The Complete Book of Abs [Paperback]

Kurt Brungardt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 1993

The first guide ever to cover every single possible exercise for shaping and strengthening abdominal muscles--from traditional situps to weights and machines to gymnastics, yoga, and dance--this book also includes specialized programs for back-pain sufferers. 300 photos.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Kurt Brungardt was at the front end of the abdominal obsession. His Abs of Steel video was a bestseller, and the original Complete Book of Abs, published in 1993, was considered the bible of midsection exercises for trainers and fitness enthusiasts. The obsession has only grown since then, manifested by dubious infomercial products, a burgeoning fitness-magazine industry promising readers great abs with almost no investment of time and effort, and (perhaps because of the shortcomings of the first two phenomena) a boom in the demand for legitimate nutritionists and personal trainers. Even Brungardt himself came out with a 1998 book, 3-Minute Abs, to take advantage of the craze.

With all that going on, it seems hard to believe that there's anything new to say about abdominal exercise. Indeed, this revised version of The Complete Book of Abs doesn't really try. There is a new prebeginner midsection routine, which leads into the more advanced exercise regimens described in the original book, and a handful of new exercises. But other than that, the expanded sections are in nutrition (several new pages of recipes) and total-body fitness (new photos demonstrating exercises for body parts other than abs).

Still, the original package is a terrific deal: more than 100 exercises, numerous training routines, and lots of basic information about exercise and diet. Each abdominal exercise is rated for difficulty on a scale of 1 to 3 and how risky it is to the lower back. The routines are complete and thoughtfully compiled, and there's not a bit of advice in the entire book that isn't scientifically legitimate. That's why this book--in either edition--remains indispensable for those serious enough about fitness to need information that goes beyond the basics. --Lou Schuler END --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

The first guide ever to cover every single possible exercise for shaping and strengthening abdominal muscles--from traditional situps to weights and machines to gymnastics, yoga, and dance--this book also includes specialized programs for back-pain sufferers. 300 photos.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Villard; 1st edition (May 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679744355
• ISBN-13: 978-0679744351
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,320,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars By comparing over 10 abs books, I concluded..., January 30, 2008

By 

cxlxmx - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Book of Abs: Revised and Expanded Edition (Paperback)

I purchased about 10 books from Amazon on abs in order to compare them. This one has quite a bit of information, good lay-out and organization, and is well-written for this type of book. My conclusions on how it compares with the other books follow...

If You Want to Trim Your Waistline: You can't trim your waistline without losing fat, and you can't lose fat around your waist without losing it everywhere (focusing on a muscle group like the abdominal muscles doesn't burn fat in that location, just a little bit of fat from everywhere on the body). So, if you want to trim your waistline, skip the ab workout books and go with a good, proven overall weight loss and fitness book like Bill Phillips' Body for Life. The Abs Diet is a similar program, but like all the Men's Health publications, it advertises a 6-week transformation, which is just a little unrealistic. Plan on more like 12-24 weeks to see really noticeable changes if you are fat.

If You Want Sculpted Six-Pack Abs: If you are overweight at all, see above--you can't get a six pack while you're overweight, and you can't lose abdominal fat by doing an ab workout, so go for overall fitness. However, if you are already lean, see below.

If You Want to Strengthen or Build Your Ab Muscles: If you're trying to improve for work, play, or rehab, you might consider the following books: The Body Sculpting Bible for Abs Deluxe DVD Edition contains decently up-to-date information and tells you exactly what to do and when to do it, based on a six-week fitness course. If you're looking for a similar book with more information, you can choose from The Complete Book of Abs or The Complete Book of Core Training. The Complete Book of Abs (1998) is a little out of date in terms of its dietary/nutritional recommendations, but it focuses more on exercises that develop the external abdominal muscles (the ones you see in a six-pack), including lots of variations on leg lifts, bicycle motion, and sit-ups. It will also give you more resources for creating your own program, and, if that's what you want to do, go with this one instead of The Body Sculpting Bible. The Complete Book of Core Training (2006) focuses more on the functional body core, including internal abdominal muscles, legs, etc., and includes more trendy exercises using medicine balls, exercise balls, yoga, etc. A different sort of book is Stronger Abs and Back (1997), which was written before the current fad of selling "core training," but contains the elements of core training because it gives good functional sports-focused advice. Its dietary recommendations are out of date, but it recommends a 24-week workout plan, which is much more realistic than the 6-week plans advocated by many of the other books.

