The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised [Hardcover]

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Author), Bill Dobbins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1998

Power. Speed. Agility. Pride. These are just a few of the reasons why bodybuilding has become the fastest growing sport in America. From gymnasts to football players, from golfers to boxers, athletes everywhere now are working out with weights to maximize their performance and their lives. And you can, too, thanks to one man and one book: Arnold Schwarzenegger and his Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. Across the country and around the world it's recognized as the definitive source on the subject -- the "bible of bodybuilding."

Now, fifteen fantastic years after that first publication, Arnold is ready to teach and motivate a new generation of athletes with this fully updated and revised New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding.

Inside, Arnold covers all the very latest advances in both training and competition, with new sections on diet and nutrition, the treatment and prevention of injuries, and methods of training, each illustrated with detailed photos featuring bodybuilding's newest stars.

Plus, all the features that made this book a classic are still here. You'll find every facet of bodybuilding, from the history of the sport to a complete analysis of the muscles in the body, including Arnold's tips on how to strengthen, sculpt, and define each and every muscle to create the ultimate balanced physique.

Encompassing every stage of your development, the encyclopedia outlines specific training programs for basic, advanced, and competition-level bodybuilders. You'll get expert advice on everything, from what equipment the beginner should use to complete career and competition strategies for the elite bodybuilder.

Whether it's your first time in the gym or you're a pro bodybuilder competing in a top event, Arnold's inside advice on training and exercise will help you achieve your best. Then, once you're ready, The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding will prepare you for the intense psychological warfare of professional competition.

Applying his experience as the only seven-time Mr. Olympia, as well as his monumental success as an international film star, Arnold shares his secrets about dedication, training, and commitment that will allow you to take control of your body and reach your ultimate potential.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't competed as a bodybuilder since he won the Mr. Olympia title in 1980, but he remains the sport's No. 1 icon. He hosts an annual bodybuilding contest in Columbus, Ohio, and allows a column to be ghost-written under his name in a muscle magazine. Today's bodybuilders may have bigger muscles than Arnold ever did, but everyone inside and outside the iron game gives him credit for exponentially broadening the popularity of physique training.

With this updated Encyclopedia (it was originally published in 1985), Schwarzenegger wraps his huge arms around the entire sport. He hits the history of bodybuilding, the champions (he's quite generous in his praise of predecessors, contemporaries, and successors alike), the training systems. Some of the information is more bodybuilding lore than science; for example, exercises are said to "expand the rib cage" or develop the "inner" or "outer" chest, all physiological impossibilities. But they're still good exercises, and the book includes every movement imaginable for every muscle group.

If you love the sport of bodybuilding, you'll want this book in your library, if for no other reason than to feast your eyes on the hundreds of photos of the best physiques in the history of the sport. And, in a pinch, the 800-page encyclopedia can fill in nicely for a missing dumbbell. --Lou Schuler

About the Author

The author of Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder, Arnold's Bodybuilding for Men, and the first edition of the Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, Arnold Schwarzenegger has won more bodybuilding titles than anyone else in the world, including three Mr. Universe titles. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Maria Shriver, and their four children.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (December 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684843749
• ISBN-13: 978-0684843742
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.8 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (379 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Sports

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If the info inside doesn't make you bigger, just start lifting the book., August 14, 2007

By 

a trainer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised (Paperback)

This book is exactly what it says it is- an encyclopedia. It is divided into no less than five "books." Measuring in at about one and a half inches thick, if the info contained inside doesn't help you get bigger, just try lifting the book!

A quick rundown of each chapter. The first book is basically an introduction to bodybuilding, covering a lot of miscellaneous, but important topics. The second book covers the training programs, the third the body part exercises, and the fourth book competing. The fifth and last book covers nutrition and diets.

As you can tell, there's really only one word to describe this book- comprehensive. Would have liked to see a little more on injuries, for example there only about a half page on shoulder injuries, but then again this isn't exactly a sports medicine book either. Those who just want big arms might also want to check out Smokin' Hot Guns!!: How an Average Guy Can Get Big, Muscular Arms In One Workout A Week.

142 of 168 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for anyone interested in bodybuilding on any level, December 3, 1999

By 

Alex (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised (Paperback)

This book has everything you need to know about all aspects of bodybuilding. It starts with basic recommendation and training techniques for the beginner and ends with posing for bodybuilding competitions. The book is well organized, so it is very hard to get lost. In the first few pages, you will find the history of bodybuilding, but following it are the actual programs and sets of exercises that you can use for every workout. There is a beginner program, advanced program, and competition program. Each program has 2 levels of training listing exercises most suitable for each level. If you are a beginner, you can start with level 1 of the beginner training and then eventually move up as you see results. Or you can just start with a level that you see fit for your current shape, as I did. After all the programs, you will find information on how to correctly perform each of the exercises listed in training programs, all with big illustrations (you will see a lot of inspiring pictures of famous bodybuilders). You will also find many different exercises that you can use to alternate your workouts, and also nutritional programs to go with your training. Nutritional programs are divided into different levels as well. I have never used anabolic steroids, and I have no problem performing exercises listed in the book. Some of them may be hard, but not in the beginner training. That's why you shouldn't start with advanced training unless you feel comfortable. I started seeing results after as little as 2 weeks after almost no progress for last half a year before I picked up this book. Arnold's training hits all muscle groups, and some that many people simply miss/disregard, but that are essential for building the best physique. You don't need steroids to do any of the exercises or to workout for 2 hours a day. In fact, I actually enjoy my every workout more than ever. It is hard to describe 800 page book in a few words, so there are a lot of things in there that I didn't even mention. You just have to see for yourself. I can't speak for everyone, but I definately recommend it.

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A positive review with a realistic critique, June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised (Hardcover)

I seriously doubt anyone will read this, seeing as how in my estimation entries are listed in order of oldest to most current , but oh well what the heck. I am writing this mainly as a response to the harsh criticism of some of the readers of this book. I am a student of exercise physiology. Although I posess no degree my words are those of an educated person and I feel I have a lot to contribute to the evaluation of this book. Let me start by saying that this book is not meant for beginners in my opinion. I would say that on the whole the information presented is at least 95% accurate, and it is up to the educated bodybuilder to sift through the info that isn't It is simply unfair to say that the routines and exercises listed will not work on a steroid free bodybuilder. Although the routines are extremely taxing on the body and are not at all appropriate for a beginner, somes peoples bodies are in fact equipped to handle this type of stress. My body as an example is not. There are such great variations between the physiological response of one person as compared to another. For example, I know people who are able to train chest once every three days and achieve phenomenal results. On the other hand for me to train a bodypart such as chest more frequently than every five days results in serious overtraining and stagnation of muscle growth. To summarize, I would say that by using much of the info contained within this book, a person can construct several very useful workouts for themselves. The weider principles are not trash and when used with common sense and hard work can produce astonishing gains in muscle size, strength, and tone. This book provides very useful information even to the seasoned veteran of the discipline of bodybuilding. Although I do see some of the flaws and misinformaion pointed out by the other readers, I would still recomend it to anyone with a reasonable amount of knowledge about the sport who is looking for a comprehensive look at all aspects of bodybuilding. I encourage e-mailed resonses to this entry