Rating: 
Summary: Very informative and inspiring
Review: The Pilates Body is a wonderful book. Brooke Siler gives a very good introduction to Pilates along with the principles and history, the understanding of which is essential to being able to perform any of the forms correctly. It is very detailed, with numerous photos, notes, hints, suggestions, and visualizations for each exercise. The three different models represent beginner, intermediate, and advanced exercises, but it is easy to customize whichever forms you need for your own level. Brooke's style is informative and supportive, and it is easy to see why she is a sought-after personal coach. I consider myself to be at a relatively advanced level, and still refer to this book as a guide over and over again. The influence of this book has helped better my performance in the pilates classes I take at my gym. If Brooke Siler had a Pilates video (I'm not aware that she does), I would purchase it!
Rating:
Summary: The Pilates Body
Review: After abdominal surgey my doctor handed me this book. He told me to do only the beginner exercises every day for two weeks. Then move on as I pleased. I'm not used to doctors handing me books, pamphlets yes-books no. So I did as he recomended. After the two weeks I thought "Why didn't my OB tell me to use this method after I had my daughter?" I felt results after only a few days, and I saw them by the end of the two weeks. I now practice 2-3 times weekly, and have never had a better looking mid section.
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Summary: The best Pilates book I found
Review: As a beginning Pilates student who isn't in a position to take classes or get private training, I found an approach that is working well for me. First, I made a decision to stick with "official" Pilates materials. That meant that several different books and videos were available explaining exactly the same exercises. If it something is unclear in one, it is often clarified in another source. The Pilates variations don't offer that benefit. Second, I realized that a combination of a book and a video worked well. The book gives me the details, tells me which muscles to work and what pitfalls to avoid. The video gives me a sense of pace and answers a lot of questions that just can't be answered in the book. Third, I went through all the Pilates books I could find until I found the best one: Brooke Siler's. I also ordered a video directly from the Pilates Studio in NY which shows Romana K..(sp?) teaching the routine from beginning to end.I've found The Pilates Body to be a terrific reference. It's been my Bible as I learn Pilates, much more than even the video. She explains the moves well, with excellent photos to illustrate each move. She tells you which exercises to skip if you have particular injuries, which common mistakes to avoid, and how to make the exercise easier and harder. I found her guidance on how to build up your routine terrific. She offers a sensible "pre-beginner" program, then divides the routine into beginning, intermediate, advanced and super advanced levels. A different model illustrates each level, so you have an immediate key to which exercises should be within your range. Some of the simple looking exercises are VERY difficult, so this is helpful. I go back to this book after every time I do my Pilates, to refine what I'm doing. It is the best substitute I can find for a personal Pilates trainer.
Rating: 
Summary: Get The Pilates Body--and get the Pilates body!
Review: What makes Ms. Siler's approach to Pilates appealing to me is the fact that it's set up as a routine to which I can add exercises as I wish. I came to Pilates with poor abdominal strength and flexibility, so it's nice to be able to go at my own pace. In comparison to the method used by my instructor, I find that Ms. Siler's order of introducing exercises makes more sense to my body. I also find her arm series and cool down exercises a very welcome addition to the overall Pilates program. In addition, the only equipment you need for her matwork series is a mat (or a thick blanket).
While I give Ms. Siler's Pilates method 5 stars, I give her book 4 stars. Overall, the exercises are well described and adequately photographed, with helpful visualization suggestions. However, the experience of seeing Pilates exercises demonstrated and explained in slightly different words has proved immensely helpful in ensuring that I have the correct posture, breathe correctly, and focus on stabilizing the non-moving body parts, as these concepts are not explained as well as they could be in The Pilates Body. In addition, I add warm up stretches from my class and / or do yoga beforehand to limber up, although I suppose warm ups are not included because the routine is meant to be done in about 20 minutes.
