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

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Author), Bill Dobbins (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: November 5, 1999

From elite bodybuilding competitors to gymnasts, from golfers to fitness gurus, anyone who works out with weights must own this book -- a book that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could write, a book that has earned its reputation as "the bible of bodybuilding."

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

Plus, all the features that have made this book a classic are here:

• Arnold's tried-and-true tips for sculpting, strengthening, and defining each and every muscle to create the ultimate buff physique

• The most effective methods of strength training to stilt your needs, whether you're an amateur athlete or a pro bodybuilder preparing for a competition

• Comprehensive information on health, nutrition, and dietary supplements to help you build muscle, lose fat, and maintain optimum energy

• Expert advice on the prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries

• Strategies and tactics for competitive bodybuilders from selecting poses to handling publicity

• The fascinating history and growth of' bodybuilding as a sport, with a photographic "Bodybuilding Hall of Fame"

• And, of course, Arnold's individual brand of inspiration and motivation throughout

Covering every level of expertise and experience, The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding will help you achieve your personal best. With his unique perspective as a seven-time winner of the Mr. Olympia title and all international film star, Arnold shares his secrets to dedication, training, and commitment, and shows you how to take control of your body and realize your own potential for greatness.

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Arnold Schwarzenegger served as governor of California from 2003 to 2011. Before that, he had a long career, starring in such films as the Terminator series; Stay Hungry; Twins; Predator; and Junior. His first book, Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder, was a bestseller when published in 1977 and, along with his Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, has never been out of print since.

Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Rev Upd edition (November 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684857219
• ISBN-13: 978-0684857213
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 2 x 10.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (478 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Sports
  • #2 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Alternative Medicine > Massage
  • #6 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Weight Training

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

176 of 182 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

Format: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.

60 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Reasons to Buy This Product September 10, 2004

By D. Singh

Format:Paperback

1) Comprehensiveness -

There's not a single book that can boast of the same overall coverage of bodybuilding that this one can. Let's say you aim to take several college courses to assist your bodybuilding knowledge; you'd still have to take one introductory one, one in simple nutrition, one in advanced nutrition, one in general kinesiology, one in exercise physiology, one in advanced exercise physiology, and so on and so forth. The same applies to most other books. This encyclopedia, at 800 chocobloc pages, covers beginner-intermediate and mildly advanced ground comfortably and in a handy cross-indexed reference method, with additional tips thrown in from the man who brought the sport out of its shell: Arnold Schwarzennegger.

2) Value for Money -

800 pages at 17 bucks is a steal. I ordered this item, and with ground shipping had the cost add up to about $21 dollars. Still cheap for an 800 page compendium!

3) Above and Beyond -

Aside from all the valuable textbook-style knowledge, you'll also get Arnie's own special inputs (of course updated in 1998), a nice glimpse at bodybuilding history, some tips on basic supplementation and a great section to help you if you're a competitor. The book is stacked with personal tips; chances are they'll help you pack on muscle faster than before.

4) Indirect Value -

The book also has an indirect value. If you're one of those people who buys muscle magazines for your routines and info, you can happily junk that nonsense. First of all, muscle magazines get kind of tiring, with their 'NEW AND HOT OFF THE SHELVES' this-and-that every month, their juiced-up routines and their annoying Muscletech ads, and, Weider-endorsed or not, they have a hell of a lot less credibility. With Arnold's guide in hand, you can say goodbye to dollars wasted on muscle mags for unhelpful information.

Finally, I just want to answer the very few people who've criticized this product on account of the fact that Arnold would severely overtrain back in his days, both on account of limited knowledge at the time and his excessive steroid habits. I've read the book cover-to-cover, referred to it several times, know it pretty much inside-out, and I can't find ONE instance where his preaches this overtraining. Whether this is because of the recent update or not, Arnold actually warns against being 'too enthusiastic' as this can hinder your gains, and devotes a few pages to the overtraining issue. Obviously the few that have criticized the encyclopedia based on Arnold's other work (namely "Bodybuilding for Men", which glosses over nutrition and recommends a highly juiced training schedule), have never actually gone through this book.

So in short, buy the damn book! It's cheap, it's huge, it's handy, and it'll help you get bigger like no amount of supplements can.

79 of 91 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Must have reference August 28, 2000

By Douglas Welzel

Format:Hardcover

When I first got this book (shortly after it was published) I was a bit skeptical because it seemed to go against a lot of what I had been reading. Now that I've had it for a while I really believe it is a fantastic reference guide and one of the most complete bodybuilding books around. It covers virtually every exercise you can think of in great detail -- how to perform the exercise, which part of the muscle is used, etc. Beyond this it contains a wealth of information about designing training programs for different body types and skill levels and how to prepare to be a competitive bodybuilder.

I still question some of the training schedules (lifting 6 days per week really seems like a lot to me), but it is worth the money just as an exercise reference -- even if you aren't interesting in competitive bodybuilding. Whenever I am changing my training program or looking to verify my form I consult this book.