Rating: 
Summary: Very thorough and well though out
Review: I was extremely impressed with the detail and comrehensive nature of this book. It really covers all aspects of training and answered a lot of the questions that I had about fitness. I also like the fact that is designed specifically for women.The program is very demanding, though. Be prepared to work very hard. I now realize the main reason that I didn't get results in the past is that I just didn't train hard enough.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I had in mind
Review: I was so excited to read a book especially designed for women, however once I opened it up it didn't take long before I was disappointed. This book gives many techniques that can only be done in a gym, on many different machines. If you enjoy training at home, on you own equipment, you will find that many of the exercises cannot be done without specific machines. The author shows a photo of a woman doing the exercise and then gives a VERY BRIEF description of what she is doing. He never addresses proper form of the exercises or what to be sure not to do in order to achieve maximum results and prevent injury. This book also seems to be focused towards women body builders or health competitors. Aproximately every chapter has a short story on a female weight trainer and they are all competitors. This told me alot about the author's goal of the book, because he seems to think that "perfect" is more bulky than I think the average woman pictures herself. In the cardio chapter the author tends to take off with his vast knowlege of training, and begins to lose the reader with his terms and points that he is trying to make, without giving you some background to what he is talking about. He also is ever sure to point out all of women's short comings and why she will never be able to train at the same level as a man wether it be weights, or cardio exercise (as if that was our goal). Bottom line, this book is aimed at satisfying the more Golds Gym, die-hard iron pumping, G-I Jane type, not a woman who wants to have a sleeker, sexier, but very feminine physique.
Rating: 
Summary: Some bad form & weird comments
Review: I'm really shocked that no one mentioned the fact that Brad says wearing high heels is a good way to work your calves! No mention whatsoever that high heels cause bad posture, increase your risk of injury to ankle/knee/lower back. There are so many other ways to work your calves! Also, the book shows overhead shoulder presses with the bar behind the back, which is widely considered to be dangerous. Several of the pictures for squats & lunges show the front knee bending beyond the ankle & toes. Even a basic body sculpting class at a gym will give you that form pointer. Further, deadlifts, which can be really dangerous if done improperly, are shown with the head down & back rounded--totally wrong form. I'm not a doctor or PT or weight training snob...But I've used three different PTs before, and have spent not an insignficant amount of time reading various strength training sources on the
web, and I've never seen any of these moves/forms recommended. I bought the book b/c I thought it would help me come up with my own routines. It does seem helpful in that regard (hence 1 star as opposed to 0), but the egregious errors make me worry about everything else in the book. If you're using this book, go to a *good* PT to check your form!
Rating:
Summary: Buy this book!
Review: I've just started reading this book and I love it already! I'm ready to "sculpt my body perfect." Buy this book and you'll be on your way to the body you've always wanted!
Rating:
Summary: Big Changes
Review: I've used many books of this genre in my workouts, and this is by far the best I have used. It is easy to read, clear and informative. "Sculpting..." has actually helped to change the shape of my body, not to mention the other benefits such as more energy, strength and endurance. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in fitness--it is adaptable to both beginner and advanced workouts. I take it to the gym every day!
Rating: 
Summary: Not for the Serious Bodybuilder
Review: It has nice basic information for someone new to weight training, but with titles like "toning and sculpting" its difficult to take seriously. No new information here - its no different from what I learned reading Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine. The pictures, especially the cover photo, are totally out of place. They feature models that look out of shape, either because they are far too thin with no muscle or because they appear flabby. Not very inspirational. I also agree with the others who wrote that the book appeared hastily put together. I felt like I could have written it.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly "user friendly" step-by-step instructions
Review: Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Sculpting Her Body Perfect by leading physical fitness expert Brad Schoenfeld offers 120 exercises especially designed for women seeking to improve their personal physical fitness and muscle tone for a better figure and a healthier life. Thoroughly "user friendly" step-by-step instructions enhanced with extensive black-and-white photographs fill out this excellent and highly recommended instructional guide to tailoring an effective physical workout for any woman regardless of age, background, or physical condition.
