Starting Strength (1st edition) Spiral-bound – 1 July 2005

I have been lifting weights for almost 40 years. I have a couple dozen books on weightlifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding which I have read and reread and used in the gym. This is one of the top 3 must-have books for the weightlifter. I bought it over a year ago, and it taught me things about technique that I did not know. For instance, I've always been a very strong bench-presser, but this book taught me that my hands were in the wrong position. Just a slight adjustment, as demonstrated in the book, has taken the pressure off my wrists.Age has reduced my strength somewhat over the last 5 years. But the excellent explanation of technique in this book enabled me to bring my deadlift weight to within 20 pounds of my top weight from 35 years ago.But probably the single best part of the book is the extensive instruction on the squat. I'd given up on the squat, using leg press only, for the last 20 years because I kept injuring my lower back. But this book has helped me make some major adjustments in squat technique, from position of elbows (back), to position of bar on the back (lower), to proper flare of the knees (wide). After practicing technique with light weights for a few sessions, everything clicked into place. I've now been squatting injury-free for over a year.If you think, like I did, that you know how to perform the major lifts, unless you've had coaching or have read this book, you probably don't.I recommend this book unreservedly, for young and old weightlifters.

Not a bad book on strength training. If you're new to the game or need a refresher definitely check this book out - the author is extremely knowledgeable and has a lot of great advice.