Bodybuilding: A Scientific Approach (Paperback)

by Frederick C. Hatfield (Author), Frederick Hatfield (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This is the first book to gather scientific findings about progressive resistance training and to translate them into relevant and understandable training advice. Author of Powerlifting: A Scientific Approach and an editor for Muscle & Fitness magazine, Dr. Frederick C. Hatfield has written an invaluable book that analyzes training systems and techniques, progressive resistance exercises, nutrition and diet regimens, bodybuilding psychology, and muscle-growth pharmacology in light of actual scientific findings. Whether exploding misconceptions concerning isolation exercises or heavy-duty training; explaining the causes of overtraining, muscle soreness, muscle growth, and muscle shaping; or providing a pictorial history of bodybuilding (along with a history of certain bodybuilding principles), Bodybuilding: A Scientific Approach addresses the real concerns of the serious bodybuilder in a language that can be readily understood. Through use of recent research, charts, graphs, tables, and photos, Dr. Hatfield delivers vital, new information no bodybuilder--male or female--should be without.

• Rare photographs of early bodybuilding contests
• Listings of winners from all major contests
• Advantages and disadvantages of free weights and exercise machines
• Vitamin and mineral charts listing best sources of nutrients for bodybuilders
• Pros and cons of steroid use
• Efficacy ratings of ergogenic aids
• Latest research findings on relaxation and tension control techniques

Frederick C. Hatfield, PhD, has authored over a dozen books, including Aerobic Weight Training, and scores of research reports and articles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (April 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809254581
• ISBN-13: 978-0809254583
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #298,690 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Book of Bodybuilding Intelligence!, May 10, 1999

By A Customer

I have purchased many books on bodybuilding and some are better than others when it comes to the training. However, I have found none that compared to this intelligently written book that discussed the importance of strength training in one's OVERALL health, nor has any book given such a clear example of WHY bodybuilding can be such an important path to a person's MENTAL, health and outlook. This book has been a goldmine of motivation for me....and has given me the REASONS why bodybuilding can be such a wonderful sport to be involved in.....far beyond the aesthetics.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great starting place, June 5, 2006

By	Mikey (Kountze Texas) - See all my reviews

Being an engineer, I like numbers and Dr. Harfield's book lays out a beginner's course by the numbers; what to do, how much, and how to recognize when you're overtrained. It was great for me.

5.0 out of 5 stars The bodybuilding gold standard , May 15, 2008

By	M (new jersey) - See all my reviews

After all these years, and a million other books on the subject published in its wake, Fred Hatfield's seminal tome remains one of the best sources of information for anyone interested in serious weight training. The junk science, fad workouts and dubious nutrition suggestions which are commonplace in most other bodybuilding books (lets face it, most muscleheads aren't geniuses) are delightfully absent here, and virtually all the information is stuff you can rely on. If the language is too "difficult" for you, find somebody literate to read it to you! But by all means, get it.