Rating: 
Summary: The small things make big differences
Review: This is the first book I've read that says if you change arm, hand, elbow and feet positions, it will make a big difference in the results you get. I tried it and it works!I always thought there was basically a correct and incorrect way to do each exercise, but the author, Dr. Robert Wolff, says that even if you're exercising correctly, you can still get much more from any exercise if you know how to do something he calls "exercise nuances". I like his approach and like even better his methods because they work excellently. I had to wait for weeks for this book in Denmark and it was worth the wait.
Rating: 
Summary: Content subscribes to the title
Review: This should be the first book you buy if you are just starting into bodybuilding. It lives up to the title giving broad but shallow coverage of the subject. I read half of the book the day I bought it and finished the rest the next day. I will probably refer to it often. It's easy to read and assimilate the information it presents and I like the writer's style and the overall organization of the book. The information is served up in small, discrete chunks. The value of the book is that it provides a good foundation upon which you can build a solid understanding of the sport. So, why only 4 stars? While I truly believe that this is a good solid foundational text and that you should buy it, I do NOT believe it is "life altering", and I wanted to offer some balance to some of the other gushing reviews. If you buy the book, do it because it sticks to the subject matter, is informative and motivating, and fulfills the promise of its title not because it will change your life. It won't. It's the sport and your own commitment that does that. This book just provides some fuel for the drive. Also, I agree with one of the other reviewers that this book is repetitive, although not always in a bad way. I would have liked more illustrations on how to do specific lifts, more anatomical charts, more nutrition information and recommended workouts based on body-types, schedule limitations and personal goals etc.. These are all the kinds of information I would expect in a beginner book but were lacking. If you are an absolute beginner and you need to start from a good foundation, buy this book. The book does exactly what the title says it does no more and not much less, which in the sometimes overhyped industry of bodybuilding is something of a welcome anomoly. Finally, if you wish to further your search, I recommend Arnold's book, The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. It covers everything and more than this book covers and in more detail. But, it is harder to read and organized, yes, like an encyclopedia. Buy Bodybuilding 101 for the frame and then buy Arnold's book to add mass to your bodybuilding knowledge base=) JKH
Rating:
Summary: Content subscribes to the title
Review: This should be the first book you buy if you are just starting into bodybuilding. It lives up to the title giving broad but shallow coverage of the subject. I read half of the book the day I bought it and finished the rest the next day. I will probably refer to it often. It's easy to read and assimilate the information it presents and I like the writer's style and the overall organization of the book. The information is served up in small, discrete chunks. The value of the book is that it provides a good foundation upon which you can build a solid understanding of the sport. So, why only 4 stars? While I truly believe that this is a good solid foundational text and that you should buy it, I do NOT believe it is "life altering", and I wanted to offer some balance to some of the other gushing reviews. If you buy the book, do it because it sticks to the subject matter, is informative and motivating, and fulfills the promise of its title not because it will change your life. It won't. It's the sport and your own commitment that does that. This book just provides some fuel for the drive. Also, I agree with one of the other reviewers that this book is repetitive, although not always in a bad way. I would have liked more illustrations on how to do specific lifts, more anatomical charts, more nutrition information and recommended workouts based on body-types, schedule limitations and personal goals etc.. These are all the kinds of information I would expect in a beginner book but were lacking. If you are an absolute beginner and you need to start from a good foundation, buy this book. The book does exactly what the title says it does no more and not much less, which in the sometimes overhyped industry of bodybuilding is something of a welcome anomoly. Finally, if you wish to further your search, I recommend Arnold's book, The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. It covers everything and more than this book covers and in more detail. But, it is harder to read and organized, yes, like an encyclopedia. Buy Bodybuilding 101 for the frame and then buy Arnold's book to add mass to your bodybuilding knowledge base=) JKH
Rating: 
Summary: Good but repetitive and insufficient on injury prevention
Review: Though I liked Bodybuilding 101, I would like to temper some of the enthusiam of the other reviews. I like Wolff's motivational, no-nonsense, no gimmicks style and I think the book will benefit advanced and beginner body builders alike. However, my two main complaints are that it is repetitive and that I don't think has sufficient information for preventing injury. The book is based on articles from Muscle & Fitness magazine. It reads much like a series of articles and I suspect that is the source of the repetitiveness. Wolff, the author, does discuss injury prevention but I think he could do more. For example, a common injury is shoulder pain due to weak stabilizer muscles. However, he doesn't discuss the rotator cuff muscles until Chapter 37 titled No More Mr. Stickman. Also, consider the following sentence, "Creating a strong lower back, which can often be the weakest link of the body, should be one of your top training priorities." Great point! But why is it buried on page 176 in the middle of the chapter titled "Forgotten Back Exercises." These muscles won't win you body building competitions, but these points belong in the beginner sections so that a good foundation can be laid to avoid future injury. I suggest reading the "Sports Medicine Bible" to get information on conditioning exercises to prevent injury and incorporate those exercises into the information of Bodybuilding 101. Another complaint is that Wolff uses popular, sometimes vague, and on occasion improper terms for muscles and muscle groups. I think body building needs to treat anatomy more formally. The book would benefit greatly from anatomical diagrams and diagrams which show which muscles are hit by which exercises. What I liked most about the book is Wolff's stance on natural body building. His anti-steroid stance is clear, sensible, and non-confrontational. Furthermore, he advises against supplements in general. A brave stance considering his employers, Weider, sell a wide variety of supplements. This book is no-nonsense and steers the reader away from gimmicks. Most body builders will benefit from Wolff's main message -- variety. The book is thorough in presenting an amazing array of variations on movements and combinations. Though I note there is no mention of neck (sterno-mastoid) muscles, or abdominal obliques, and no leg suppination exercises. If you are looking for a motivational book with a wide variety of exercises, this book is very good. However, I look forward to a second edition which is better organized and more information on injury prevention for the beginner.
Rating:
Summary: "Kick Your Butt Exercises and Workouts"
Review: What can I say? I was looking for a book that would get me out of the rut and this has done it. The angle training works like crazy. I'm totally feeling these exercises unlike the old "here's a bench press and here's how you do a barbell curl" kind of garbage you always see in the other books. If you really want results and are willing to get off your a** and do something, then this is the only book you'll need. Period.
Rating:
Summary: "VERY MOTIVATING!"
Review: With so many experts, books and magazines and all those infomercials, it gets very confusing. One person says this is good and the next one says it's not good. So who do you believe? As a CEO with one of the top Fortune 1000 companies, I don't have time to page through every book or magazine out there. Just give me something that works and works well and I'm happy. I think I've found that with "Bodybuilding 101". I like people who are motivating and the author, Dr. Robert Wolff, is very motivating indeed. I like the exercises, workouts, motivation and inspirational words that help take a rather bland subject, fitness, and breathes some new life into it. I've had many personal trainers over the years and having this book has been worth its weight in gold. If you're wanting to change your body, you can't do better than Dr. Wolff and his book.
| 
