The Ergogenics Edge: Pushing the Limits of Sports Performance [Paperback]

Melvin H. Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1997

In this text, the author examines, explains, grades, and recommends more than 60 substances or techniques that have been or might have been used to improve athletic performance. From supplements to stress management techniques, he weighs the effectiveness, safety, and legality of each aid.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Mel Williams is a professor in the Department of Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Recreation at Old Dominion University. With more than 30 years of research experience with sports ergogenics, Dr. Williams is both a highly respected scientist and a renowned author. His first book, published in 1974, was one of the first to focus specifically on drugs and sport. His definitive college text, Nutrition for Fitness and Sport, is entering its fifth edition. Dr. Williams is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).

Apart from his scientific achievements, Williams has coached football and wrestling at the high school level and cross-country at the college level. A competitive road racer for more than 20 years, his most significant performance came in winning the 50 to 59 age group in the 1989 Boston Marathon.

Dr. Williams lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His leisure activities include running and training for road racing, traveling to historic sites, and reading historical novels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880115459
• ISBN-13: 978-0880115452
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #678,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ergogenic Edge, May 13, 2000

By 

viktor marinkovic - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ergogenics Edge: Pushing the Limits of Sports Performance (Paperback)

The increasing number of performance enhancing supplements on the shelves in the drug stores is increasing rapidly. Many people are buying those products without knowing their effectiveness or safety. This book can serve as excellent source to help athletes and coaches of all levels to get the necessary information that will help them make informed decisions regarding the use of sports ergogenics as a means to enhance performance in sport. This book discusses the effectiveness, safety concerns, legal status, and ethical issues of a specific sport ergogenic that should be considered by all the athletes prior to its use. Athletes can find excelent recommendations about what spplements to take or not to take depending of the sport they are participating. The Ergogenic Edge is organized in a way that it makes it very user friendly which makes for easy reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Money well spent!, December 3, 2001

By 

Marcelo Iannini (Brasilia, BRAZIL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ergogenics Edge: Pushing the Limits of Sports Performance (Paperback)

This book is a really nice book to help us all get most of the "misterious" ergogenics. How many times did we enter in a SNC/GNC store and got confused with so many options? What does creatin or anything else exactly does? Stop having false and biased advises. This book is a reliable database with good bibliographic references. First starting point before heading to any supplement store is to get your hands on this book. Guaranteed to help you spend your $$$ better there!

Only "drawback" (may I use this word?) is that many of the supplements are so "new" in terms of scientific research that even this book being recent there may be drastic changes in the knowledge of the product. Make sure you do your own researches (the internet is a good point to start) on the "newer" stuff where this book may become incomplete or vague.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best book of its kind, January 30, 2001

By 

TMG (Harwich, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ergogenics Edge: Pushing the Limits of Sports Performance (Paperback)

Mel Williams is regarded as one of the leading sports physiologists in the US, and this book shows why. I've read many guides to using sports supplements and this is the only one I've come across that's balanced and well-researched. By far the best book of its kind on the market.