Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training is the new expanded version of the book that has been called "the best and most useful of fitness books." It picks up where Starting Strength: A Simple and Practical Guide for Coaching Beginners leaves off. With all new graphics and more than 750 illustrations, a more detailed analysis of the five most important exercises in the weight room, and a new chapter dealing with the most important assistance exercises, Basic Barbell Training offers the most complete examination in print of the most effective way to exercise.
| ||||||||||||||||||
 Sell Back Your Copy for $7.30
No matter where you bought them, get up to 70% back when you sell your books at Amazon.com.
Used Price$18.80
Trade-in Price$7.30
Price after
Trade-in$11.50 |
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training by Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore is now out in a 2nd edition. Unlike some 2nd edition books, which merely include a new preface in the way of revision, this is a majorly substantial update and expansion of what was a great tome to begin with. The material in the original, 2005 edition is included, but there are lots of new graphics and additional chapters of valuable material beyond the initial release. Another subtle, but important difference, is that the focus of the book has been altered, from being coach-focused to being lifter-focused. Throughout the book, there's an encyclopedia of practical tips you can put into your training program -- right now -- and see improvement almost immediately, and -- significantly -- you will understand why it helped you. This attitude, which is reflective of the broad experience and insight of the authors, will serve this book's readers for years to come. Five key exercises are covered, squat, bench, deadlift, press and power clean, as well as assistance exercises. For each, there is in depth explanation of rules, recommended equipment, and the elemental points of proper lift performance. Some of the graphics are simply the best we've ever seen when it comes to illuminating the real essence of a given lift. (one example: a clever 'yin-yang' representation of the relationship between the power clean and the deadlift... another example is the photo series showing the value of squatting with a board in front of your shin). If you have the first edition, you won't be sorry you got the 2nd. If you get the 2nd edition, you'll wish you hadn't gone 3 years without the first one. --Mike Lambert, Powerlifting USA
I was able to check out the new greatly expanded edition of Starting Strength from Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore, a book which I have wholeheartedly endorsed since it was first published and could not recommend more strongly. Essentially the new edition makes the book a complete reference for someone involving themselves in weight training (rather than a work more geared to coaching). It goes well beyond the comprehensive coverage of the core lifts that made the first so useful and gives a remarkably complete picture. Between this and Practical Programming - that's a near totally complete resource that will likely serve 99% of people for their entire training career. I'd recommend this book to anyone involved in weight training from a brand new novice in the gym for the first time to a refer and see improvement almost immediately, andence manual for a fairly seasoned coach. I know I've said a lot of positive stuff in the past about Mark's work but really - take a look at my site and what I've tried to do...Mark essentially wrote the books that I'd have written had I the time and did about as good a job as I think anyone in the world could have (and certainly better than I could have managed). Very impressive stuff. --Madcow, 5 x 5 Training page
I was able to check out the new greatly expanded edition of Starting Strength from Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore, a book which I have wholeheartedly endorsed since it was first published and could not recommend more strongly. Essentially the new edition makes the book a complete reference for someone involving themselves in weight training (rather than a work more geared to coaching). It goes well beyond the comprehensive coverage of the core lifts that made the first so useful and gives a remarkably complete picture. Between this and Practical Programming - that's a near totally complete resource that will likely serve 99% of people for their entire training career. I'd recommend this book to anyone involved in weight training from a brand new novice in the gym for the first time to a refer and see improvement almost immediately, andence manual for a fairly seasoned coach. I know I've said a lot of positive stuff in the past about Mark's work but really - take a look at my site and what I've tried to do...Mark essentially wrote the books that I'd have written had I the time and did about as good a job as I think anyone in the world could have (and certainly better than I could have managed). Very impressive stuff. --Madcow, 5 x 5 Training page
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 52 people found the following review helpful
By John Choi
Format:Paperback
As you walk into your gym, the first thing you see is that handsome Brad Pitt (or Orlando Bloom or whatever) look-alike curling a barbell relentlessly and vigorously on the squat rack. Sets after sets after sets, you stand in awe as you see the grotesque veins bulge on his biceps as he stimulates every square inch, every nooks and crannies of its muscle fibers. The girls on the treadmills would surely fall for him.
