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 enlarge | Author: Gordon Lavelle
Publisher: Romanart Books
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $16.99
You Save: $3.00 (15%)
New (4) from $16.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 28120
Media: Perfect Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 1604024380
Dewey Decimal Number: 613
EAN: 9781604024388
ASIN: 1604024380
Publication Date: July 13, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
Excellent book for intermediate to advanced lifters April 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have read quite a few books on the subject and must say this is the most intelegent book on weight training I have ever read. The ideas in this book are well written and aplicable to todays world. A must read for anyone training for mass. The only down side is it contains no tips on diet, cardio or sups.
makes sense March 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A logical, scientific, engaging, and eloquent manual that is dedicated to putting on mass. With all the machines, exercises, 'philosophies,' and techniques out there, this book convinces the reader to keep things simple, intense, and most importantly, progressively more intense. Lavelle relates the mechanism of adding muscle to other physiologic adaptations the body makes, in order to drive home the point that the body adapts to different 'insults' in simlar ways, and unless you're making it a point to expose the body to an intense stimulus, the body will not adapt (add muscle). And unless you purposefully make the stimulus more intense (recording workouts helps), the body won't continue to adapt (keep getting bigger).
In the process, he acknowledges many other philosophies and techniques and explains why 'High Intensity Training' has to be more effective. Unfortunately, most people train the way they do for ungrounded reasons. They saw some guys doing it and he was ripped. A trainer told them to do it that way. If 1 hour or 1 set is good, 2 must be better. They get a good pump. They get sore. Many of these ideas can add muscle, but equally likely is that they will leave you overtrained, injured, or wasting tons of redundant effort.
I have been training for years, but started to get overwhelmed by all the creative exercises I saw trainers using in my gym. I noticed clients were sweating and panting during weight training exercises, and suspected that aerobic work couldn't be the best way to add muscle- and that weight lifting couldn't be the best way to gain fitness/lose weight. This book confirmed and explained my suspicion.
This book has no pictures. If you are looking for very beginner's advice on how to perform exercises, the internet is an adequate resouce.
I recommend you invest your time in reading this book. You will know why you're training the way you are, see amazing results, and will be happy to leave all the wasted effort and unscientific techniques behind.
-Michael Khalili, M.D.
Will change the way you think about resistance training... March 14, 2008
I've read a number of books throughout the years on working-out, bodybuilding, mass, etc. I've been training for over 20 years and have done a few shows. I'm not great, but I think I have a basic understanding of resistance training.
This is the first book I've read, that takes a very academic approach to explaining, defending and promoting this resistance training method. The idea is very simple, yet very complex. Mr. LaVelle does an excellent job of comparing and contrasting his technique to the other various "principles" of resistance training that are instituted by other "experts" in the arena.
The book is composed in a very easy to follow manner. Because of the structure of the book, there will be know doubt in your mind where Mr. LaVelle stands on a topic. Additionally, because his training principle may be contrary to other long standing training principles, Mr. LaVelle devotes a considerable amount of energy laying out for you, why those other principle aren't necessarily the most efficient methods for gaining muscle mass. I can assure you, arguments for other traditional training principles are addressed.
This book takes a real life look at resistance training. If you're one of those people who loves spending hours in the gym everyday, just for the purpose of pushing around weights, this book may not be for you. However, if you are looking for a very efficient, easy to implement, and injury mitigating system to achieve maximum muscle mass with no wasted time or effort; this book is probably for you.
It's a refreshing look at resistance training. I highly recommend the book to resistance trainers of every level.
 Thought provoking and well-reasoned March 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I found this to be an entertaining and informative read. Mr. Lavelle describes the predominant bodybuilding theories used today & offers his take on what works best, a high-intensity, low volume routine. The book is training-focused and intentionally avoids great detail on exercise form, nutrition, etc. I appreciate this approach since most of us have seen that information before. I especially enjoyed the scholarly tone and logical approach to muscular weight gain & look forward to trying this method for myself. Recommended.
 Some good, some bad, some downright wrong January 31, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
I'm a weight training enthusiast and also a doctoral student in Biomechanics and physical therapist. Mr. Lavelle expressed some compelling points in this book like "quality/intensity over volume" which is definitely a good idea that needs to be greatly advocated. And his notes on exercises were spot-on, especially points about compound exercise being superior to isolation exercises in building the bulk. There are too many gym-goers focusing on useless isolation movements which truly is a waste of time.
However, his bashing of the "volume training" as a whole is not a good idea. There are methods in books written by volume trainers like Arnold that actually are ways to increase intensity. Why would someone do a split routine? It's because you can train more intensely if you do that. Not just going for the volume. In fact, other than dedicated bodybuilders, I've never seen anyone in the gym that can be considered as a "volume trainer". I used to train seven days a week, but I can't imagine doing more than 8 sets for any particular exercise. Also, from a physiological point of view, volume training might have it's merits. As muscle fibers get tired, our nervous system would recruit more motor units/muscle fibers to replace those that can't contract anymore. But I would agree most people would be wasted mentally before yielding any benefits from that method.
Exercise novices need to be aware that Mr. LaVelle's recommendations on exercises are mostly based on his personal experiences, not facts. From a functional point of view, adductor/abductor and hip rotary exercises are worthless because humans do not operate that way. On the other hand, I found the straight-leg deadlift to be a tremendously effective hamstring builder if you can master the proper technique. This is in direct contrast to author's idea.
Overall, if you want to get bigger, this is a nice reference. But don't believe everything in it blindly. I would recommend you to get Arnold's Encyclopedia of bodybuilding first.
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