Customer Reviews

Power to the People! : Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

i found this review of the book on the sfuk website and found it to be a very detailed and nonbaised. here it is:
Power To The People : Russian Strength Training Secrets

Dinosaur Training author, Brook Kubik, wrote (in Hardgainer mag issue 44).."what do you do if you only have a barbell? - no stands, rack or bench?" He said you deadlift and press. "Don't you think you'd be big and strong all over if you could standing press big poundages and deadlift two or three times as much?"

Tsatsouline takes this philosophy and runs with it in Power To The People.

Tale of the Tape: PTTP is about 125 pages, including a few ads for his other books.

What's the book about?

Maximum strength using minimum exercise and training time
Using bare minimum equipment (a Barbell)
Very few sets & reps
Never train to failure
Flexible training cycles
Whilst it mainly concentrates on strength rather than size, Pavel does include his "Russian Bear" routine
Tsatsouline's book revolves around just 2 exercises, done for just 2 'work sets' each with just 5 reps in each set. Read that again. Yes, just 2 exercises and 2 sets of 5 reps! Your entire workout is done with 20 reps.

The first exercise is the the deadlift. Pavel much prefers it to the squat - although you wonder if it's because Pavel looks more like a deadlifter than a natural squatter.

His second exercise is the Side Press. - the old time strongman lift. Basically you hike a barbell overhead with one hand. Yes that's right, just one hand. Arthur Saxon could hoist over 300lbs that way and Pavel reason's that if you can get strong in that, then that's good enough.

Good Stuff:

Pavel thinks machines are crap - yey!
Pavel champion's the 'big exercises' - multi-joint 'whole-body' exercises
You only need a barbell
You don't need to train for hours (ten mins a day should do it)
Minimum fatigue! Yep, you read that right.
Good explanation of training cycles
Good instruction on deadlifting and side press technique.
Never trains to failure - echoing the way Olympic lifters train + similarities to John McKean and John Christy's writings.
No gloves, no belts, no mirrors and no fancy training shoes.
Easy to read - ecletic use of quotes from Mark Twain to Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Not-so-Good Stuff:

The writing is a bit cheesy. He hams up the "Evil Russian" bit a lot.
Actually it'sa bit more than cheesy, it often comes over like those 3 page "Finish a Fight in 3 Seconds using Secret Russia Special Ops techques" adverts. eg. "Build Massive Muscles with a classified Soviet Special Forces Workout" - classfied? huh?
You need to buy a barbell or have daily access to one
Doesn't fully explain some of his theories, instead he asks you to trust him and says, "The Party is always right"
Could have been a bigger book, 125 pages isn't much - see above.
Pavel cherry-picks quotes from other Strength Writers that agree with his theories, yet the methods those writers employ are totally different to PTTP. For example, he quotes Dr Ken Leistner several times to support PTTP, yet at the same time, trashes the HIT method that Dr Ken avocates. Same with Ken Hutchins and Super Slow. And he quotes Stuart McRobert in his "Power to the People Manifesto" - even though he is against the training method that McRobert promotes. Odd.
The 2 page chapter on Power Stretching is just an ad for another book of his.

Pavel's methods have certain similarities to the way Olympic lifters train - ie. Very low reps, never to failure, long rests between sets, frequent training (if you follow Pavel, you'll know he's up for training 2-3 times a day). It was also very similar to John McKean method of 'Single-ing" (McKean is a champion weightlifter in Old-Style lifts, like the Hip lift - he also trained his phenomenally strong son).

PTTP also shares similarities to John Christy & Stuart McRobert's work to a certain extent - ie. abbreviated routines to avoid overtraining. His "Russian Bear" routine is very similar to the German Volume Training (GVT) that was trendy a few years ago - so in theory it should work.

But does it work?

