Rating: 
Summary: Good summary of other books
Review: After reading about a dozen books on power training in hopes of
improving my performance in martial arts fighting, this book offers a concise summary of most of the conclusions in other books. The more books one reads, the more contradictions arise.
I have to say that in addition to the staple, top sports conditioning books, this book is great.Although his writing style is on the sensationalist side, I relished his treatment of core muscle training. What I really would have appreciated were example pages of his Olympic training programs. For example, he talks about a particular sprinter training with one-legged eccentric squats yet doesn't
demonstrate how to do them. Aside from keeping those programs a secret, the book has numberous illustrations of exercises in his four stage program.
Rating: 
Summary: A program that actually makes sense...
Review: Despite a rather goofy writing style (Colgan uses the words 'pig-pucky' and 'diddly' in the same paragraph) and the fact that there is a photo of an oily man in a Speedo on nearly every page, I have to say that I was impressed by this book. The author has done an excellent job at trimming away all the bodybuilding/fitness industry nonsense, leaving a well-organized, scientifically defensible training plan. Be warned that this book is well titled-it's all about power. Colgan's only (admittedly, wise) advice to endurance athletes relates to strengthening stabilizing muscles and improving flexibility. His silence on the training of primary movers suggests that he subscribes to the belief that power and endurance tend to be mutually exclusive. This book is also not for people who want to look better at the beach-Colgan's philosophy revolves around increasing strength without unduly increasing mass. Complaints? I'd like to see a little more scientific data on the adaptations the program strives to make (Colgan discusses the ones to avoid more thoroughly), an explanation of some seemingly contradictory stretching advice, and a little more flesh on the nearly non-existent discussion of the maintenance phase. Assuming the program works, though, those criticisms are more or less just nit picking. If all you care about is power and you've got an open mind, or if you've been dogged by injury and don't know why, this is the book for you. If I'm not squatting small foreign cars by April, I'll weigh in again...
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat Contradictory, Etc
Review: Despite some occasionally interesting variations of exercises, Dr. Colgan's book is only average. He appropriately criticizes the bodybuilder influence, then goes on to offer a bodybuilder's once-a-week-per-muscle-group type of program. Many of the pictures in the large edition are blurry or pixelated in appearance. In addition, he gets down on some exercises (upright row, good morning) while displaying poor form on others (high pulls). He probably needs to stick to his field of expertise--nutrition--rather than venture into strength and conditioning.
Rating:
Summary: A Fitness Bible.....My Fitness Bible
Review: Dr. Colgan writes a complete and thorough book which describes the process to develop an athletic and useful body. I've followed him faithfully for the last 15 months with remarkable results. I'm a 53 year old man who was unfit. Cogan has changed my life. It's that simple. The best advise among much is his common sense approach to preparation in the gym. If you follow his advise to build the connective tissue and stablizing muscles you will reduce the chance of injury. THAT will save you a trip to the Chiropractor or Orthopedic Surgeon! I did a chin-up for the first time in 30 years a few weeks ago after 15 months of training! That might sound strange. If you're a couch potato then I challenge you to get down on the floor and do 20 push-ups. Better yet, find a bar or beam and pull yourself up. You can't do it, most men can't! Get the book, follow, and change your life before it's too late!
Rating:
Summary: Superb Means For Increasing Muscle Performance Outcome
Review: Dr. Michael Colgan Ph.D. has captured by an easy-to-understand word format[with illustrations] communiucating the explicit details of how to employ a training route for remarkable performance outcome results. Whether an athlete is seeking a larger, well-defined muscle mass or simply stronger torque output, Colgan has authored the most modern training sequences shown to produce results. The "New Power Program" explains periodic peaking protocols including both eccentric and concentric stress principles, without application, the athlete will not achieve past sub-maximal levels. This book is a 10-STAR "MUST" for the serious athlete.
Rating:
Summary: POWER PROGRAM INDEED
Review: I have a lot of catching up to do!
After I have read this book I said to myself: "I wish I was aware of such a program when I was in my prime".
The book is very inspiring and stimulating to get into shape and do things the RIGHT way.
Rating:
Summary: POWER PROGRAM INDEED
Review: I have a lot of catching up to do!
After I have read this book I said to myself: "I wish I was aware of such a program when I was in my prime".
The book is very inspiring and stimulating to get into shape and do things the RIGHT way.
Rating:
Summary: Useful though sometimes unclear
Review: I like the book, but wish it were better written. The author obviously has knowledge--unfortunately he does not always clearly communicate that knowledge. Nevertheless, on the strength of those parts that ARE clear, I do recommend this book. Colgan suggests some excellent exercises; he also shows particular stretches that, he advises, should never be attempted. Such information justifies owning this book as a permanent reference. Indeed, this is a good book that, with basic care in its writing, could have been a great book. This book contains valuable information, despite its shortcomings in writing and illustration. If you intend to start (or continue) training with weights, read this book first. It could help you avoid some training injuries.
Rating: 
Summary: Good hints, lacks specifics
Review: I purchased this book to revise my current exercise program. I've found that I've plateaued and I was hoping to find a complete program that included devices to overcome plateaus, such as periodization.
While this book is chock full of useful and helpful bits of information, it contains only a third of a complete program. There doesn't seem to be any cardio/aerobics (something that is necessary for my sport). Only half of the "program" laid out in the first chapter is actually detailed in later chapters, and those details are of the nature "do this many workouts per week, at this much weight". Unless you already know a great deal about fitness, you'll have difficulty putting together a detailed program/daily schedule you'll be confident in just from the information presented in this book.
I'm also not sure about the strategy of working out five days a week - it seems to me like this might lead to overtraining for some depending on their skills training and cardio schedule (plus some of us have lives outside of the gym and can't spend five days a week lifting).
The nutrition section is almost completely worthless, as it composed of general hints like "Do not let your insulin level spike" and "Avoid bad foods". Good advice, but how specifically are people supposed to accomplish this? This nutrition section contains numerous references to other works by the author, presumably to find the answer to this question.
Still, there are nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout the book. Reading it from cover to cover will help you to unearth them from the soil of generalizations.
It appears that I will have to revise my exercise program mostly on my own with only a little help from this book. If you're looking for a complete program, look elsewhere. This book is just a collection of hints to point you in the right direction with regards to your lifting routines.
Rating:
Summary: Good summary of other books
Review: The book provides some good advices regarding power training. However, you stop enjoying the book once you perceive that according to Mr. Colgan's view everybody is wrong but him. In the end, skipping Mr. Colgan's egocentric excesses (ridiculous self-quotes), I believe this book provides you with valuable information.
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