Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women (Revised Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bill Pearl retired from professional bodybuilding after winning the Mr. Universe Contest for the fourth time in 1971 at 41 years of age. The weight training wisdom in this book is timeless. Although the illustrations are basic line drawings in black and white I found them to be more helpful and easier to follow than any other book on weight training. This book is well organized and quite complete at nearly 500 large (8.5" x 11") pages.
The book is roughly broken down into these chapters:
Table of Contents & Author's Introduction - Bill Pearl writes a short autobiography brimming with his experiences and love for sport of bodybuilding.
General Conditioning - This section explains a basic general conditioning program (3 examples are given), how to get started, and special considerations for women athletes. It includes a story of Gary Moran, who tried to skip his rest day between weight training days, and the weightlifting experiences of track and field champion, Mary Peters.
Bodybuilding - Programs for bodybuilders form beginning to competitive are explained here. Most of the programs are three-days a week. The competitive program is a rotates through all muscle groups in three days, repeats this three days and suggests a day of rest for the remaining day. Bill Pearl shares his own training program and closes with a series of cautions and stories.
Strength Training for Sports - This chapter begins with a very good explanation of sports training principles followed by cardiovascular training. Also included are weight training exercise programs for 22 different sports.
Exercises for Free Weights - This section includes over 100 pages of the most helpful weight training drawings of any book on the market broken down by muscle group. The book is worth its price based on this section alone.
Nautilus Machines
Electronic Gym
Stretching - This is a short chapter. I have found myself using Anderson's Stretching as complement to this book.
Fit for Work
Fit for Life - Bill and co-author Gary Moran, PhD. explore issues of childhood and old age in regard to weightlifting. It includes a special program for weightlifters over 50 years old.
Hardware - This chapter gives helpful hints for choosing a gym. He also compares free weights and various exercise machines.
Muscles
Injuries
Nutrition - This chapter deals with the macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fats) as well as other good advice on nutrition. Bill Pearl became a vegetarian at age 39, although he is not dogmatic about this to others. His insights into life as a vegetarian bodybuilder are quite good.
Drugs - Bill and Gary take a stand against steroids.
History - This section is a brief 18 page history from ancient times until the present (although mostly pre-1960).

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