Yeah. Sort of. I tried it after a very long layoff and within 8 weeks moved my deadlift from 80kgs to 200kgs. Training was novel and fun. Doing only 4 work sets lets you fit a workout in pretty much anytime day or night. However my own gain was a strength regain - ie back to previous levels of strength. After that I needed to cut down on frequency - Deadlifting once a week was better. Which brought me back to a McRobert style of training. However, your recovery abilities may be better, so it's worth a shot.

In theory it works, but I wonder if the 2 exercise, 20 minute a day regime is tailored as a 'quick fix' sales pitch than actually the most effective way to train given the same amount of time per week.

Conclusion

Really enjoyed the book. Well worth getting if you have an interest in strength training. It's particularly good if you're looking for a way to train with minimal equipment.

It's cool to be able to fit in a quick workout at anytime of the day - eg. you can get one in whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for a cuppa - and doing only 2 exercises for 2 sets is a refreshing change. Because you never train to failure, the routine doesn't leave you wiped out, like, say a HIT routine.

But I don't think I could recommend it to a skinny 'hardgainer' looking to gain strength and mass. The Brawn series of books would be much better for that, as I know it works. However, if you've got a few years of weightlifting under your belt then it's well worth a blast - and you could use the same methods to train Olympic style exercises like the Push Press, Overhead Squat, Power Clean etc.
Author : Pavel Tsatsouline | Reviewer: Jonathan | Score : 7 out of 10

This book is essentialy about deadlifting and overhead pressing. Deadlifting has been the subject of much agreement in the fitness world as the most important barbell movement to enhance athletic performance. The varieties of and tricks for improving DL performance can be put on two pages. Overhead presses are treated as the pushing equivalent of the DL's pulling. SP's are rightfully more imporant than bench presses, or for that matter, perhaps any other single movement. Ok. Another two pages. Pavel makes it a whole forty dolllar book, and charges another forty for two more exercises in another book,(pushups and squats), in his -Naked Warrior-Pavel makes a big point of the superiority of building strength without mass due to the possibility of losing the mass, and thus the strength, in harsh circumstances. The -reality- is that strength built without mass must recieve constant training to be maintained, and is very specific to the way it's trained, while mass is much slower to be lost,(along with its strength), and is applicable to whatever strength you apply it to, with a little bit of training. Unless you are training for powerlifting, the possible damaging effect of the heavy weight eventually needed in this method far outweigh the benefits. (add 10.08/05): In Arthur Jones' "Nautilus Bulletin" #1, chapter 9, Jones essentially recommends the same program in Pavel's book,(overhead presses and deadlifts), with the addition of squats. This was originally published in 1973, and the individual ideas had been stated by Jones long before that. The point is that: 1/this stuff isn't new, 2/the split between 'functional ' trainers and bodybuilders is a modern creation with no meaning to clear thinkers such as Jones, and 3/ it's free!(on the internet).

Reading the other reviews of this book helped me decide to go ahead with the purchase. I have been lifting weights on and off for over ten years. After some consistant training I always had a problem of getting too tight and feeling restricted in my movements. This was even more of a problem as I got more and more involved in martial arts. After all these years I finally found a method to get stronger without feeling like I am loosing flexability (I think I've even gained some range of motion). So far (2 months) I find the claims the author makes on the back cover to be no exaggeration - he's all he is cracked up to be.

If you are interested in strength, I recommend this book over all others. Don't waste you time or money on anything else. The author's ideas are contrary to the popular methods in use. But, I find that his ideas match my actual experience. For example, the basic rule of "bulking up" is to do heavy weight for only a few reps. Absolutely not true. For years I bought into that theory. Luckily I came accross this book.

Lastly, I recommend this book to all martial artists. You don't have to look like a freak off a California beach to be monsterously stong. In fact you can be equally as strong, probably stronger in MUCH less time. Finally there is a safe way to get strong for those of us that are "chemically challenged."

(I should also mention that although I have been getting consitant and powerfull results, I don't know if it works for everyone.) Good luck.

