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Rating: 
Summary: Good (not great) program for bis and tris
Review: Ahh, the appeal of the monster bicep. Guys want them, girls want the guys that want them. And all you have to do is EVERYTHING to get them.
This book crushes the "spot training" myth (despite it's alluring title) and, quite properly follows the rationale that big arms require a lot more work than curls, curls, curls. Brungardt's program incorporates a lot of "core" (abdominal, low back)and leg training for larger arms, which while absolutely correct, will probably scare off the uninitiated.
"Essential Arms" is, in its basic form, a 6 week quad/bi/tri/ab program, requiring 2 days in the gym. Hopefully, serious readers will use the other gym days to work chest, back and shoulders. Otherwise, you'll be able to spot the "Essential Arms" guy across the gym - he'll be the disporportionate one.
Use this book as a tool for a full workout program, or look at one or two exercises to incorporate into your regular workout, and it has value. Overall, however, most of these exercises are included in other sources (primarily "Men's Health Hard Body Plan", who are also the publishers of this book), and a book that includes entire program structures, including cardio and diet makes a more sensible purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Good (not great) program for bis and tris
Review: Ahh, the appeal of the monster bicep. Guys want them, girls want the guys that want them. And all you have to do is EVERYTHING to get them.
This book crushes the "spot training" myth (despite it's alluring title) and, quite properly follows the rationale that big arms require a lot more work than curls, curls, curls. Brungardt's program incorporates a lot of "core" (abdominal, low back)and leg training for larger arms, which while absolutely correct, will probably scare off the uninitiated.
"Essential Arms" is, in its basic form, a 6 week quad/bi/tri/ab program, requiring 2 days in the gym. Hopefully, serious readers will use the other gym days to work chest, back and shoulders. Otherwise, you'll be able to spot the "Essential Arms" guy across the gym - he'll be the disporportionate one.
Use this book as a tool for a full workout program, or look at one or two exercises to incorporate into your regular workout, and it has value. Overall, however, most of these exercises are included in other sources (primarily "Men's Health Hard Body Plan", who are also the publishers of this book), and a book that includes entire program structures, including cardio and diet makes a more sensible purchase.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of Routines
Review: I have read a few body-building books and think this one, along with the other books in the same series (chest, legs, abs, etc), are the best to date. One reason for this is the insistence upon good form. Like a lot of people, I have in the past gotten carried away with adding more weight and not paying attention to
form. This is still a temptation but the message on good form presented in this book is finally starting to stick. I especially was impressed by his argument for paying
attention to the negative part of the exercise. Another STRONG point of the book is that it provides you with lots of routines. After finishing the books 6 week course,
you are supplied with an additional 4 or 5 good routines for future use. As the author states, it is important to change routines often, so that your muscles do not get too
used to a given exercise (and you dont get bored). However,
I am very lazy about putting together routines and tend to stick to one. Thanks to this book this is no longer a problem, because it does it for me; I now have complete
sets of routines that I can follow and am beginning to see important gains as a result. The book also does a good job of covering the basics of good nutrition, rest and, for all of you gym rats who would ignore it,
aerobics (ever see those pudgy cro-magnon loking guys in the gym who claim their bloated tummies are muscle)!!!! He doesn't cover supplements though and that is
understandable given the controversy and hype surrounding so many of them.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of Routines
Review: I have read a few body-building books and think this one, along with the other books in the same series (chest, legs, abs, etc), are the best to date. One reason for this is the insistence upon good form. Like a lot of people, I have in the past gotten carried away with adding more weight and not paying attention to
form. This is still a temptation but the message on good form presented in this book is finally starting to stick. I especially was impressed by his argument for paying
attention to the negative part of the exercise. Another STRONG point of the book is that it provides you with lots of routines. After finishing the books 6 week course,
you are supplied with an additional 4 or 5 good routines for future use. As the author states, it is important to change routines often, so that your muscles do not get too
used to a given exercise (and you dont get bored). However,
I am very lazy about putting together routines and tend to stick to one. Thanks to this book this is no longer a problem, because it does it for me; I now have complete
sets of routines that I can follow and am beginning to see important gains as a result. The book also does a good job of covering the basics of good nutrition, rest and, for all of you gym rats who would ignore it,
aerobics (ever see those pudgy cro-magnon loking guys in the gym who claim their bloated tummies are muscle)!!!! He doesn't cover supplements though and that is
understandable given the controversy and hype surrounding so many of them.
Rating:
Summary: He's a Friend
Review: I work out with Kurt in New York and not only is he a great guy but he is in perfect shape. All of us guys wish we were in that kind of shape. Not only that but he works out slowly and without over exerting himself. He is truly a fitness inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: A program that truly works!
Review: I'm currently at Level 2/2nd week of this program and have seen amazing results. And I guarantee if you follow this program you will too. This book helped me to discover what I had been doing wrong all these years and focused on diet which I must say is so critical in building muscle. It focus's on correct technique versus numerous sets, and helps you determine the correct weight per exercise as well. It goes against what most of us think is the correct way to build great arms, but in reality is the secret we have all been in pursuit of. I highly recommend this book for the novice to amateur bodybuilder. I can't wait to see the results after week 6! Job well done to the writer(s) for this great bodybuilding tool.
Rating:
Summary: good info for beginners
Review: The book is targeted for beginners. If you are
experienced you won't find much new here.
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