What People Are Saying about
| First review, by Richard
A. Winett, Ph.D., Blacksburg, VA, USA Published in MASTER TRAINER, April 1997 Stuart McRobert is a name well-known to many readers . . . McRobert has always emphasized the benefits of brief, infrequent, high-intensity training for "genetically normal" people, i.e., the 99% of the population without championship or star potential. However, what readers may not know or appreciate is that McRobert has always emphasized SAFE and CONSERVATIVE training. Quite simply, there is no training progress when an individual is often injured; moreover, a serious injury, to a knee or the lower back for example, can be the end of a training career. [McRobert's book] makes a unique contribution to training literature because it tells you in exquisite detail how to safely perform 34 major exercises . . . Besides the high-quality paper, the book contains 244 photos, most of them illustrating correct and incorrect technique . . . By far the most valuable part of the book is the incredibly detailed descriptions of these 34 exercises. Importantly, the descriptions and pictures are often different from what readers will see in mass-market magazines. A good example is the 16-page (!) description of proper squatting technique. Most genetically normal people are NOT capable of doing picture-perfect, upright deep squats. Attempts to emulate this style of squatting can lead, as a best-case scenario, to minimum training poundages and sore knees and lower back. As a worst-case scenario, attempting perfect squatting style if it's a biomechanical impossibility for an individual, can lead to severe, career-threatening injuries. McRobert guides the reader to a style of free-weight squatting which will virtually assure years of gains and injury-free (or very minimal injuries) training. You will also learn about squatting methods to avoid . . . By the way, while McRobert is identified with the "Big Three" -- bench press, squat and deadlift -- he is not "anti-machine." He points out where machines -- for pullovers, dips and rows, for example -- can be safer than their free-weight counterparts because the trainee can find a good position, control the movement and, in the case of machine rows, protect the lower back. What the reader will not find in this book is a description of countless isolation movements, simply because such movements should not be a prominent part of any training program. Along with BRAWN [and BEYOND BRAWN], for the serious trainee, whether training at home in a bare-bones free-weight gym, or a state-of-the-art commercial gym, the HANDBOOK [McRobert's form book] is a MUST read. Second review, by Jonathan Smith, Gateshead, England One of the major problems in many people's training is that their exercise technique is inadequate. When you train with poor form the best case scenario is that gains will be harder to achieve, but the worst case scenario is that injuries will occur, and even if you seem to be able to get away with sloppy form for now, it WILL catch up with you eventually. This is one of the major issues that Stuart McRobert has addressed in countless articles in a multitude of publications through the years, including his other books. However, this book allows the author to focus almost entirely on educating the reader on the correct performance of the exercises. The book is separated into three main sections: a. Building a secure foundation Covers areas such as exercise selection and physical self-knowledge, as well as giving a general introduction to many other areas that are not just form orientated. These other areas are all comprehensively covered in BEYOND BRAWN, but for those people not familiar with Stuart McRobert's brand of publications, it gives you a good taster of what to expect. b. Step-by-step technique 34 different exercises and some variations (which would all come under the headings of either "major movements" or "important assistance movements") are covered in great detail within the 222 pages of the book. Simply put, every exercise you may EVER NEED to achieve your potential are included. All exercises are illustrated with several photos, and along with the accompanying text, every exercise is explained with great clarity. c. Critical additional issues Methods to check your form periodically, and how to improve your flexibility, are just two subjects covered in this section, which wraps the book up nicely -- it is much more than just an instruction manual. This book is invaluable to any weight trainee. Even if you think you know correct exercise form, chances are that you may well be making some mistakes. Even a small error in form can hold back your progress, or halt it altogether by exposing you to injury. If you are new to weight training, then this book truly is a must! I do not believe that there is any other book which covers exercise form so comprehensively, and in a very well presented style which is fully indexed for easy reference. I can honestly say that this book has taught me more about exercise form than any other book could hope to. It is a book that I continue to return to again and again in order to refresh my mind on correct technique, which is exactly how the book should be used. Without the instruction from this book I doubt if my own training in the last five years would have remained as injury-free as it has. This is certainly the only book you will ever need to read on exercise technique. Third review, by Colby C. Sellers, Sr., Macomb, IL, USA I have read many books on weight training by champion bodybuilders and other notables of the Iron Game. While most of the authors were worthy for their laurels, most