The great thing about the book "Power to the People!" is that it tells the readers what not to do when training for strength and why not. As you read the book, you will keep saying to yourself: "so that's why I'm not getting stronger!" Pavel points out all the things that are wrong with conventional weight training(and there are lots of it)and shows the readers what they need to do to get stronger, but not necessarily bigger. Although there are some technical details that maybe unclear to beginners, Pavel summarizes everything into five principles: 1)Lift heavy 2)two sets only 3) 5 reps only 4)Rest 3-5 minutes 5)Never lift to failure. He explains mechanics of 3 core exercises in meticulous details so just about everyone can do it right, but I think video version of this book will be great too since it's easier to demonstrate actual moves on film. My only complaint is that it didn't have anything about endurance but I guess that's because that's whole another topic. At any rate, it was definitely worth it.

I am a veteran of the US Army and have been exposed to practically every training theory there is... (hey, it get's boring out there). Every single thing this man says is 100% accurate. Every principle is backed by detailed references that any fool can check. I have been training with weights for over 15 years and I am stonger and more ripped at 39 than ever- thanks to PAVEL. (Just ask my muscle head friends.) His formula is simple: hi tension = dense (ie STRONGER) muscle. Simple. I am the ultimate sceptic- you want me to beleive something? Prove it. Pavel did and the only reason I am writing this is because I have read some ridiculous, and totally incorrect, negative reviews here.

Trust me now- thank me later.

It isn't growth hormone... it's Pavel! This is THE definitive text on the art and science of strength training... and that's what it's all about, power! Page after page of the world's most useful and productive strength-training practices are explained in this book. A lot of experienced lifters, who think that they know how to train, will be humbled when they find out how much better Pavel's system is than anything the western iron-game community has ever done. Pavel explains how to build maximum strength (without adding extra bulk) through upgrading your nervous system's control over your muscles AND how to get huge and muscular, if that is your goal... and it's all right here, in black and white, with his usual easy to follow writing style. I have surpassed all my previous bests...and I no longer need or use lifting belts. I learned how to up-regulate tension through his "feed-forward" technique, how to immediately add AT LEAST ten pounds to every lift via "hyperirradiation", and to do it in my best form ever, and how to gain on every lift WEEKLY through the Russian system of periodization without any plateaus! Seriously, I gain every week! You only need TWO exercises! Pavel explains which ones, how to do them and how often. Also, you'll learn how to train to SUCCESS, not to "failure", how to immediately turn any lift into a "hyper lift", teach your nervous system how not to ever "miss" a lift, and simultaneously make your body far less injury-prone! Pavel illustrates the two types of muscle growth and which one you REALLY need, and the all-important power breathing. Pavel's training is the most valuable resource made available for strength athletes since the barbell. The breathing techniques alone are worth the asking price. This book is my personal favorite out of all his works, and in my opinion, they should be owned as a set. This book is superior to all the muscle mags and books that dwell on a content of unessential details of today's "fitness culture" and yet never fully explain the context of training for strength. Pavel cuts right to the heart of the "muscle mystery", by explaining the all-important context of the russian system: quick, efficient, permanent strength gains, without spending a small fortune on "me-too" bodybuilding supplements and without unnecessary, time consuming overtraining. Now I only hope he writes a book on full-contact training...

