Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Text!!!
Review: This book should be an essential text for any bodybuilder or strenth training enthusiast who wants a scientific plan that will get them bigger and stronger. Bompa's periodization for bodybuilders, Pasquale's metabolic diet and anabolic diet , Cornacchia's exercise selection studies, 1-RM charts, and an abundance of exercise physiology are all included for one cheap price! This book, is without a doubt, the best resistance training book I have ever read let alone bought. Keep in mind that upon a first reading of the book, you may seem confused as what to do and how to apply the information, but re-read it and you will understand quickly how you can set-up a great program that will take you to the limits of your genetic capabilities.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book on Periodization Training
Review: This is an excellent book for explaining the concept of periodization training. The tomb is loaded with graphs and information to help the weight lifter enter into the world of cycle training. Some of the graphs and concepts will be difficult to understand and apply for newcomers to the weight training field. All in all it is a great book and I highly recomend it to anyone interested in weight training.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is the only book that I have seen that gives you the science behind the process that is written to be understood. It allows you to create a road map for success over an extended period of time. You absolutely can create a physical, nutritional and mental plan no matter your skill level.
Rating: 
Summary: Good overview of Periodization for weight training
Review: Unlike some people who reviewed this book and are more worried about who discovered "Periodizaion" than the actuall point behind the book I found it to contain good information about weight training and a recommended outline for a diet plan. The book basically covers different periods of weight training and how to select the different periods and apply them to the goal you are after, building mass, gaining strength and so on. Its based off a 1RM / % scheme and gives example programs for each period. All lifters benefit from periodization but most do not have the patience to stick to the plan and see the results. Everyone wants instant results! Once you set up your plan it does not have to be adjusted for weeks and sometimes months. The nutrition suggestions are basically just a an outline and a suggestion for the metabolically based approach-created by Maura Di Pasquale. Overall I think it is a good book to simplify your training and to see the big picture which is you are not going to achieve your goals in a few weeks or a few months.
Rating:
Summary: Good overview of Periodization for weight training
Review: Unlike some people who reviewed this book and are more worried about who discovered "Periodizaion" than the actuall point behind the book I found it to contain good information about weight training and a recommended outline for a diet plan. The book basically covers different periods of weight training and how to select the different periods and apply them to the goal you are after, building mass, gaining strength and so on. Its based off a 1RM / % scheme and gives example programs for each period. All lifters benefit from periodization but most do not have the patience to stick to the plan and see the results. Everyone wants instant results! Once you set up your plan it does not have to be adjusted for weeks and sometimes months. The nutrition suggestions are basically just a an outline and a suggestion for the metabolically based approach-created by Maura Di Pasquale. Overall I think it is a good book to simplify your training and to see the big picture which is you are not going to achieve your goals in a few weeks or a few months.
Rating:
Summary: fighting bodybuilding monotony with graphs and tables
Review: What gives? On page 245 the authors say that two exercises - behind the neck presses and behind the neck pulldowns are culprits as far as damaging the rotator cuff. Yet on pages 145 and 169 the same exercises are listed as maximum stimulation lifts. What do they stimulate - your orthopaedic surgeon's bank account? Upright rowing could be added to the list of potential shoulder wreckers and it too is a listed exercise. Why did I give it four stars then? I'm generous for one thing. And the idea of periodization is at least one remedy for overtraining. Also, I'm in love with jolly numbers and the authors try to be quantitative whenever possible which is better than saying "use a light(or heavy) weight". The variety of repetition schemes and exercises will tax the mind and record keeping ability as well as the muscles. And maybe if you try a lot of different things and keep really good records and analyze them from time to time you'll discover some personal training truths that suit your unique self. Compare this book's recommendations with the training methods recommended by Ken Hutchins, Ellington Darden, or Peter Sisco and John Little for real muscle confusion. It's training variety meets training monotony. Can such contrasting training systems all be right? Only when the words and numbers become flesh to hang in the balance shall one know for certain. In a bodybuilding democracy freedom of speech is important. Maybe someday we can all enter our training logs into one huge data base and generate enough tables and equations to end all training arguments. Until that time we must rely on the preachings of the muscle gurus.
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