Getting Stronger [Import] [Paperback]

Bill Pearl (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Shelter Publications; New Ed edition (1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679732691
• ISBN-13: 978-0679732693
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,668,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars None Better!, October 29, 2002

By 

M. Rittman (PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

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).

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference book, August 1, 2001

By 

mimozas_husband (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Stronger : Weight Training for Men and Women (Paperback)

This book is a great resource for anyone looking for a good "database" of excercises and workouts. It probably best fits an "independent" person who wants to design his/her own workouts and routines and is looking for excercises that do not require a rediculous machine in the gym. Nearly all of the excercises rely on free weights and can very well be performed at home or any gym. The book also explains quickly the basic principles behind the different workouts, how to choose the number of reps, diet basics, etc.

Finally, the one thing I LOVED about this book is the complete and total absence of the motivational .... most books of this type are full of. If you just want to get in shape, stay in shape, build muscle, prepare yourself during a sport offseason, etc. and want none of the "How I lost 30 pounds in 3 months by eating more and excercising less" - THIS IS IT. The guiding principle of the books is - if you want to have results you need to do the work, if you want to do the work here is how.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reference for weight training!, February 22, 2001

By 

J Hansen Old Account - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Stronger : Weight Training for Men and Women (Paperback)

This is a comprehensive book which anybody can learn from, whether you're a beginner or a hardcore, experienced bodybuilder. Bill Pearl's qualifications are unquestionable, and he takes the reader through his own training experiences, both good and bad. There are programs for general conditioning, beginning, intermediate, and advanced bodybuilding, and specific sports training, all of which are excellent. In addition, you can also find a chapter on "fine-tuning" specific body parts, as well as 26 pages of various illustrated free-weight exercises, for you to incorporate and mix up in a self-designed program. I enjoy this book as a female, because there is no special section for "weight training for women" - they are treated as equals, and referenced throughout the book. Also, this is a great reference for the home trainer, since it is much cheaper to buy a set of free weights to train with vs. expensive machines which limit your movements. Bill Pearl gives the reader plenty of exercises to choose from using free weights alone. He doesn't neglect machines, although he definitely stresses free weights more, as that is where the bulk of his own experience comes from. One more plus is that there are several pages which seem designed to be photocopied and brought to the gym (something I have done to give me general program guidance, and to help me come up with new ideas). He even has a tracking card in the back of the book to copy and fill out, so you can watch yourself progress.

Overall, I give this book my highest recommendation!