Two month later, you see him again, strenuously curling his barbell in the squat rack like the champion that he is. However, something in the back of your mind senses that something is wrong. Well, at a glance, everything appears to be normal: he's got a great form in his curl, he's got that look of fearsome, hardcore intensity in his eyes, and his veins are jutting out majestically. The only problem is, he is still 6 foot tall and weighs a buck fifty and he's still curling that same barbell with ten pound plates on each side: he didn't make any progress at all. And chances are, if you haven't received instructions on how to properly lift or base your entire workout on a bodybuilder's regimen in the latest issue of a muscle magazine, you're not making any progress either.
And then there are people who will steadfastedly stand by their magazines and assert, "No! I've tried the latest Coleman/Cutler sets and my strength/arm size/ego doubled!" Okay, fine. But stick with the regimen for a few more months and see what happens. Nevermind the fact the people who use them or similar variations are hardcore steroid users and possess one of the most freakish genes on the planet. In other words, those that are normal will usually stagnate in their size and strength and achieve a total burnout.
Okay, you're ready to reform or if you're completely new to the iron game, learn the right way to lift. First step, buy the book. It will teach you the five compound lifts: the squat, the bench press, the standing press, the deadlift, and the power clean. To progress, you must do the compound lifts. To get bigger, stronger, faster, sexier, you must do the compound lifts. What are compound lifts? Compound lifts are movements that utilize two or more of your muscles. For example:
The Squat mainly targets the legs, the butt, lower back, and the abs.
Bench press - the chest, shoulders, and triceps.
Press - shoulders, triceps, traps
Deadlift - upper back, lower back, legs, traps, abs.
Power clean - the power clean is a variation of the olympic clean. It starts as a deadlift, but utilizes speed and it is pulled up and racked on the deltoids. This is the king of all movements, it works out almost everything.
You must do this as opposed to the isolation movements, which - you guessed it - only works out one measly muscle. For example:
The (squat rack) Curl - biceps
Biceps don't make the man. The whole body does.
In addition to the instructions, Rippetoe meticulously explains the correct forms of these movements, which are illustrated by numerous photos. The author also takes pains to show scenarios of erroneous lifts and advises how they can be corrected to avoid serious injuries. REMEMBER: it's the form that counts, not the amount of weights that you can lift. A big lift with a bad form can otherwise produce a horrendous injury that will cut short of your weightlifting career or produce minimal strength gain (quarter squats, anyone?).
Near the end of the book, the author provides a program that utilizes all the five compound movements with the right amount of sets and repetitions for all to follow. For those who have rose to the intermediate or advanced level, I highly recommend that you get Rippetoe's other book, Practical Programming, which has a better treatment on individual regimen programming. Also check out Madcow's 5x5 (google madcow 5x5) website. His program works evenly great.
Oh, and the squat rack is for squatting only, not for curling.
Two month later, you see him again, strenuously curling his barbell in the squat rack like the champion that he is. However, something in the back of your mind senses that something is wrong. Well, at a glance, everything appears to be normal: he's got a great form in his curl, he's got that look of fearsome, hardcore intensity in his eyes, and his veins are jutting out majestically. The only problem is, he is still 6 foot tall and weighs a buck fifty and he's still curling that same barbell with ten pound plates on each side: he didn't make any progress at all. And chances are, if you haven't received instructions on how to properly lift or base your entire workout on a bodybuilder's regimen in the latest issue of a muscle magazine, you're not making any progress either.
And then there are people who will steadfastedly stand by their magazines and assert, "No! I've tried the latest Coleman/Cutler sets and my strength/arm size/ego doubled!" Okay, fine. But stick with the regimen for a few more months and see what happens. Nevermind the fact the people who use them or similar variations are hardcore steroid users and possess one of the most freakish genes on the planet. In other words, those that are normal will usually stagnate in their size and strength and achieve a total burnout.
Okay, you're ready to reform or if you're completely new to the iron game, learn the right way to lift. First step, buy the book. It will teach you the five compound lifts: the squat, the bench press, the standing press, the deadlift, and the power clean. To progress, you must do the compound lifts. To get bigger, stronger, faster, sexier, you must do the compound lifts. What are compound lifts? Compound lifts are movements that utilize two or more of your muscles. For example:
The Squat mainly targets the legs, the butt, lower back, and the abs.
Bench press - the chest, shoulders, and triceps.
Press - shoulders, triceps, traps
Deadlift - upper back, lower back, legs, traps, abs.
Power clean - the power clean is a variation of the olympic clean. It starts as a deadlift, but utilizes speed and it is pulled up and racked on the deltoids. This is the king of all movements, it works out almost everything.
