Rating: 
Summary: Interesting info but some bad advice as well
Review: The background this book provides on bodybuilding is great, and a must for *competitive* bodybuilders. Non-competitive strength trainers will probably find plenty to absorb but will have to filter out all of the competition-oriented stuff. I do enjoy the descriptions of exercises and how they should be performed. I found this really informative and the pics were nice. Also, I really liked the index & table of contents.. The book is well organized. Downsides:
Arnold's information on nutrition & supplementation is vague and unscientific.
Regarding the recommended workouts... I started the recommended 6-day/week workout for novices. After doing the workout for a week, I've noticed that several of Arnold's exercises are inferior and/or unsafe: wrist curls, heavy upright rows, etc. I actually screwed up a nerve in my shoulder area when doing the recommended upright rows, only to read a day later (on the net) that this is a common problem and that's why you shouldn't do them. Now I get a "twang" in my shoulder/trap when I move sometimes. Great. So this week I'm starting my *revised* workout... So there is some good info in this book and I found it really informative. However, there's some bad advice as well. So if you buy, definitely supplement it with information from others before you design workout/nutrition/supplementation routine.
Rating:
Summary: well written book, very much emphasis on competitive bb
Review: Quick summary:
- A very large part of the book is about competitive bodybuilding. I found most of this info useless, although I guess it can help you with aesthetics if you're into weight training specifically because you want to look impressive.
- Lots of pics. Hope you like beefcake of the steroidal variety.
- Some of the training recommendations don't make sense to me. Ie. working abs every day, or doing 50 reps of pullups even if you can only do 3 in one set. The training recommendations seem to be that you should workout muscle groups even if they aren't recuperated from the previous workout. (ie. work each muscle group 2 or 3x per week). This seems a little excessive, is a controversial view, and Arnold doesn't explain why this method is recommended. If I can hardly walk from squats I did 2 days ago, I do not have any desire to do another 3 or 4 sets. I'd love to know why I should still do them.
- The discussions on supplements is very vague and by no means should be your only source of info on them. (Ie. creatine, amino acids, HMB, etc.) Supplementation is a very important part of weight training for maximum gains, and you need to do much more research than this book provides in order to decide what to use and how to use it. So I'd say this is a 5-star book if you're into competitive bodybuilding, but a 3-star book if you are just looking for good weight training recommendations (like myself.)
Rating: 
Summary: All righty then...
Review: A very comprehensive book on many aspects of bodybuilding. I think most readers will learn a few nuggets of wisdom here and there, but just keep in mind that the book is less research and more one person's opinion and view on things. Also, I recommend "Treat Your Own Knees" if knee pain interferes with your workout.
Rating:
Summary: A fancinating look at the world of Bodybuilding
Review: This is an excellent book for the would be bodybuilder. It provides indepth information on training programmes and outlines a multitude of exercises and training techniques that can help boost your progress. It can also be viewed as more of an inspirational tool because of the fantastically detailed pictures of all the top bodybuilders rather than a concise exercise physiology book but it will provide individuals with a sound base to become proficient 'muscle builders'. There seems to be a lot of confusion in the earlier reviews concerning the use of 20 set's per body part? If for example you are aiming to build your thighs, this would involve 5 sets of squats, the first set being a warm-up set, 4 sets of lunges, the first set being another warm-up set, 4 sets of leg extensions, 4 sets of hamstring curls and finally 3 sets of deadlifts, which totals 20 sets for your thighs. Arnold clearly advocates the use and gradual progression of his recommended training programmes, that are aimed at beginner level right through to advanced. Now if you follow this as Arnold states, you will not end up doing 20 sets per bodypart until you reach the more advanced levels, which can sometimes take years of training to comfortably achieve. Bodybuilding can be an extremely difficult and demanding sport depending on what level you are currently participating at. The use of behind the neck presses and behind the neck lat pulldowns etc. is questionable and have been proven to aggravate the shoulder complex but we have to take into consideration the fact that these are actually 'sport specific exercises' and like many other sports like karate which advocate ballistic stretching and athletics with explosive power movements such as heavy partial squats, they belong in the relam of the sports they were designed specifically for and not in recreational training programmes designed to reduce weight and improve tone. The only downfall I see concerning the book is the sparsity of text in the injuries section, which deserves much more attention. However, this book is excellent and belongs in your bodybuilding arsenal. It will provide you with inspiration, motivation and the knowledge to help you succeed and I highly recommend that you purchase it.
Rating:
Summary: Reality check for all the reviews....
Review: I liked this book. Some of these reviews are downright ridiculous. There is no need to trash or worship a book. Here's the skinny on the book. It has many exercises that will allow you to gain strength, size, and stamina, without using drugs or supplements. I followed the advice of the book (without illegal supplements) and gained weight as a result, but I am not genetically capable to become very massive. I do think this book gives a lot of insight as to the art of bodybuilding, and although there may be some flaws as far as nutrition or updated information on certain exercises, it is very informative overall. I am not a student majoring in exercise science or anything similiar, but over the years weight training and exercising I have gained some insight as to what works and what doesn't. I highly recommend reading about exercises from other books as well, and then using your knowledge with this book to generate a routine and basis for working out. We all know Arnold is a success in life, not only because he had the benefit of genetics and steroids, but because he worked hard and is very disciplined. You get out what you put in is the bottom line, especially with your body.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book Ever!