Rating:
Summary: The best book out there for women
Review: Ok, this is a book for women that really want change and are willing to work for it. I feel very sorry for you women out there that say, "Why should we look like models, it's men like the author that make us feel ugly!" Having a healthy body does not mean you have to look like a model. What makes "you" happy is what is important. It make me happy to not jiggle... Since I have started using this book, about 1.5 months ago, I have defintion in my arms, shoulders, my back is broadening, and my thighs are showing signs of muslces. It makes me happy, and I am not doing it for anyone but me. I really like it because it really doesn't take a lot of time. It's hard and short. That's much better than wasting your time on a lot of non sense exercises getting you no where. I am 36 and I have lost 1/2 inch from my things, and 1 inch from my waist. Oh! Let me tell you to judge by the tape measure. I hve noticed I put on 2 pounds, but my measurements have gotten smaller.... GREAT BOOK! Lee
Rating:
Summary: Thanks Brad, for helping me feel great again!
Review: Over the past year, I had went through a very difficult period in my life and wound up gaining more than 20 pounds. I had always been thin and this really had a traumatic impact on me. Combined with all the other hardships that had happened, I was very depressed about my life. Although my personal problems resolved, I still carried the extra weight. I tried several exercise programs and diets but none really worked and I felt frustrated about everything. I started to believe that I would never be able to get back to where I was. Then, I was reading Fitness magazine and learned about Brad's book. I was skeptical but decided to give it a try. Upon reading it, I immediately got a good feeling. His words were really motivational and I realized all the reasons that my workouts never really worked. The program was easy to follow and the sample routines were extremely helpful. After a little less than 3 months, I have followed the program religiously and my results have been nothing short of fantastic! I feel I'm in the best shape of my life. I am back to being a size 4, but my clothes fit even better than they did before. I have more energy and I have muscle tone in places that I didn't even know muscles existed! I am indebted to Brad and his message for helping me regain my self-image and feel great again.
Rating:
Summary: excellent book!
Review: Sculpting Her Body Perfect is one of the best women's weight training books I have ever read. There is a lot of great information about isolation versus compound exercises, push-pull muscles, cardio training and weight training intensity. Sculpting starts by outlining why women's body sculpting is more challenging than men's body sculpting, and provides reasons why women should do weight training. He then moves to his body sculpting program, which he claims will provide tone but not bulk to women's bodies. There are three phases, and in each phase you weight train 3x per week, with cardio 3-5x/week. What changes is how the weight training is structured. Phase one is a body conditioning phase, and includes three full body days. Each day includes one exercise per body part, changing the exercise for each day. (E.g., for day 1 quads you might do squats, day 2 lunges, and day 3 leg press.) For each exercise you do 3 sets of 15 reps, at 75% maximum weight. Each body part is worked 3x per week. This stage is to build muscle -- he stresses that you can't shape muscle unless you first have muscle. He recommends staying with this phase for 3-6 months, and says you will reach 50% of your potential with this phase. Phase two is the toning and shaping phase, and lasts at least 6 months. Here the body is split into two: e.g., day 1 - chest, back, shoulders and calves; and day 2- biceps, triceps, quads, hamstrings and abs. You still do weights three days a week, but alternate day 1 and day 2. Each body part is worked 3 x every two weeks. You use two exercises per body part in a superset, still doing 3 sets of 15 reps for each exercise. The intensity of the weights is increased in this phase. The goal is to create muscle symmetry and proportion, and he says you will reach 90% of your genetic potential with this phase. Phase three is targeted body sculpting. The body is split into three - e.g., day 1 - chest and back, day 2 - shoulders, biceps and triceps, day 3 - legs and abs. Each body part is given three exercises in a superset. You still do 3 sets of 15 reps at high intensity, and you are still training 3 days a week, but now each body part is worked one day per week. He claims you will reach your full potential at this stage, but he stresses that you need to have gone through the first two phases for this approach to work. Overall, it is a great book - well written and seems very well researched. The weaknesses are that there is nothing about diet, there is a strong preference for gyms over home workouts, and he doesn't provide exact workout schedules (but he does provide examples.) I would love to see a video series that uses this approach.
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