If You Have Back Pain: See your doctor, and if he prescribes abdominal/core strengthening, see above.

My one-book recommendation: Body for Life.
My two-book recommendation: Body for Life + Stronger Abs and Back.
My three-book recommendation: Body for Life + Stronger Abs and Back + The Complete Book of Abs.
My four-book recommendation: Body for Life + Stronger Abs and Back + The Complete Book of Abs + The Abs Diet.

Hope this helps!!

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably your best chance to build real abs!, September 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Book of Abs: Revised and Expanded Edition (Paperback)

Hey, I'm no spring chicken in terms of real fitness, no bodybuilder or top-athlete either. And my body is my temple, a good one. Provided you know how to excercise and eat right, this book will take you step by step to ab stardom. It is a thoroughly rehearsed guide, someone tried it all before instead of concocting a recipe with its bum on a chair. It works. Slowly and methodically. It senses your moods, giving you phrases of encouragement at the right time. There are also lots of additional chapters that will be quite enlightening for the enthusiast or novice. My advise is buy it. It is a great reference book. Follow the plan for at least 4 months - provided you are not obese - and you will have a six-pack that won't go away even if you stop excercising. Okay okay, all this does not come free: First, you will have to work bloody hard, but since the program is very well structured you will not really notice the load increase. However, the 15' a day claim is a joke. You will clock up 20' at start-up and about 45' mid-progam, if you do the excercises right instead of bouncing up and down. The book is also tainted by some stupid typos midway through the program (level 3 I guess), which require patience to sort out. Have a pen handy. To finalise, the 'ultimate abs' level is bloody dangerous. I went twice up there and screwed my neck so badly that still hurts. I accept some blame for doing these at home with makeshift stuff. Overall, as said, top book. Once you try this you will realise that you possibly never did any decent ab work in your entire life, no matter if you are an amateur or a fitness pro. I have surprised many well seasoned coaches and personal trainers with the routines I learned in this book. hAB fun! -Adrian PS Kurt, send me your other books so I try them too!

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABS-solutely a MUST!, August 8, 2000

By 

Ng Chon Hsing (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book of Abs: Revised and Expanded Edition (Paperback)

Many bodybuilding enthusiasts hate working out their abs. The abs are arguably the least fun to work out. Having said that, the abs are the first part that catches the eye - whether washboard-ripped or flabby. More importantly, from the point of wellness, the abs are the most important part that needs to be kept strong. The abs are the centre of the human body and hold up the entire skeletal structure. If you have only time to work out one part daily, make it your abs.

I have been using The Complete Book of Abs for 2 years now. It was a fabulous gift from a friend, a fitness buff. Let me just say that this is THE book on working out the abs! This book tells you why one should work out the abs; describes the muscular and skeletal anatomy in respect of the abs; the nutritional aspects; warm-up, stretching and other support exercises; the specific exercises in respect of the abs, and the different systems and routines one can incorporate for various purposes. In other words, this book is truly "The COMPLETE Book of Abs".

There are lots of photographs illustrating the various specific exercises for the various parts of the abs. I found this to be highly helpful and definitely of great assistance to the newcomer to working out.

My favourite part of this book is Chapter 4 which discusses The Mind. The Mind is where all success in life begins. Success in working out is no different. To succeed, it takes planning, mental focus, self-motivation, visualisation and mental-programming.

I supplement my reading of this book with Antonio Sabato Jr's No Excuses: Workout for Life, which I would also highly recommend to the workout enthusiast.