Review: I've read this book and it's no less than what it is called, an encyclopedia of bodybuilding. The book teaches you everything you need to know and I mean EVERYTHING! I strongly erge everyone to buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Must have reference
Review: When I first got this book (shortly after it was published) I was a bit skeptical because it seemed to go against a lot of what I had been reading. Now that I've had it for a while I really believe it is a fantastic reference guide and one of the most complete bodybuilding books around. It covers virtually every exercise you can think of in great detail -- how to perform the exercise, which part of the muscle is used, etc. Beyond this it contains a wealth of information about designing training programs for different body types and skill levels and how to prepare to be a competitive bodybuilder. I still question some of the training schedules (lifting 6 days per week really seems like a lot to me), but it is worth the money just as an exercise reference -- even if you aren't interesting in competitive bodybuilding. Whenever I am changing my training program or looking to verify my form I consult this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Conning the masses
Review: I'm just going to tell it like it is. I idolized Arnold while growing up and followed his training methods to the letter for 5 years but i got nowhere near my bodybuilding goals. First and foremeost Arnold is is terrifically gifted genetically for growing muscle and was further bolstered with the most powerful drugs at the time. He does not tell this to his readers. He would have grown no matter what training he did. He has no clue, abslutely no clue on how to train genetically typically people like myself, who can build an impressive physique if the proper training methods are followed. But you will not find these methods in this book. All you will find is routines of the 'champs' who like Arnold are light years away from regular people. There is no way these routines will work for you unless you have similar genetics, (and if you are reading this review then you most likely do not)and that you're ready to get into the mess of drug abuse.
I regret having to give this book only one star cos it really is beautifully presented, but being a personal trainer i'm only going to judge a book on how much it will help a person reach his training goals.I have no vested interest whatsoever so please heed this advice.. If you want to add to your collection of training books please by this book. But if you're really interested in building a big, strong and healthy physique in minimum time please read Beyond Brawn by Stuart McRobert.
Rating: 
Summary: Promoting a Frankenstein sport
Review: Arnold Schwarzenegger's books and movies on Bodybuilding have uniquely revolutionized the sport of strength training. They reached to almost every village, town, and city around the Globe, heralding the birth of a new sport that frees all people from the tutelage of a coach, a state, or an organization. Young people discovered the potential of developing strength with simple and available means, such as barbells and dumbbells. On the other hand, promoting the new unscientific sport has undermined the spread of well-structured and scientifically sound sports, such as Weightlifting. "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding" lacks both encyclopedic features and modernity. The book still promotes muscular hypertrophy and masculine outlook with total disregard to skeletal deformities that result from exercising muscles, in split sessions, in isolation, and in limited range of motion. Such approach to Bodybuilding has created a Frankenstein sport of grotesquely developed musculature and chronically deformed skeleton. Bodybuilders adhere to Arnold's doctrine of regional training of muscles regardless of the harm done to the ligaments, cartilages, and bones as a result of poorly distributed load volume. Almost all Bodybuilders develop muscular distribution that defies gravitational laws. That is, huge upper body, thin waist, and disproportionately weak legs and pelvis. After few years of training, Bodybuilders are struck with damaged knees, unstable spinal axis, and overtaxed lungs and heart. The author made a serious poor judgment when he claims that Bodybuilding does not cause frequent injuries compared to aerobics and other sports. Bodybuilders are crippled with loss of range of motion of major joints, poor neuromuscular balance, and terrible loss of natural joint function. Preying on the public desire for sexual physical outlook, Arnold Schwarzenegger has profited by demonstrating awesome muscular guys without realizing the serious consequences of spreading ignorance. People have to be advised that sport should lead to healthy mobility, longevity, and disease-free living. The author condones high repetition for developing muscular vascularity without accounting for the imbalance of load distribution on major muscular masses that promotes mobility rather than stiffening ligaments, wearing cartilages, and freezing joints. Also, the author contends that Bodybuilding is a sport of form while weightlifting is a sport of power. That is a fallacy since "form" refers to the performance in grace, not just in outlook.
Rating:
Summary: It's never too late to begin body-building! Start NOW!
Review: 790 pages of excellent advice from the Father of Modern Body Building himself; Arnold Schwarzenegger. This book is a true inspiration to those who wish to lose weight, tone up the body and even pump up their muscles. Body building is not just for men, women need this advice too.
This wonderful encyclopedic text provides motivation, guidance though various work-outs and explains the excersizes clearly.
Nutrition is discussed throughout, and it all falls into helping a person to train themselves back into shape.
It's never too late to get yourself back into good physical condition, and this book stresses the importance of the mind and the body working in unison to achieve the goal of homeostasis and balance.
Arnold encourages women and men to make the effort to get back into shape; he advises to get a gym buddy to help encourage you to go to the gym, or hire a personal trainer - if that's what it takes. Arnold values good health, and his wonderful, heartfelt advice comes through time and time again in this fabulous book.
Read it...read parts of it if you don't have the time to read it page by page, all the way through.
It's full of encouraging words and beautiful pictures of Arnold and all the other body-building greats...my favorites:
Lou Ferrigno
Frank Zane
Dave Draper
Sergio Oliva
Franco Columbo
Robby Robinson
Vince Taylor
Dorian Yates
Flex Wheeler
and my #1 Favorite Bodybuilder: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The original year of publication of this book was 1985,
then it was updated and refreshed in 1998.
Arnold is more popular than ever, now that he is govenor of California, and it is important to see his early rise to popularity in this great nation of ours.
Get this book and keep it near your bed or stuffed in your gym bag. You will learn things about getting into shape -- not just your body but your mind too.
Remember - it's never too late to get back into shape, and
Arnold is quite willing to allow himself to be your own personal trainer, if you wish.
Just get the book -- it's a true winner! You'll love it -
it will change your life for the better if you put it into motion like I did. I read the book, skipping here and there, but I can honestly testify....
It's improved my life in ways I never imagined, and if you are serious about improving your overall health and wellbeing, I encourage you to get this book into your life! Oh and...thank you for reading my review.
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