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Rating: 
Summary: The same ideas...again!
Review: "Ripped" and "Ripped 2", are brilliant books. He has been writing them over again. Like the "Lean Advantage", CLarence passes along the same information--in this book. As usual the books are all about BAss, which is okay, but gets a little out of hand. He even quotes himself ("as I said in Ripped 2..") and often quotes his earlier books. He suffers from extreme "over" self quote-ism.
Should you really quote yourself? All the time?
And many of the stories (like of his boyhood goals etc..) are repeated in each book.
Clarence as contributed some brilliant stuff on bodybuilding and training. Buy "Ripped" and "Ripped 2" and learn the lessons in those books. Every serious bodybuilder should read these books. HIs chapter on peaking (in Ripped 2) is as clear an understanding as you can get of it in a book.--And it works.
Rating: 
Summary: A core book in your fitness library
Review: Bass takes a non-dogmatic and sensible approach, and you can learn a lot about diet, weight training and general exercise from his books. If you are of the kind that will buy only one book on training, make this book it. The two things I miss are technique descriptions and an Index. Since I return to Bass' books again and again, an index is the one thing I'd really like to see added. As for technique, get Stuart McRoberts "Insider's Tell-All Handbook on Weight-Training Technique"; it's the perfect companion to "Challenge Yourself".
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing thin about this book!
Review: Clarence Bass! What a character! His book is full of interesting opinions. Do not be put off by the fact that Clarence has a certain plucked chicken look about him and do not be put off by his extreme ideas on exercise and diet. The book is fascinating. Read carefully and look behind his claims to only exercise twice a week. He actually walks for an hour every day as well. Given his obsessive personality, I do not imagine it is a stroll either! However, whatever you do, do not follow Clarence's technique for deadlifting, jerking or snatching. His head is way too forward. His weight routines are pretty good otherwise, although I doubt that many people would put on muscle by doing them once a week. Hidden in the book is the information that Clarence also does some very intense interval workouts on the Concept II rower and the Schwinn Air-Dyne once a week. Given that these use the whole body, it appears that Clarence actually does two intense muscle workouts a week and walks for an hour every day. No wonder he is strong and fit. Clarence's habit of putting his head forward [and therefore sticking his neck out]is however useful in the rest of the book. He challenges by the title of the book, the ideas in it and by the many photos of himself. Given how lean he is, it is easy to see every muscle working. But ... heh ... if you don't like self-promotion, don't buy the book! His diet is also extreme. Eating like a horse on chaff every day must do wonders for his bowel, and it certainly would fill him up. Having teased Clarence, I found the book fascinating and full of interesting ideas. I have just ordered Lean for Life and can't wait for it to arrive. PS Clarence ... put on 10 lbs ... and relax ... you will be healthier for it! Greetings from a fellow lawyer from down under!
Rating:
Summary: Nothing thin about this book!
Review: Clarence Bass! What a character! His book is full of interesting opinions. Do not be put off by the fact that Clarence has a certain plucked chicken look about him and do not be put off by his extreme ideas on exercise and diet. The book is fascinating. Read carefully and look behind his claims to only exercise twice a week. He actually walks for an hour every day as well. Given his obsessive personality, I do not imagine it is a stroll either! However, whatever you do, do not follow Clarence's technique for deadlifting, jerking or snatching. His head is way too forward. His weight routines are pretty good otherwise, although I doubt that many people would put on muscle by doing them once a week. Hidden in the book is the information that Clarence also does some very intense interval workouts on the Concept II rower and the Schwinn Air-Dyne once a week. Given that these use the whole body, it appears that Clarence actually does two intense muscle workouts a week and walks for an hour every day. No wonder he is strong and fit. Clarence's habit of putting his head forward [and therefore sticking his neck out]is however useful in the rest of the book. He challenges by the title of the book, the ideas in it and by the many photos of himself. Given how lean he is, it is easy to see every muscle working. But ... heh ... if you don't like self-promotion, don't buy the book! His diet is also extreme. Eating like a horse on chaff every day must do wonders for his bowel, and it certainly would fill him up. Having teased Clarence, I found the book fascinating and full of interesting ideas. I have just ordered Lean for Life and can't wait for it to arrive. PS Clarence ... put on 10 lbs ... and relax ... you will be healthier for it! Greetings from a fellow lawyer from down under!
