Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training, 3rd edition 3rd Edition

Best Single Resource for Strength Training with a Barbell

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Aubrey D. Scott

December 12, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a must have if you want to be serious about training with a barbell. I learned a lot going through the book the first time, and I still go back and reference the chapters to constantly brush up on my form and self-coach my lifts. Reading this book helps to shift weightlifting from a somewhat random, word-of-mouth process to something methodical and intellectual. No matter how many other resources you have, this one has to be on your shelf. Buy it immediately.

I have two words of caution for anyone buying this book and getting into lifting for the first time.

1) Please don't treat this book like the Bible. Rippetoe is a fantastic, must-have resource, but it's annoying to talk to someone who thinks everything in this book is completely, absolutely infallible and there's no other way to lift.
2) This book was written to coach you through the barbell portion of your training. He doesn't have much in the book about mobility and injury prevention. This is fine if you are a young, spry high school or college athlete, but most of us aren't. I would suggest getting a copy of Becoming a Supple Leopard or something and staying keenly aware of your form and what your body is telling you about joint health and overall flexibility. When you're first starting out it is easy to gain strength faster than flexibility and mobility, and if you're working out mostly by yourself or with another beginner, you might still manage to hurt yourself. I got pretty far into the squat training and realized I was developing a shoulder problem. I caught it early and was only out for a month, but it could have been worse. I still work really, really hard to keep that joint mobile enough to keep squatting heavy with good form.

Every aspect of barbell training requires complete attention to detail and constant evaluation so improvement can continue. If you follow along with this book you're going to quickly get strong enough that you can do real damage if you aren't careful. So be careful and enjoy getting truly strong.

12 people found this helpful

This is one of my all-time favorite books, and started me on the path of ...

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Robert Sanek

January 16, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is one of my all-time favorite books, and started me on the path of strength training through compound lifts. I've even evangelized it to others, including both friends and parents. One of the best quotes of the book, which I still reflect on when demotivated to go to the gym: "A weak man is not as happy as that same man would be if he were strong."

The reason I give 4 stars, though, is due to the author's way of communicating his belief system; many times in the book, Rippetoe will dismiss alternative exercises or forms of performing an exercise out-of-hand, without providing any reasoning, only harsh words. Such discussion may come off as authoritative to some, but it can feel a bit like promoting intellectual insulation.

11 people found this helpful

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April 14, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The only bad thing about this book is that it makes you want to go up to people and correct their awful form. Once you learn it, you can't unlearn it.
Mark Rippetoe provides an irrefutable argument that the best exercises we should use in the gym are barbells.
1. The exercises we choose from should use many muscle groups
2. The exercise takes us through the full range of motion
3. The exercise allows us to lift the heaviest weights possible (with good form of course)
As a personal trainer It's a shame that this information is neglected in most standard textbooks of the subject.
If you're going to buy one book to become a stronger version of yourself and not waste time then make it this one. You won't regret it.

13 people found this helpful

Great book for a newbie - like me

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Richard Shaw

March 14, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I heard Mark Rippetoe talk about Starting Strength on a podcast last fall. For the previous year or so I'd been cycling and running to get back in shape. But, being in my late 50s, it was much harder to do than in years past. When I heard Rippetoe I realized that I needed to gain strength not just work on stamina/cardio. I've never done any kind of weight training before and was cautious to do so because I didn't want to injure myself. Starting Strength is 5 basic lifts with in depth explanations of each lift. That I can do!

I found a Starting Strength coach and started the program. I've been on it for about 5 months (albeit with a very irregular schedule) and have had excellent results. I started with squatting with an 11 lbs. bar and last workout I squatted 210 (3x5) - (see the attached picture). My deadlift started around 65 lbs. and I'm now at 220 (1x5). The other lifts are coming along well too. In real life this translates into a better overall appearance and physical stability. I'm making progress to being much healthier and stronger.

The book is packed with useful information. For a beginner like me it's too much to take in at first. But I read, do the lifts, then read some more and it all begins to sink in. The book describes in detail the correct way to do each lift and progressively increase the weight. Following these techniques (maybe with a coach) it's possible to gain strength without injury.

This is the only weight training book I've read. While there may be other good books I'm glad that Starting Strength was the first one I've read.

123 people found this helpful

Great book, if you are looking to get strong give it a shot.

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