You must do this as opposed to the isolation movements, which - you guessed it - only works out one measly muscle. For example:
The (squat rack) Curl - biceps
Biceps don't make the man. The whole body does.
In addition to the instructions, Rippetoe meticulously explains the correct forms of these movements, which are illustrated by numerous photos. The author also takes pains to show scenarios of erroneous lifts and advises how they can be corrected to avoid serious injuries. REMEMBER: it's the form that counts, not the amount of weights that you can lift. A big lift with a bad form can otherwise produce a horrendous injury that will cut short of your weightlifting career or produce minimal strength gain (quarter squats, anyone?).
Near the end of the book, the author provides a program that utilizes all the five compound movements with the right amount of sets and repetitions for all to follow. For those who have rose to the intermediate or advanced level, I highly recommend that you get Rippetoe's other book, Practical Programming, which has a better treatment on individual regimen programming. Also check out Madcow's 5x5 (google madcow 5x5) website. His program works evenly great.
Oh, and the squat rack is for squatting only, not for curling.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Kynn
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a book that everyone who lifts should read, whether new or experienced. It teaches you how to properly do the five major compound lifts that build a rock-solid, freakishly strong body: the squat, bench press, standing press, deadlift, and power clean. (A "compound lift" is one that engages more than one muscle group. An "isolation exercise" is one that only engages one muscle group.)
Don't listen to the BS magazines that push fake workouts endorsed by steroid freaks that will say anything for a buck. Don't waste your time with the whole slew of Men's Health products that will have you doing ten thousand reps per week only to make no gains.
If you want to get bigger and stronger, you MUST do several if not all of the lifts explained in this book. Nothing builds better legs and butts than squats. The bench press is a staple chest exercise that, when combined with dumbbell presses, builds big, powerful chests. The standing press builds strong shoulders that look like cannonballs. The deadlift is one of the best overall mass building exercises, and it builds your entire back, legs, and traps. The power clean is one of the toughest lifts you can do and works just about every muscle in your body.
This book shows you the proper form for all these exercises in amazing detail. This is CRUCIAL because bad form can lead to injuries (but proper form will completely prevent them). Remember, heavy weight lifted with poor form is NOT worth it (while the guys doing it think the heavy weights makes them look cool, their poor form actually just makes them look like idiots).
The author gives you a workout program in the end of the book built around the five compound mass builders with target sets and reps, which is a great strength-building program.
If you lift weights, you owe it to yourself to buy and read this book. Your workouts--and results--will never be the same again.
Another great book that espouses these concepts but also goes over proper dieting, cardio, and supplementing (and debunks a bunch of BS), is Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body (The Lean Muscle Series). I highly recommend it.
Don't listen to the BS magazines that push fake workouts endorsed by steroid freaks that will say anything for a buck. Don't waste your time with the whole slew of Men's Health products that will have you doing ten thousand reps per week only to make no gains.
If you want to get bigger and stronger, you MUST do several if not all of the lifts explained in this book. Nothing builds better legs and butts than squats. The bench press is a staple chest exercise that, when combined with dumbbell presses, builds big, powerful chests. The standing press builds strong shoulders that look like cannonballs. The deadlift is one of the best overall mass building exercises, and it builds your entire back, legs, and traps. The power clean is one of the toughest lifts you can do and works just about every muscle in your body.
This book shows you the proper form for all these exercises in amazing detail. This is CRUCIAL because bad form can lead to injuries (but proper form will completely prevent them). Remember, heavy weight lifted with poor form is NOT worth it (while the guys doing it think the heavy weights makes them look cool, their poor form actually just makes them look like idiots).
The author gives you a workout program in the end of the book built around the five compound mass builders with target sets and reps, which is a great strength-building program.
If you lift weights, you owe it to yourself to buy and read this book. Your workouts--and results--will never be the same again.
Another great book that espouses these concepts but also goes over proper dieting, cardio, and supplementing (and debunks a bunch of BS), is Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body (The Lean Muscle Series). I highly recommend it.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Strength Training Book: Step by Step instructions on the Core Lifts
October 20, 2009
By Bryon Gaskin
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
High Level Overview:
Reviewer Background:
Degree in Exercise Physiology - BSU 1996
Personal Trainer
Pros:
*This book is very very very detailed on how to perform the main core lifts, Squats, Deadlifts, Bench Press, and Power Cleans and generally focuses on multi-joint exercises and down plays isolation type exercises.
