Customer Reviews

Starting Strength (1st edition)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been lifting weights for almost 40 years. I have a couple dozen books on weightlifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding which I have read and reread and used in the gym. This is one of the top 3 must-have books for the weightlifter. I bought it over a year ago, and it taught me things about technique that I did not know. For instance, I've always been a very strong bench-presser, but this book taught me that my hands were in the wrong position. Just a slight adjustment, as demonstrated in the book, has taken the pressure off my wrists.

Age has reduced my strength somewhat over the last 5 years. But the excellent explanation of technique in this book enabled me to bring my deadlift weight to within 20 pounds of my top weight from 35 years ago.

But probably the single best part of the book is the extensive instruction on the squat. I'd given up on the squat, using leg press only, for the last 20 years because I kept injuring my lower back. But this book has helped me make some major adjustments in squat technique, from position of elbows (back), to position of bar on the back (lower), to proper flare of the knees (wide). After practicing technique with light weights for a few sessions, everything clicked into place. I've now been squatting injury-free for over a year.

If you think, like I did, that you know how to perform the major lifts, unless you've had coaching or have read this book, you probably don't.

I recommend this book unreservedly, for young and old weightlifters.

This book is simply amazing and appeals to a wide audience. This is evidenced by all the 5 star reviews and to my knowledge no reviews marked lower. I was skeptical that it could really be that good, but it exceeded by expectations in every respect.

This book contains very detailed instructions on how to correctly perform the core lifts of the squat, dealift, press, and power cleans. It explains how to do them correctly, why they work, contains good references, excellent diagrams and all the fine points you need to know collected all in one place.

If this book has a real fault, I haven't found it. It is dense with material and as far as I'm concerned worth it's weight in gold. If you are even thinking of performing squats and dealifts without it, I would recommend it as cheap insurance that you get these lifts EXACTLY right.

In addition, Starting Strength is humorous and easy to follow. He takes a swipe at orthopedic surgeons who have never been inside a gym to lift weights or don't understand the biomechanics of proper exercise technique and then goes on to cite the number of powerlifters who do this regularly without any significant back injuries compared to the general population.

This is a must buy for anyone serious about weightlifting. It is particularly useful to hard-gainers, people getting into weight lifting and seasoned lifters who are skeptical of the value and safety of core movements as the basis of building mass.

I thought I knew how to bench. Nope. I thought I knew how to squat. No way. I thought I knew what an overhead press was. Negative.

I have been lifting since college (I am now in my late twenties, so about 10 years). Only after I read Starting Strength can I say that I am confident with the big 3 barbell lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift.

This should be mandatory reading prior to setting foot in a real weight room.

Thanks Mark Rippetoe.

Oh, I increased my bench press by 25lbs in one month too.

This book was not only extremely informative, but easy to read! The author's writing style is entertaining. The information included has helped me improve my own performance as well as the perfomances of those I train with.

As a strength and conditioning guideline, this is by far the best reference material I've ever read!!! A must buy for anyone serious about conditioning regimes!

This book gives a great base of knowledge about strength building lifts. A must have for any coach, lifter, and crossfitter.

This book is awesome! It goes into extreme detail on proper technique. Every trainer and trainee should have a copy in their gym bag.