Three Essential Weight Lifting Books

The Complete Keys to Progress by John McCallum

While this might seem like an anomaly among the bunch, most serious weight lifters will tell you that discipline and mental stamina is half the battle when it comes to gaining strength. Considered a classic text in the industry, author John McCallum (a professional body builder himself) applies the same discipline gained through serious weight lifting to other topics of interest to the amateur or advanced body builder such as strength, gaining weight, losing fat, quitting smoking, mental training exercises, and anything else that might impede physical progress. Aimed at natural bodybuilders and written in an era before steroids replaced superior natural strength achieved through discipline, this book gives you a glimpse into how many champions acquired their superhero physique and power in eras of old.

Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training (Second Edition) by Mark Rippetoe and Jon Kilgore

Coached by Bill Starr himself, Mark Rippetoe with co-writer Jon Kilgore delivers another classic text on weight lifting principles, specifically featuring barbells and other "old school" equipment. Not only is it a very thorough read, this is an excellent read for any serious weight lifting. Devoting over 80 pages alone to the proper form of a squat, these authors precisely detail every motion of basic exercises designed to build you into a more powerful being. Because improper technique is the enemy of any bodybuilder, leading to debilitating injuries and wasting your time in the gym, this book ensures you'll never lack the right knowledge again. As the authors emphasize, proper form allows you to lift more weight, and make more gains when it comes to strength and power. A must read for any body builder who wants to do it right the first time around.

Beyond Brawn: The Insider's Encyclopedia on How to Build Muscle and Might by Stuart McRobert

A hardgainer is someone defined by weight lifting experts as a person who has trouble packing on muscle regardless of how much they train. Stuart McRobert's excellent and straight forward book is written with this particular person in mind. His sensible advice helps any one regardless of personal physique build strength while developing muscle tone for the bulk body builders love. Containing training cycles that bring you inside the weight lifting world to better help you apply your new thorough knowledge to real life situations. Extensively detailed, you'll learn how to develop your own training program tailored to your personal needs and become your best coach.