Rock, Iron, Steel: The Book of Strength

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly dissapointing
Review: I purchased this book after reading the rave reviews. Frankly, what I found were a bunch of lifts that require the trainee to live in a junkyard or in the backwoods somewhere. The point of the book is that you should work on different lifts to develop different types of functional strength. This can be done with some creativity. I aggree with this advice, I just don't find it practical to perform the majority of the lifts described (at least for city dwellers). Instead of this book, I would highely recommend The New Power Program by Dr. Michael Colgan.

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly dissapointing
Review: I purchased this book after reading the rave reviews. Frankly, what I found were a bunch of lifts that require the trainee to live in a junkyard or in the backwoods somewhere. The point of the book is that you should work on different lifts to develop different types of functional strength. This can be done with some creativity. I aggree with this advice, I just don't find it practical to perform the majority of the lifts described (at least for city dwellers). Instead of this book, I would highely recommend The New Power Program by Dr. Michael Colgan.

Rating:
Summary: Steve Justa
Review: It is a great book to get strong by and expand your work capacity. Steve Justa is a living example of what this type of training can do. The man moved 1,600,000lbs of weight in one workout and can hand and thigh lift 2,050. It gets my vote.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book for Getting Stronger!
Review: Steve Justa has it figured out. Not only does he give readers his own philosophy of strength training, but he really inspires the reader to think for him or herself. Imagine that from a strength training book! The man is a gold mine of useful information and has a way of communicating with the reader that few other authors can beat. I will say, though, that this book doesn't go into depth of performance of mainstream lifts (Powerlifting and Olympic Lifting), but does a good job explaining some strange lifts (i.e. the shovel lift, back lift, Hand and thigh lift. Steve also is what too many strength training authors are not; he is STRONG! What's more, at 44 he is stronger than when he wrote this book! His lifts at a recent competition are much imporved, vastly improved for such an advanced lifter (the contest was USAWA, I think you can contact Joe Garcia or Kevin Fulton to see how strong Steve Justa really is. I believe they can be reached at USAWA.com) How's that for proving his methods?

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Strength Athletes
Review: Steve Justa is not only a great lifter, but his aptly named book shows he can teach you exactly what he has done to become so strong. This book surprised me in it's realistic style, which makes you feel as if Steve is sitting with you at his kitchen table, telling you his secrets. Not only does this book show what he has done to become strong, but it outlines many different excercises and lifting routines to explore news areas of strength in your own lifting. If you are looking for a book that can give you new, creative ways to effectively increase you overall strength levels, you need to add this book to your collection.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on real strength training!
Review: This book is one of the best I've ever read on the subject of strength training. If you're looking to isolate the long head of your biceps don't buy it; if you want to learn how to build slabs of functional muscle all over your whole body, if you want to be inspired to go in new directions and push your body to the limit, not just in the bench press, but the shovel lift, the back lift, the hand and thigh lift, running with weights, pulling weights, isometrics, and on and on, then this book is for you. Not a big book, but every word adds genuine value in your quest to be strong. I really can't rate this book high enough. Along with Brooks Kubik's Dinsosaur Training, it is one of the genuine modern bibles of real strength training. The author explains what strength really is, what his philosphy of strength is, and how to go about achieving your strength goals (hey--it's the Book of Strength!). And he's one strong dude, as the list of lifts at the back will attest, particularly when it comes to lower back/hip/leg strength. A guy who genuinely knows what he's talking about, with loads of original ideas to inspire you. If you want to get really strong---BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Rating:
Summary: unique
Review: this book is what you need if you want to develop super strength without money.you will learn to train with barrel or shovel,to build your own primitive power rack and a lot of other things,but mainly you'll work very,very hard.if you haven't this book buy it immediately!!!you'll develop not only pure strength but also speed strength,resistance,endurance.......it's your final step in the quest of strength.become a dinosaurus,buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: The Down and Dirty Approach to Strength...
Review: This book, it must be understood, is geared toward those who train at home and can have a few odd objects in the backyard or basement as well. However, you can train in a commercial gym and still benefit from this man's knowledge. If looking pretty is all you care about (men or women!), this might not be for you (or, you may need it most!). Justa is bad attitude to the bone, tempered with loads of knowledge from books and life. Some of his recommendations have been criticized (I think the jumping stuff is a tad out there, myself, although others like it), but he is the real deal. Just a thought, how is someone paid to train or do research supposed to come up with strength-training strategies for people with hectic lives, jobs which are mentally and/or physically draining, or those who face wildly erratic schedules? Sure, the white-coats in sterile labs with 6-week studies of college freshmen get it right from time to time, but why not learn from someone who has faced such challenges all his life and became super strong in the process? This is great stuff.

Rating:
Summary: This is a great book
Review: This is a GREAT book if you are even slightly interested in old world real strongman techniques then get this book it has many many good ideas and covers many different kinds of strength, for example the "pushing against an immovable object" strength that a Sumo wrestler has, or mighty hand strength, pulling strength etc.. etc.. there are many techniques in this book, AND it is a good read as well.

Rating:
Summary: One of a kind
Review: This is a unique book. It is not for bodybuilders but rather for those interested in building tremendous strength. What makes it unique is the honesty and freshness of the author. The book is truly written from the heart and has much unique information in it. There are many unusual lifts and training methods in it since the author shares his personal experiences (and experiments). One cannot help but learn from the book. Even those with no interest in building great strength will enjoy the book.