Customer Reviews

Supertraining, 6th Edition

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

 

 

WOW. This is a very deep and thorough book. I'm not sure where to begin... How about some questions:

- Can you define strength deficit?
- What's the difference between "strength-speed" and "speed-strength?"
- Distinction between central fatigue and peripheral fatigue?

The above concepts and much more were covered in only the first twenty pages. Get the picture as to the depth of this text?

I have the CSCS certification. I thought the CSCS was tough when I took the exam. But, looking back on it now and comparing it to Supertraining, the CSCS material is kinda pathetic. Cheers!

If you are looking for a book for a bodybuilding or strength training program then this is NOT the book for you. However is you are interested in learning more about human movement, and how physiology adapts to the stresses of training then I highly recommend this book.

Going back years the Soviets studied movement and how individuals adapt to exercise and training; this book is a thorough review of the Soviet system of training which has been proven as the most effective. We in the west focus on how we look, the Soviets were interested in movement, performance, technique and specialization which is the foundation of the Soviet system of sports classification.

As an author and speaker in the fitness industry this book is the source of many of my talks and when looking at a new training style or technique I always compare it to the Soviet system to see if it is based on principles or fads.

This book is not easy to read, but will provide the in-depth background on how to organize training to help clients and athletes make the desired adaptations.

after six months of following the guidelines in this book I can unequivocally state I am stronger. I used to have tremendous back pain but I have been been doing stiff legged deadlifts for the past six months and my back pain has subsided thanks to the scientific research in this book. My routine consists of bending over at the waist knees slightly bent and lifting a barbell loaded with 300 lbs for one rep. I then rest for two minutes and lower the weight 5-10lbs and do another one rep set. I repeat this process three more times completing at least 4-5 sets. I started at 135 lbs. six months ago. I then rest for 46-52 hours and do another session of one rep sets and I usually am able to increase my first one rep set weight by 5-10lbs. This is the only book you will ever need to read to become strong. Ignore all the negative reviews and shell out the sixty bucks to buy this. This book will change your life and make you stronger. Yeah it's a tough read, the graphs are pretty much incomprehensible and a couple chapters you won't even need to read but it's all worth it when after six months of incorporating the guidelines you will feel strong, quick and explosive. I usually don't gloat over a book like this but I wouldn't invest the time in writing this review if I didn't feel it was worth it.

This is the one for the ages. I wish that Louie could articulate as well as Mel. Still, a wonder piece of writing and worth the shelf space...

simply put, if you are a serious student/ practitioner of Strength & Conditioning, this book WILL be on your shelf. covers at least the basics of pretty much every S&C method out there and serves as THE modern reference work.

NB-- this is NOT a "workout" book for the novice trainee looking for a fitness outline-- if that is your need, seek life elsewhere.

Great book. Dense with information however I would not recommend it for a beginner in the field of strength and conditioning.

I have to say first that this book is very technical. Do not expect to read this book, and then have a 12 week bodybuilding program laid out for you. This is not what this book is about.
What this book will tell you about is all things strength related. Things like exercise, "shock" method (plyometrics to americans), how muscles work, sport, adaptation, super compensation, etc. This list is to long for a quick review here sorry.
A little history about myself i think would be good here to see what this book can do for you.
I have been working out since i was 14. I am now 28. I have learned so much reading on the internet, just like i am sure most in my age range have. BUT with so much on the internet that is written by people that is unfortunately trash. This book will tell you tho about all things strength related. And back it up with science, proven training techniques, (Dr.Verkhoshansky was a coach at one time) what works, and if possible why.
Which brings up a great point about this book. The authors continually say about certain things, that they may not know why something is the way it is, but they give great reasons why they do not know, and why others say they do but dont.
EX.- Low qualified athletes do not use there muscles and nervous systems the same way that high qualified athletes do. Dont understand? Read the book...
This book is great for people getting degrees in strength and sport fields, coaches, trainers, and anyone who wants to start understanding more about strength.
Like i stated above this book is very technical. For me it was not a hard read at all, but i understand that not everyone will see it that way.
In my opinion you could (and should) easily read this book and then start to appreciate and understand better books about programming, periodization, the why and how your muscles are adapting or not for that matter. And much more concerning training, sport, etc. Like i said this book talks about ALOT. Just dont expect to read this and come out with a new bodybuilding routine. Its just not what this book is about.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review.
Justin H

Supertraining is serious sports science complete with confusing charts, graphs, etc. I know this is a very respected book and I believe studies and sports science, although flawed, should be taken note of in athletic training. However I also know that different things work for different people and there are huge differences in how you train for different sports. The biggest problem Supertraining has is the huge size and unreadability of it. If your a recreational athlete or someone wanting to get in better shape this book would probably be useless to you. If your a strength and conditioning coach or someone trying to get a degree in sports science then its worth your while.

Exercise. Where to begin? Well, if you begin with this book, then have mercy on you because not only is it incredibly bloated, but much of the information in it if merely conjecture and, frankly, made to confuse the end-reader. What am I talking about?

In the last fifteen years, I've seen a phenomenon occur where people who really are not all that educated on subjects, or, feel a need to make themselves appear as experts, make themselves seem as professorial as possible. This leads to them making up their own terminology when other words already exist to describe a particular situation. What this boils down to are pages and pages of drivel that - because the author really doesn't have much to say - is said in their "new language" that they've created and made far too complicated.

That is exactly what you'll find in this book.

The only community that I know that references this book - in any fashion - is the powerlifting and strength coach community. This book seems to a rite of passage and if you don't have it, you're not "serious." Well, I have the book and it's huge and full of overly complicated charts, graphs, and mere conjecture. When you ask yourself where all of these numbers, charts and supposed "facts" come from, well, have fun. Referencing 70 year-old russian books that no one can obtain and assuming they were translated into the English language properly doesn't really count, now does it?

I'm always excited to read new books on exercise, fitness, and health (even if I may disagree with the information therein) but this book, if you can call it that, is completely unreadable and I frankly don't think that most of the people that claim to read it, have.

If you don't believe me, go ahead and buy it and see for yourself.

By the size of the book you would think you you were going to learn advanced neurology and quantum physics all in one lesson. The book is huge.

The field of exercise and strength training is not infintely complex, as this book suggests. The Russians don't hold some special, mystical, Iron Curtain Super Program that only the author has access to.

As I've said before, the field of exercise is not infinitely complex but if someone can convince you that it is, then they are now your guru. You now have to go to them for all of your training advice because it is only they that have been bestowed with this special knowledge. The book is laid out in such an overtly complex way so that you won't understand what you're reading or grasp what the author is trying to say. I really believe that was the point of this book.

Think about it. Just look at the recommendations that the book hands out: arbitrary numbers of sets of exercises (why 8 sets? Why not 9? Why not 7? There's never any answer...because the author doesn't have one). Arbitrary training schedules. Why train x amount? Do you have research showing that your recommendations are better than someone else?

Basing your book off of what you did in a weight room with already elite-level athletes just doesn't cut it for me.