of their training advise was of little value to me. Here's why: a. They grossly over-value the importance of food supplements. b. They ignore or downplay the chemical factor in "championship" training. c. They promote training methods unsustainable by all but the genetically elite and chemically enhanced. d. They endorse potentially harmful exercises, such as wide-grip presses, upright rows and other joint-locking movements. Contrast the above with Stuart McRobert's THE INSIDER'S TELL-ALL HANDBOOK ON WEIGHT-TRAINING TECHNIQUE. The HANDBOOK contains over 200 pages of lucid dialogue and instructive photographs, including assessment of the 34 most effective bodybuilding exercises and their many variations. Description of the big, multi-joint exercises is the best, most complete and detailed work of its kind. The supporting cast of lesser greats, such as crunches, calf work, L-flyes, etc., receive no less detailed attention. The dangers of doing good exercises in bad ways, with quirky grips and unnatural postures, are fully explained. Woven throughout the book are assessments of various types of training equipment, such as the power rack, trap bar, cambered bars, micro weights and many others. I regularly return to the lavishly detailed description of exercise technique to keep my form tight, to avoid injury and to get the most out of my training program. This is as good as it gets in the way of training advice, short of the luxury of having your own skilled professional trainer. If allowed only two books on weight training and bodybuilding, I would opt for THE INSIDER'S TELL-ALL HANDBOOK ON WEIGHT-TRAINING TECHNIQUE and BEYOND BRAWN -- hands down the two best books I have ever read on our noble addiction. BRIEF REVIEWS, TESTIMONIALS AND COMMENTS ON "THE INSIDER'S TELL-ALL HANDBOOK ON WEIGHT-TRAINING TECHNIQUE" As a chiropractor with over 20 years of
weight-training experience, I can honestly say that no other book comes
even close to McRobert's for teaching safe and responsible exercise
technique. Arguably the best book on proper weight-training
technique written to date . . . To give you an idea of its scope, 20 pages
or so are devoted to the deadlift and its variations, and almost as many
pages to the squat. While no book can take the place of proper hands-on
instruction, this book is the next best thing to a knowledgeable coach.
With over 240 pictures of both proper and improper weight-training
technique, this is THE book on weight-training technique that should be on
the shelf of any serious weight trainer. Although only 34 exercises are
discussed, along with some variations, they are discussed in great detail.
And to be honest, if you can't gain muscle with these 34 basic exercises,
chances are you're not going to gain with some bizarre variation on these
exercises (like the lying, high-cable, reverse-grip, ez-bar biceps curl
with a twist). THE INSIDER'S TELL-ALL HANDBOOK ON WEIGHT-TRAINING
TECHNIQUE is crammed with useful information. All the exercises are nicely
illustrated and explained in great detail. No matter how educated you
might be in the various aspects of strength training, you will learn a
tremendous amount of new information. Highly recommended. Guys at the large and very busy gym I train at
consider me the most knowledgeable person there on exercise technique. I'm
always being asked for advice. I've been training for 17 years and thought
I really knew my stuff. I reluctantly bought Stuart McRobert's exercise
technique book thinking that I already knew all I ever needed to know. I
was so wrong! I couldn't put the book down for a week. I learned tons of
technique information that I'd never seen in print anywhere else. A superb how-to-do-it training book. Totally free of
hype and promotion of any of the potentially damaging exercise techniques
that are so universal today. I thought the book was expensive. But when I saw the
size of the pages, the number of photos, the quality of the construction
of the book, the caliber of the paper, and the depth of the information,
it made all the other training books look expensive. What a bargain! The best weight-training technique guide on the
market. McRobert packs volumes of well-written, useable and detailed
information onto every page. An outstanding book. I've read countless articles on squatting technique,
but none covered it in the meticulous depth you did. As a guide for good form and proper
strength-training technique, THE INSIDER'S TELL-ALL HANDBOOK ON
WEIGHT-TRAINING TECHNIQUE is in a class of its own. This is the definitive
injury-prevention tool! You didn't just tell me what to do, you SHOWED me.
The clear and extensive photos are invaluable. Most training books either don't provide an index,
or they provide an apology for an index. You really gave a topnotch index
that lets me quickly find precisely what I'm looking for. I was forever reading how important it is for me to
use good exercise form. Now I have a reference book that really spells it
out for me. You certainly didn't give the deadlift short shrift.
In 24 pages you covered all the variations in great detail. Now I know why
I wasn't getting the most from this great exercise. I've been lifting weights for most of my life now.
I'm no novice. So I was blown away when I realized, after reading your
book, how much I DIDN'T know about proper exercise form. I can't recommend
this book enough. A beginner can hole up with it, study it for a few
weeks, and then become more expert on exercise form than almost all
advanced guys, and match my knowledge even though I've been training for
20 years. Click on the links below to read what people are saying about our other products! |
|