I would definitely recommend this book to someone looking to get into Pilates, although I would suggest working with an instructor or at least someone more experienced in Pilates to prevent injuries. While you may not get an entirely new body in 30 sessions, as Joseph Pilates claimed, you will see results quickly. With Ms. Siler's method in particular, you'll enjoy working towards those results because she includes enough challenges and variety to encourage you to work towards mastering all of the exercises.
Rating:
Summary: Only one real flaw
Review: This is my major exercise book at the moment. The Pilates exercises are very do-able in fairly short spaces of time, and show impressively quick results. Despite an apparent shortage of motion photos, with careful reading of the instructions, I've never had a real problem figuring out how a given exercise was supposed to work. My only real difficulty with the book was a lack of suggested priorities. There is a beginners workout of seven exercises, which is a great start, but very little by way of help on how to shift from the seven beginner exercises to the 30 exercise basic program in gradual steps. I'm still trying to work my way from one to the other, and the process is being significantly slowed down by the need to sit down and study every time I want to figure out what exercise I need to add next. Other than that annoyance, a good and interesting book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Caveat to Beginners
Review: After reading the myriad positive comments on Amazon about this book, and blithely not heeding the advice of some reviewers who mentioned the "maybe not best suited for beginners" factor, I forged ahead and ordered it. Although it does offer helpful guidelines to the exercises, I must agree with those aforementioned sage reviewers: the book is not as beneficial to beginners as it probably is to those who have already had some exposure to Pilates. There aren't enough instructional photos to depict the various movements described for each exercise, and the very important section, "Key Elements to Mastering the Mat," isn't as clear and descriptive as it needs to be. Maybe I'm just a quitter (which is undeniably possible :), but I don't feel comfortable using this book to learn Pilates without first getting some formal instruction.
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Summary: Looking forward to my Pilates Body!
Review: I spent about two hours skimming through every book in the bookstore on the Pilates Method. As I imagined myself going through the exercise steps with the various books available, I found Brooke Siler's book the best in illustration and visual cues for performing and maintaining proper form. I also picked up Ana Caban's tape: Pilates Beginning Mat Workout. I thought the tape complimented Siler's book quite nicely. Following Caban's tape and going back to the book made Siler's instructions so much clearer.
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Summary: Great Starter Book
Review: This book helped me tremendously. I had been taking a class that was pilates/yoga and wanted more "core strength" exercises to do at home. As someone who has put off exercising for almost anything, the format of this book helped me get started. The 7 core exercises particularly is a good format. Takes about 15 minutes or less if you're more focused than I am and once you have those down you can add on as the book demonstrates. I wish it was an interactive product (and I'd be happy to produce it if someone has funding ;-) because it is hard to consult the excellent directions and descriptions from many positions! I'm doing more Yoga now but want to go back to a Pilates practice soon and this book will be where I start. By the way, I have a ruptured disc (L5S1) and all the above has helped me feel 5-10 years younger. I feel much more stable and secure doing everyday activities and I attribute it to core strength! Makes me want to "hang my belly button on my spine" just thinking about it! :-)
Rating:
Summary: Practical, effective workout
Review: I've faithfully followed the programs outlined in this book for a year and a half now, much longer than I've ever maintained any other kind of home workout. This book was very well organized, and the instructions and visualization suggestions made it easy for me to teach myself. Helps my low back pain and general muscle tone. The Pilates workout isn't everything one needs for fitness - you still need something anaerobic, like walking, and may want to do something for your upper body as well. But as a daily routine, Pilates seems ideal.
Rating:
Summary: The Pilates Body
Review: This is a truly wonderful and worthwhile book for anyone who is interested in learning Pilates. It outlines a mat workout for both beginner and advanced levels that you can do anywhere you have a floor. There are complete explanations, beautiful illustrations and tips which I found to be extremely helpful. The book very closely follows The Living Arts brand Pilates Beginners Mat Workout with instructor Ana Gabin (which I would also highly recommend). I am able to take this book with me when I travel, which allows me to do the moves that I have mastered anywhere I go...no equipment or gym needed. A truly valuable investment.
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