Rating: 
Summary: The how to manual of weight training
Review: With all too many resources of bodybuilding coming from drug fueled genetic freaks, its good too have something that will work for the masses. Standard bodybuilding knowledge is perpetuated to encourage drug use amoungst the non-competitive lifter's so that they too can have gains.Forget the bull and read this. Yes you have to read and think, not just get blindly led. Yes it does emphasise the key points repeatedly, as everything is inter-related. Yes if you follow this book's instruction and inspiration you will get bigger, stronger, and achieve your potential. Just don't forget to also read/buy the technique book by McRobert to get the complete package right for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Only one approach
Review: This type of training works for a lot of people, but is the ideal approach for only a certain portion of the population, perhaps 15-25%. In agreement with another reviewer, this is probably the same 15-25% who aren't destined for physique greatness anyway (i.e., never played sports, hobbies include stamp collecting, etc.). I think this book fails to be a successful weight-training guide because it advocates one approach for everyone. Although this approach may be relatively effective, there are other methods that work (and work better, for many people). Instead of teaching you how to find your own training system/variables, McRobert uses the same tired approach over and over, in every book, for every person. I think this program can be effective for a limited time as part of a greater periodized plan. Ultimately you have to figure out the parameters and variables that work best for you--and the real key is to CHANGE those variables in a planned, purposeful fashion as part of a greater, structured periodized plan. I give this book two stars because there are many other, far better, sources out there to help you manipulate those variables to suit your needs. I would recommend anything by Charles Poliquin, Louie Simmons, Ian King, Tudor Bompa, Steve Fleck and William Kraemer, Pavel Tsatsouline, perhaps Leo Costa (although he tends to be somewhat dogmatic as well). I would list McRobert as a good, but not great, bodybuilding author in a second tier below these authors. Steve Holman of Ironman also in this second tier. Overall, the book gives some (basic) information, but is not very complex or inclusive of any training science that has come forth in the last, oh, 40 years. Yawn. I would suggest you spend your money on another resource.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent sound training
Review: This is a great, simple book. Basically he points out that weight training is progressive resistance training. So progress slowly in weight, and ensure adequete rest and nutrition to allow the microtorn muscles to heal. Simple, scientific advice, and any who disagree with these ideas are usually scrawny morons. He spends alot of time just debunking the common gym nonsense, which is good and necessary action. I was 150 lbs and small after 10 years of training (a true "hard gainer"). With this program I've added 20-30 lbs of muscle, have 4% body fat (approx), and gained much weight in all basic lifts, pound by pound. Bout a year, so far, and future -- watch out! But you should know, this book is essentially an argument for power lifting. He basically says you either get big and strong by power (and then maybe refine), or you waste time working with cables and contraptions several times a week to no benefit. It's a 1950's barbell only mentality (i.e. squat, bench and deadlift). The remainder of your physical activity? - whatever, he encourages aerobics (contrary to other reviewers who have apparently not tried to use the book or understand), other sports (except in intense cycles), but points out quite rightly you can only get so much out of weightraining without diminishing returns. A great book, but wordy, repetitive and preachy at times.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid information for the average Joe
Review: McRobert's books provide very good information for the "hard gainer." Many people go into bodybuilding following the routines and advice of professionals, workouts that don't necessarily fit their own body types. I was one such person. When I first started training, I bought a few "hardcore" bodybuilding books and followed the programs outlined in them to the letter. Sure, I made some gains, but primarily because I'd never trained before. The end result was that I got a little stronger and added a little muscle mass, but then I hit the wall and could go no further. And my gains were slow in coming. I had no idea why. I was doing everything the books told me to do, but it just wasn't working. Then I stumbled across McRobert's Web site and started reading his thoughts on the matter. It was a revelation to me. I was a classic hard gainer. All this time I'd been throwing the dumbbells around in the gym for hours a day, I was overtraining and didn't even know it. McRobert's principles aren't for everyone. If you're the genetically gifted sort, then, by all means, grab those hardcore books and go for it. For the rest of us, McRobert teaches us that sometimes less can in fact be more.
Rating:
Summary: Common sense training.
Review: I really got a lot out of this book. Stuart gives sound reasoning on what exercises that will give the most bang for the buck. He is also very concerned with safe training which a lot of strength training books mention only in passing. The routines seem simple, but I can vouch that they do work. I got rid of a lot of isolation movements, and now concentrate on the multi-joint compound movements. Every strength coach should get a copy of this book, and his companion book on weight training technique.
Rating:
Summary: wants to be big
Review: Over all this book has tons of usefull info. Everything is good untill the routine section, i guess its alright if u can SQUAT he assumes everyone can squat and doesnt really give much options if u cant. He says to use the trap bar deadlift instead of the squat but then in the routine sections he puts them on different days... leaves me wondering if i should do dead lift of both days or just work legs once a week? overall its a good buy u just have to figure somethings out if u have a bad back and cant squat.
Rating:
Summary: Hard HITting!!!
Review: There isn't much more that i can say about this book that hasn't already been said, suffice it to say that this book makes other training books obsolete. While there are a few good books out there among the pile of junk masquerading as 'training books', none of them can even come close to the detail, comprehensiveness and practicality that Beyond Brawn offers. This book should be compulsory reading for anyone who is serious aboout getting RESULTS from training. I'm a National Powerlifting Champion and the advice offered in this book took my training to a whole new level, and it can do the same for anyone, whether beginer or advanced. This book is an absolute must read.
Rating:
Summary: One of the few sensible, honest books on physical culture
Review: The author is passionate about refuting the lies promoted by the celebrity bodybuilders,the muscle magazines and the supplement hustlers. McRobert asserts that their training routines will only work for people with above average genetics and/or steroid users. Instead, McRoberts offers common sense guidelines for training safely and intelligently for the average person. He packs his book with a great deal of useful information, though he can be quite repetitive (a hands on editor would have been great). His book, The Insider's Tell-All Handbook On Weight Training Technique is a vital companion to this volume. Lots of so called "experts" use and teach improper training techniques that can cause serious long term problems. I would also recommend that anyone interested in strength training and physical culture take a look at the books and videos by Pavel Tsatsouline. Tsatsouline's Power to the People is an essential volume for the serious strength trainer.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Weight-Lifting Compendium Out There
Review: "Beyond Brawn" is at the bare minimum an order of magnitude above the rest of the training manuals on the market. McRobert lays out in explicit detail how to build a stronger and more aesthetically pleasing body. Many of the principles he espouses run counter to putative convention. All hardgainers need to rest more and train with greater intensity.
Rating:
Summary: Poundage progression is not the only way
Review: Stuart opens your eyes on what a typical drug free male can achieve in physical proportions; stating that an 17 inch arm is a terrific accomplishment for any drug free male. I found it very easy to add weight to my exercises, due to the long rest periods between sets and only one exercise per muscle group, but I often felt more like a weightlifter, than a bodybuilder, when I left the gym. I think he places way too much emphasis on how much weight is on the bar instead of talking about other important factors such as muscle control and the mind to muscle connection. Very good book on getting stonger in the big compound movements, but I don't find it very useful for the bodybulder in search of the training high, usually found when one trains at a fast pace, and uses multiple exercises per muscle group.
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