*The book spends a great deal of time and effort explaining proper form for doing the basic lifts (which if you have spent any time in the gym at all you can see all kinds of wild interpretations of the basic lifts)
*This book is a perfect example of how little equipment you actually need to get not only a good workout, but a great workout. Essentially you can work all of the main muscle groups with the following pieces of equipment. Power Rack, and adjustable bench, barbell, and weights.
*The book does a very good job of breaking down the mechanics of how your body's center of gravity changes as it moves through different exercises.
Cons:
*There is not clear cut program that one can take from the book and start using. The instructions for how many reps and sets too use is going to be somewhat confusing for someone just getting starting. I have been working out for 20 + years plus several years of training clients and I had a hard time developing a workout plan around what is presented in the book. To make it adaptable to the beginner, a plan needs to be step by step and map out percentages as a goal for doing various exercises.
*To add to the confusion, for the most part you are doing 3 sets of 5 reps for your work sets with the same weight, but on occasion you rotate in 5 sets of 5 reps, 2 sets with increasing weight and 3 sets at the same weight. Again in the book, this is hard to decipher and put into a training log you can use. I just don't see how someone with little or no experience in a weight room is going to get the idea.
*The nutrition part is sort of weak: Here the advice is drink a gallon of milk, and take in 2500 to 5000 calories a day.
*The book although does a great job with the mechanics (i.e. leverage) it really doesn't touch on the physiology behind how muscle work and how they recover (there is a very drawing of the "Metabolic Speedometer" which describes which energy systems are in use with different types of activity)
Overview: This is a STRENGTH book, not a book on bodybuilding/body sculpting (hence the name "Starting Strength". I can't emphasize enough you need to know what you are training for before you commit to a book purchase and exercise routine. This book is focuses on strength and nothing else, hypertrophy may be a side of affect of strength but is not the goal, nor is the goal to produce shapely well defined muscles and washboard abs. This book is written by a power lifter (Rippetoe) for strength and power and that's it.
The book easy to read; is full of illustrations, and flows together very nice. Rippetoe drops in some dry humor to keep it fresh.
Overall:
This is a great book if you have some experience in the weight room and are very familiar with sets, reps, warm-up sets, work sets, and back off sets, and most importantly, if your goal is "STRENGTH"
*If you are sporting a "dickie-do" then this book is probably NOT going to be your official guide to getting back in shape.
*If you are a coach, then this book is a must
*If you are an AD, then the book is a must
*If you are a teenager or your adult wanting to get stronger for a host of different sports or for competition, then this is the book for you.
*You are NOT going to find a diet plan in here if you are wanting to drop a good deal of your body fat and tone up.
Bottom Line:
*I would recommend this book as a supplement to your fitness library, but not as a base. *I would check out some books by Ellington Darden, the exercises and machines are very different than what this book presents (that does not mean better), but his books have a wealth of information concerning the physiology behind weight training , diet, and rest. His books also tend lean more towards getting in shape and dropping excess body fat as opposed to pure strength gains.
*In the end for a training program to be successful, the trainee needs to believe it will work, and part of believing it will work is understanding how it will work.
Update: 10-31-09,
I've been following the routine for two weeks and starting to see some strength gains after years and years of a plateau. The training volume is way down from what I am used to and so is the intensity, but I am getting stronger. It took me 1 week of workouts to get my weights adjusted correctly
Reviewer Background:
Degree in Exercise Physiology - BSU 1996
Personal Trainer
Pros:
*This book is very very very detailed on how to perform the main core lifts, Squats, Deadlifts, Bench Press, and Power Cleans and generally focuses on multi-joint exercises and down plays isolation type exercises.
*The book spends a great deal of time and effort explaining proper form for doing the basic lifts (which if you have spent any time in the gym at all you can see all kinds of wild interpretations of the basic lifts)
*This book is a perfect example of how little equipment you actually need to get not only a good workout, but a great workout. Essentially you can work all of the main muscle groups with the following pieces of equipment. Power Rack, and adjustable bench, barbell, and weights.
*The book does a very good job of breaking down the mechanics of how your body's center of gravity changes as it moves through different exercises.
Cons:
*There is not clear cut program that one can take from the book and start using. The instructions for how many reps and sets too use is going to be somewhat confusing for someone just getting starting. I have been working out for 20 + years plus several years of training clients and I had a hard time developing a workout plan around what is presented in the book. To make it adaptable to the beginner, a plan needs to be step by step and map out percentages as a goal for doing various exercises.
