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lifting_heavy_things2010-05-02 09:14 am
rivkat) wrote in lifting_heavy_things2010-05-02 09:14 am
Review
At rydra_wong's suggestion, I offer this review of David Sandler, Fundamental Weight Training:
This was a free LibraryThing early reviewer copy. I found myself uncertain how to evaluate this. On the one hand, it’s clearly written, informative, well-balanced and open about where the research is clear and where it’s not, such as for the benefits of stretching. If you want a basic idea about why you get different results training on a stability ball v. training on a bench, Sandler can explain it. On the other hand, I’m fundamentally skeptical that one can learn weight training from a book, and this presents itself as a basic primer. The exercises assume good form, and while Sandler occasionally explains what that is, I wouldn’t have understood no matter how good the description was if I hadn’t already had a basic sense, developed by several years of working with a trainer. Now, I am particularly detached from my body, so it is certainly possible that other people more in tune with their physicality could benefit from the book. So while I recognized most of the exercises and thought some of the more advanced ones looked interesting, I would have trouble saying that you could use a book instead of a trainer who can actually tell you whether you’re doing an exercise right.
So are there in fact books you all recommend?
rydra_wong's suggestion, I offer this review of David Sandler, Fundamental Weight Training: This was a free LibraryThing early reviewer copy. I found myself uncertain how to evaluate this. On the one hand, it’s clearly written, informative, well-balanced and open about where the research is clear and where it’s not, such as for the benefits of stretching. If you want a basic idea about why you get different results training on a stability ball v. training on a bench, Sandler can explain it. On the other hand, I’m fundamentally skeptical that one can learn weight training from a book, and this presents itself as a basic primer. The exercises assume good form, and while Sandler occasionally explains what that is, I wouldn’t have understood no matter how good the description was if I hadn’t already had a basic sense, developed by several years of working with a trainer. Now, I am particularly detached from my body, so it is certainly possible that other people more in tune with their physicality could benefit from the book. So while I recognized most of the exercises and thought some of the more advanced ones looked interesting, I would have trouble saying that you could use a book instead of a trainer who can actually tell you whether you’re doing an exercise right.
So are there in fact books you all recommend?
no subject
On the other hand, there are a lot of exercises that I have been able to learn from books or websites (usually ones where you're not working with ultra-heavy weight or where form isn't quite so critical to avoid hurting yourself). I love Stumptuous and Gubernatrix, use Exrx.net for looking up muscles and exercises, and have found the Frederic Delavier Strength Training Anatomy books quite handy.