The Strength Training Anatomy Workout: Starting Strength with Bodyweight Training and Minimal Equipment Paperback – March 16, 2011

None of the reviews thus far have addressed how Strength Training Anatomy and the Strength Training Anatomy Workout books differ, so you might be wondering which one to buy.Strength Training Anatomy, 3rd Edition, is a reference book--it's got really cool drawings with tips for common techniques at the gym. It's no-nonsense and great for weight-lifters who have a great routine already but want to optimize it, or for the intellectual athlete who wants to gain a greater understanding of muscles in motion.The Strength Training Anatomy Workout will teach beginners how to start and athletes how to optimize strength for their sport. It goes into breathing techniques while lifting, how many sets and reps one should perform, how often to work out, etc. Delavier and Gundill have lots of drawings, pre-planned routines including those to supplement other sports, and succinct advice to get the most out of every technique. Important to note, it focuses on working out with weights and resistance bands and eschews gym equipment. If you want to work out at home, it's great, if you want to join a gym, you'll need Volume II.Strength Training Anatomy Workout Volume II will show you how to make the most of the gym if you want some serious strength training. It has many different routines, the low-down on all the equipment you'll find at the gym, great advice on optimizing every technique, and even more drawings to help guide you to excellent technique. This is the book to get if you want to get into body building.Overall, these books are great. Delavier and Gundill translate their extensive anatomy and weight-lifting knowledge into language anyone can understand and information is succinct so reading's a pleasure. Do they work? I gained 15 lbs in 6 months after having plateaued with my previous, self-made routine.

Great illustrations ! Great information ! Good for beginners. Even better for intermediates and pros in that you can really see what you have been doing already. Some of these books have explanations about injuries and prevention. As they indicate they spell out exercises for different athletes to stress. I've been lifting for over 45 years and am astonished by what goes on in the weight rooms. Some of the "exercises" people do are useless, some are dangerous. Most people lift far too lightly to get all but incidental benefit. (That being said, if you are just starting out go light on the weights with proper form !!! One must train the ligaments and tendons first ! Those take longer to train than muscles.)To this end I have purchased several of these to be put in the weight training and stretching areas of the gym I use just so people can "see" what they are doing and to learn other ways to do it.Ahnold said, "I get ten times the results when I visualize the mahcells I am training ! " He should know ! . . .Additionally, research has shown that people get more benefit from aerobic training when they don't distract themselves with Ipods or TV.. Just a thought.

I've been strength training forever and never thought I needed a book on it but this changed my mind. This has the best illustrations of the muscle groups being worked of any book there is. Why would you need this? Motivation.I often think of my muscles under my skin working as I lift weights, but never have a clear idea of exactly what they look like. Now I do. Why do I need to visualize each muscle group? Something about doing that keeps me on target and in the proper form as I lift.Even though I'm not a beginner, I now know exactly where those muscles are and what they look like.I also like having a neat concise directory of every lifting movement there is practically and can go through this book about once a week and refine my workout routine making sure I don't skip any muscle. The illustrations are so great that it's inspiring. Looking at this makes me want to work out.It also helps when I am explaining to others what lifts to do and how to do them as I occasionally do. People can see immediately the correct form and the target muscles.I wasn't sure I would keep this book when I ordered it but was curious. It is much betterthan any book I have seen on this subject and is a definite keeper.

I like this as a general resource, in that it covers multiple approaches and tactics in the weight room. The illustrations are generally excellent, but in a few places, reusing previously published material was weak, in that some improvements could have been made. Lazy! Also, the emphasis is on adding bulk and looking good. Some focus on stabilizing ones core, on other means of injury protection would have been appreciated. And, like most such books, the assumption is that the reader is young. Some suggestions for older lifters would have been beneficial.

This book has a ton of information and great illustrations. I love Delavier's work. Just keep in mind that it emphasizes HOME workouts which I didn't realize and wasn't what I was looking for. Still great information

Purchased for my GF who is a personal trainer to help her clients better understand impacted muscle groups.

I have always complained that it's hard to move from intermediate to advanced when it comes to strength training - everything is either introductory or super-sophisticated. The entire Delavier series, and this home-workout book in particular, is accessible, interesting, and beautifully-illustrated. I usually want to know exactly why a specific workout is effective, and this book delivers with clear explanations of muscle groups, impressive diagrams of the areas utilized during each exercise, elaborate protocols for pairing movements, and even sets of stretches and mobility practices that go well with each workout. I ve hadeveloped my entire home workout from this, and I turn to it repeatedly when I need to move onto the next level or hone my form. There really is nothing else like this. Looking forward to buying the rest of these as I get stronger and fitter!