Frank Zane: Mind, Body, Spirit

Rating:
Summary: A glimpse into the inner workings of a champion body builder
Review: A cross between William Faulkner and e.e. cummings, "Mind, Body and Spirit" is a disjointed, stream of conscious thought book. If you are a follower of professional body building, this is a must read because it shows what brand of insanity it takes to push a body to its limit and then to go beyond that. It is a truly personal, intimate look at the routine, the nutrition, the dreams, the mind, the spirit, - the soul of Frank Zane. There is little flow to the book because it is a patchwork of diaries. It becomes easier to follow, the further into the book one gets. It literally is a patchwork and it starts taking shape and showing what it is, a reflection of a life. There are a few things that need to be mentioned before recommending this book. It certainly helps to have a working knowledge of the vocabulary of body building, otherwise phrases like 'drop sets' and branch chain amino acids will make little sense. Also, there is a considerable amount of poetry in this book and one has to keep in mind that the author is a body builder and not a poet; some of it is pretty rough going. Even though it has diagrams and exercise routines, this isn't a workout book for a novice body builder. If you are seeking comprehensive instruction on body building nutrition a booked entitled "Sliced" (Jayde & Reynolds) is a good choice. If you are looking for an instructional body building book, with coherent explanations of technique then "Super Flex" (Everson) is not a bad choice. If you are looking for insight into the mind and life of a champion, then this is the book. Often when looking at a sculpted body builder the thought of, "that person is in a world all his/her own" comes to mind because of the amazing committment it takes to achieve such a body. Frank Zane allows you to be a voyeur and get a glimpse at this amazing world.

Rating:
Summary: Never Mind the Poetry Frank!
Review: Another opus from Frank Zane, who finds reasons to "soften" the bodybuilders image. This has some good, solid advice for the bodybuilder, but having said that, it's not the best book on the subject. The problem with this mix of metaphysical philosophy, poetry and "airy fairy" garbage is that you have to muddle through all the nonsense to get to the building muscle parts... it also has NOTHING to do with building self confidence in the bodybuilder.. which is one reason so many of us got serious in the sport of bodybuildng to begin with. After reading this book I felt like I had to apologize for being buffed. Save your money!

Rating:
Summary: Great for Holistic- Long Term Bodybuilders
Review: If you're the type of bodybuilder who wears clown pants and pirate hats in the gym, then perhaps this book isn't for you. But as a fellow builder for over 20 years and still going strong and an orthopedic physical therapist, I believe this book is both unique and helpful. I think this book blends nicely with the detailed workout diaries and meals FZ used throughout his career. I also thought it was cool to get insight through poetries and writings on what a leading professional bodybuilder experiences both on and off season. For those (drug free) bodybuilders who want good guidance, I suggest FZ's quarterly publication. It has great info on training, specific nutrition for specific body weight, and other great material.

Rating:
Summary: not for the average meathead roid rager
Review: if your looking to gain twenty pounds or you use heavy amount of drugs this book isnt for you. although there is alot of poetry this book gives you a year in the life of frank zane at different points in his career. If you been lifting you know that poundages equal muscle mass. frank gives his weights used on exercises, this alone is worth the price of the book. Frank gives you his blueprint for success step by step day by day. If you interested in building a complete body then this book is for you

Rating:
Summary: The Feminization of a Mans Sport
Review: It's unfortunate that a former Mr. Olympia and three time Mr Universe could do no better in writing a book. Especially those of us who know Zanes skills.Clearly just a attempt to exploit the naivette of bodybuilding fans who will buy anything written by a name bodybuilder.Don't waste your money on this.

Rating:
Summary: not for the average meathead roid rager
Review: Okay, I admit it, since taking up meditation almost a decade ago I tend to view everything in Life through a Spiritual slant. And yet I am heavily into bodybuilding, as well. No, I am not some overbulked dude that goes into the gym just to impress everyone else, I go into the gym to transform...to transcend...not just my physical self, but my mental, emotional, and spiritual self, as well. This book is a book that I keep with my books on spirituality. It is a book I refer to often for exercise routines as well as for inspiration. It is a book that got me from looking at the gym as just a "sweat lodge" for the ego, to a "Temple of Transformation". Frank does a beautiful job of putting himself down on paper. His poetry is simple...sometimes laughable...sometimes deep...but it's his and that's what makes it great. He is willing to be who he is. Are you? Am I? Are we really willing to just stop going to the gym and using the barbells and dumbells and the cables like we are at war with them and instead use them as tools to enhance the quality of our life...not just physically but spiritually? As it says in the Bible, "Now is the accepted time..." Now is the time, my bodybuilding friends, to realize with real eyes that you are more than a body...you are also a soul. Buy this book. It's a beautiful find!

Rating:
Summary: not inspiring
Review: Well, I certainly found almost no useful information in this book. Zanes attempts at poetry are agonizing to read through, and page after page of the sets and reps he does day after day becomes monotonous real fast. I'm sorry to hear about his Mom's passing--especially in a book about bodybuilding. Almost no tips, tricks, just a recount of a year of his life, like what he had for lunch on a given day. Don't waste your money.