Power to the People isn't too thin for the money. It's simply concise. It doesn't fill its pages with useless information, it says exactly what needs to be said. This book serves as a primer into the ways of strength training. After you read this book you'll have a far greater understanding of how strength is achieved without having to wade your way through the mist and muck of conventional fitness wisdom. A great deal of what you'll find in this book goes against what you'd read in the fitness magazines, but I'll guarantee you that you'll get better results from these teachings IF YOU APPLY THE PRINCIPLES CORRECTLY. Let's be honest, how many people follow along with those convential programs only to be left too sore to enjoy life and frustrated that they can't make progress? Then they assume that they're genetically inferior and just stop trying. Too many people are after a one size fits all program to fit all their needs, and even though Pavel provides a few examples of simple but effective, the real magic is in the knowledge and insight you gain into the reality of productive strength training.
In reality, the strongest people around are in agreement with Pavel's philosophy's on many key points. Take a look at Milo magazine or PowerliftingUSA sometime, or have a look at some of the writings of the old time strongmen who Pavel speaks so highly of. You'll recognize some of the same content. Power to the People gives you more than the content, though. It gives you a context to fit it all into.
From personal experience I can say that the changes I have experienced in my life since I began applying Pavel's principles have been dramatic. I'm a great deal stronger, healthier, leaner (if you want to know how to lose fat the Pavelized way check out The Russian Kettlebell Challenge. I've lost about 80lbs since I started "Pavelizing" last July, most of my weightloss came after Kettlebells) and more athletic than I was a year ago. Although I have 5 of Pavel's books, and I refer to all of them often, this one is still my favorite. When friends ask me how they can get the results I've gotten, this is the first book I loan them.
If you really want to be strong -really strong, not just "buff"- buy this book. Now!

I have been a training athlete for over 30 years in a lot of sports. Did everything in High School, played NCAA basketball in college, kick boxed as a pro for 2 years, made it to the NFL in 1982 as a free agent, Powerlifted through my 20's, do Olympic lifting now at 42. I have also been coaching swimming and strength training athletes for 20 years. I give this all this background so the next sentence will register the most. I have never read a book more useful than Power to the People. I have been using many of Tsatsouline's theories for the past 3-4 months and have seen my strength explode like I was in my 20's again with 1/2 the training time.

Many Thanks, Carter Stamm

I have spent hundreds of dollars on books about training, hoping to gain some insight or "secret" that would help me achieve my goals. Usually I'm happy if I get 1 or 2 small pointers from a book, but "Power To The People" is different. Not only is it an easy and entertaining read, it contains more good training information than any other book I've read before. The real payoff though, is in the results. My bench press shot up past all of my prior personal bests (higher than what I lifted 20 years ago). My strength in other areas also increased significantly. Another payoff, maybe even more important, my wife noticed (in a good way) a difference in my upper body and wanted to know what I'd been doing! Not a bad thing for the male ego. There have been some side effects though -- I spend less time in the gym, I feel strong, not burned out, my joints don't ache after my workouts and I'm not sore for several days a week after my workouts. Needless to say, I think this book is a must for any strength athlete, martial artist or anyonethat wants to be functionally strong and lean!

In the world of strength, flexibility and abdominal training, a Russian guy named Pavel Tsatsouline is getting the attention of people who have tried everything to be successful in all three but have experienced only minimal results. What is unique about Pavel's information in Power to the People! : Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American is that not only does his methods get results, but they violate many of the "truths" that have been held as sacred for so long. In fact, in his other two books, Beyond Stretching : Russian Flexibility Breakthroughs and Bullet-Proof Abs : 2nd Edition of Beyond Crunches, he also argues against how we have always been taught to train. Consider these points discussed and illustrated in Power to the People!

* Get superstrong without putting on an ounce of weight be learning to contract your muscles harder. * But if you want to build big muscles, you can with a classified Soviet Special Forces workout. * Why high-rep training to the "burn" causes a form of rigor mortus - and what it really takes to develop spectacular muscles tone. * Mold your whole body with only two exercises: the Health Lift and the Side Press. * Increase your bench press by 10 poinds overnight. * How to exercise with super-strict form - and lift more weight than you could swinging or cheating. * Why inhaling as you lower the weight and exhaling as you lift sets you up for an injury. * How to hack into your "muscle software" and magnify your power and muscle definitionn be rewiring your nervous system. * How Russian weightlifters get super strong without training to muscle failure or exhaustion. * Design a world class body in your basement - with $150 worth of basic weights in 20 minutes a day.

The book is spendy, but those who have learned his methods from his books and videos say that the information is worth much more.

Loren W. Christensen, author of FIGHTING POWER: How to Develop Explosive Punches, Kicks, Blocks and Grappling