say, "that's really not that complicated." Then, a true master comes along and renews your understanding and appreciation for detail in simple things, and you get to start all over again. Mark Rippetoe is one of those masters, and that shines through clearly in the pages of this book.