*To add to the confusion, for the most part you are doing 3 sets of 5 reps for your work sets with the same weight, but on occasion you rotate in 5 sets of 5 reps, 2 sets with increasing weight and 3 sets at the same weight. Again in the book, this is hard to decipher and put into a training log you can use. I just don't see how someone with little or no experience in a weight room is going to get the idea.
*The nutrition part is sort of weak: Here the advice is drink a gallon of milk, and take in 2500 to 5000 calories a day.
*The book although does a great job with the mechanics (i.e. leverage) it really doesn't touch on the physiology behind how muscle work and how they recover (there is a very drawing of the "Metabolic Speedometer" which describes which energy systems are in use with different types of activity)
Overview: This is a STRENGTH book, not a book on bodybuilding/body sculpting (hence the name "Starting Strength". I can't emphasize enough you need to know what you are training for before you commit to a book purchase and exercise routine. This book is focuses on strength and nothing else, hypertrophy may be a side of affect of strength but is not the goal, nor is the goal to produce shapely well defined muscles and washboard abs. This book is written by a power lifter (Rippetoe) for strength and power and that's it.
The book easy to read; is full of illustrations, and flows together very nice. Rippetoe drops in some dry humor to keep it fresh.
Overall:
This is a great book if you have some experience in the weight room and are very familiar with sets, reps, warm-up sets, work sets, and back off sets, and most importantly, if your goal is "STRENGTH"
*If you are sporting a "dickie-do" then this book is probably NOT going to be your official guide to getting back in shape.
*If you are a coach, then this book is a must
*If you are an AD, then the book is a must
*If you are a teenager or your adult wanting to get stronger for a host of different sports or for competition, then this is the book for you.
*You are NOT going to find a diet plan in here if you are wanting to drop a good deal of your body fat and tone up.
Bottom Line:
*I would recommend this book as a supplement to your fitness library, but not as a base. *I would check out some books by Ellington Darden, the exercises and machines are very different than what this book presents (that does not mean better), but his books have a wealth of information concerning the physiology behind weight training , diet, and rest. His books also tend lean more towards getting in shape and dropping excess body fat as opposed to pure strength gains.
*In the end for a training program to be successful, the trainee needs to believe it will work, and part of believing it will work is understanding how it will work.
Update: 10-31-09,
I've been following the routine for two weeks and starting to see some strength gains after years and years of a plateau. The training volume is way down from what I am used to and so is the intensity, but I am getting stronger. It took me 1 week of workouts to get my weights adjusted correctly
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best "fitness" book
A must buy for those looking at doing any kind of strength training, well recommended. Excellent diagrams and explanations on all exercises
Published 1 month ago by Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
Bought this for my husband and we've both been referencing it for a while now. I'm very analytic and technique focused. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Catherine
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book changed my life
If you have never worked out with free weights, this book is a godsend. Combined with a Paleo diet, I've dropped 40 pounds and put on lots of muscle at the same time.
Published 2 months ago by Joseph D
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wield it carefully
I hopped right into the program after reading the book. Mark Rippetoe's prose is very straightforward and his dry humor makes the chapters very readable. Read more
Published 2 months ago by K. Wezwick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
5 Stars all the way. If you are someone who wants to get down the basics and fundamentals of a lift, and possibly learn a little about biomechanics. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jason
5.0 out of 5 stars
go deep
great info. no ticket to snap city. youll get dem quads but you should switch to a 3 day split after a couple months to get past the plateu
Published 6 months ago by rippletits
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like Arnold's Encyclopedia, but for Strength, instead of bodybuilding
This is THE strength training book.
If you're into bodybuilding "the" book is Arnold's Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding (Pelham Practical Sports). Read more
If you're into bodybuilding "the" book is Arnold's Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding (Pelham Practical Sports). Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gold for beginner lifters
It's hard to summarize how much I owe to this book. For a beginner w/o any good coaching at hand, this is pure gold.
And it seems to get more and more popular each year. Read more
And it seems to get more and more popular each year. Read more
Published 9 months ago by El ingenioso hidalgo
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is by far the most amazing book for strength.
I feel so good after working out. After just one month people at work began to notice my arms and chest getting bigger. I catch girls looking at my chest. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Edgar Colín
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is My Strength Bible
Until I purchased this book, I didn't even bother trying to regularly squat, deadlift or press. Not that I didn't give it a shot. Read more
Published 13 months ago by E. Espinosa
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
