Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 21-25 of 333
 Excellent strength training resource from a company with top-notch customer service March 24, 2010
Hedley Lamarr (Tornado Alley)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
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.
 Some serious snatomy lessons here! March 24, 2010
Old Tex Gal (Austin, TX United States)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a book I actually bought for my grandson who is into strength training and body building, but it was so interesting that I kept it for a week to bone up (sorry!) on my anatomy knowledge. I found it most helpful for figuring out what areas of my back I need to work on to prevent more back injury. My grandson has really enjoyed the book and is now using it to develop specific areas of his body. His personal trainer also thought it was a most helpful adjunct to strength training. It is technical, very detailed, and probably would not be of great interest to the casual gym-goer.
very good but could be better March 12, 2010
Angela (Texas, USA)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I love love love this book. everything in it is organized and detailed, my only complaint is that i would have liked something a bit more comprehensive. this book mostly deals with basic moves and leaves all the others out. I know its not possible to include every exercise but it would have been nice to get a few more in there. aside from that its a wonderful book, well worth the money i spent on it.
Explains Consequences of Improper Execution March 9, 2010
Peter Desombre (Eufaula, Alabama, US)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Clear and very-detailed color illustrations of muscles involved in each exercise. Shows relationship between muscle and bone. Variations of exercise technique are given. Explains consequences of improperly executed exercise. Instructs how to breathe through the movement of the exercise.
Best Book for Strength Training! February 24, 2010
MBA Student (TN)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a must own for anyone who is dedicated to strengthening, training, improving or maintaining their body. Easy to read, easy to reference, easy to understand. Seriously, it's a must own book for anyone that is active or is just starting. You don't have to be a body builder to benefit from this book either. It's shown in a way that removes weight lifting comparisons and ONLY focuses on the muscles and the body.
Showing reviews 21-25 of 333
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