Rating:
Summary: The best book ever written on bodybuilding nutrition!
Review: Following the meal plan from this book has allowed me to lose 35 pounds since May of this year, from 200 lbs to my current 165 lbs. At age 39 I look and feel at least ten years younger and my self-esteem has greatly benefited. I should note that my intial weightloss success came after starting one of those internet diet groups; however, because it was based on calorie restriction over food type, I found myself starving and deprived. The secret to Clarence's eating style is the eating satisfaction that comes only from eating high fiber/volume foods that also happen to be low in calories. Contrast that to trying to eat a calorie restricted, high fat/sugar/salt diet that leaves your tummy and taste buds hungry for more, more, more. Lastly, I would like to point out that I have weight trained for a number of years, starting out as most do with a desire for adding mass to a skinny frame, hitting an all-time peak, gaining a great deal of bodyfat during a four year lay-off, and returning to the weights to try and recover my body; but, no matter how much I seemed to progress in my weight training, the bodyfat would not budge. If you are in denial of your bodyfat level, as I was, beleive me when I say you will not see muscle until you lose the fat, and this is the book that can help you lose it.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Deal - Cuts through the misinformation
Review: I do not agree with Bass's outdated low fat dieting program as it has been shown to lower the metabilism and actually cause weight gain if higher calorie meals are resumed. Also it can cause neurotransmitter imblalance by not recieveing enough nutrious protien... The high carb diet that Bass pushes has been proven over and over to be unhealthy in numerous studies. His eating plan is a take off of the old, outdated Covert Baily plan and is not credible, because of new information and studies. Mr. Bass needs to undate his eating plans in his books.
Rating: 
Summary: Hairless Weirdo
Review: This is an excellent book for all ages but in particular for those of us who are 0ver 50. Just reading and seeing pictures of athletes in their 60's and 70's is inspiring. What I really like is how Mr. Bass lays out all the facts and his personal experience to discuss the battle between the volume vs. intensity crowd. He presents the facts and doesn't knock either approach. I respect someone who does not claim his way is the only way, as so many self appointed fitness gurus do. It seems lately, if you listen to the "experts", if you work out more than once every 2 weeks and do more than 6 total sets, you aren't working intensly enough and are wasting your time. Bass basically says you can either work out harder or longer for equally good results BUT! you can't do both. He presents programs that incorporate both philosophies(volume vs. intensity). Having lifted for 30 years,I find this book very inspirational. Mr. Bass shows you can lift, (and lift heavy weights!)for years and years after most people relegate themselves to 4lb. dumbells and shuffleboard.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Book!!!
Review: This is his best book to date.I have been working out for many
years and I found his periodization work-out for advanced lifters
to be one of the most practical work-outs I have ever tried.
This book is a must read for any serious weight trainer.
I also highly recommend reading Stuart McRobert's book "Beyond
Brawn" and subscribing to the magazine "Hardgainer".
Both these authors share many of the same views on training.
Great Book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive yet easy to read--great resource
Review: This is one of the best exercise/health books of the many such books I own. It covers a lot of ground--diet, exercise and motivation--and yet it includes the latest information at the right level of detail for one who wants to know the how AND the why. There is a good explanation of interval training, periodization, and balancing high-intensity training with adequate rest. Mr. Bass' other books are all very good (I know because I've read every one) but this one is his masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive yet easy to read--great resource
Review: This is one of the best exercise/health books of the many such books I own. It covers a lot of ground--diet, exercise and motivation--and yet it includes the latest information at the right level of detail for one who wants to know the how AND the why. There is a good explanation of interval training, periodization, and balancing high-intensity training with adequate rest. Mr. Bass' other books are all very good (I know because I've read every one) but this one is his masterpiece.
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