Practical Programming for Strength Training

This book is excellent !!! The author describes in details the 3 levels of trainee experience as Novice,Intermediate and Advanced and what conditions should be fulfilled to belong in each one.He discusses the principles that need to exist in order to increase strength and why different level of athletes need different training programs.He will also go one step further and explain the difference between Force,Strength and Power analyzing them with scientific formulas.He will tell you what is the importance of each one in sports and why Power is so important or how to improve it.This book is adressed to anyone involved in competitive sports or just need to improve his performance.You can use it at any level you are and progress.Some things are repeated many times but not in a boring way as other books for just full the empty pages.It seems that this kind of repetition helps with understanding of the details without needing to turn back the pages and search for related info to clear things up.I would say that one full reading of book is enough to make things clear and just get back from time to time to refresh or focus on specific training programs as time and progress goes by. Almost all of the training programs are based on barbell training and he gives many examples with actual weights for better understanding.The training programs are very well written but there is some kind of confusion with reps and sets in some tables.It seems the reps have been confused with sets and vice versa,but if you read comprehensively and comprehend the principles you will find out the little mistakes (sometimes you will read 3x5 or 5x3 and actualy will mean the opossite of each one).He discusses the history of Periodization models and analyzes the most important ones that have proved their efficiency through the years.Many variations of each model can help build your own program for your specific needs of sport but not in a confusing way like other books.I have read Brawn for example and was very confused with training programs of that invisible author (It was most like saying do this,do that,do anything you like and drink a gallon of milk...something will work!) I have also read the Starting Strength book from same author and was amazed with the detailed offered to basic barbell moves.Mark Rippetoe seems a brilliant man that knows what is talking about and is not trying to sell you another book full of BS to get rich.Always on point with real life experience as trainee and coach for so many years and always expressed in a simple but comprehensive manner for the average reader.More experienced and smart people can absorb more out of his writing though and maybe can search for more info on specific aspects based on other sources.

I am a 30 year old Husband and Father of two. I love fitness and all things health related. But, let's be honest, the fitness industry is anything but straightforward, concise or, quite frankly, intelligible. Everything you see on the web seems to center on some type of "revolutionary" technique or "must-do" exercise. The amount of information pumped out by fitness gurus and websites simply cannot be integrated into a person's psyche, let alone their training regimen. I believe this might be the cause behind the increased popularity of Crossfit in recent years (though that's a topic for another day). Anyhow, I was seriously befuddled by what exactly I needed to be doing as a fairly young man who just wanted to get stronger (and not look too bad, either). I read through Mark's first book (Starting Strength) and loved it. I wasn't sure if this second book could top his first, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was an even better source of information. I won't spend all my time regurgitating the book's outline or contents,but I will give you its impact on my understanding of training. Simple is better. Training doesn't have to be, nor should it be complicated. Yes, as you progress from novice to intermediate to advanced you may have to integrate more "goal specific" lifts. But these exercises and training methods will actually supplant your previous ones, since you are tailoring your training for a specific goal (strength, hypertrophy, a sport, etc.). Also, Mark effectively demonstrates the crucial difference between "exercise" and "training", something I had never previously considered. So this book has done a wonderful job of easing my conscience when it comes to training. I figured out that even though I have been lifting weights for years, I had never proceeded through a legit novice training program. I had just been exercising all that time! I am currently finishing up my second straight month of the Starting Strength Novice program, and I have never been stronger. Weight that used to be my 1RM are now my working sets of 3x5. And I haven't gotten fat or slow or stiff. My diet has remained clean and I am building quality muscle and strength. I no longer worry about whether or not I'm "neglecting a muscle" because I know that keeping the "Big 5" in place and working toward record numbers in those lifts will produce muscle gain across the board. Once I finish the novice program I plan to begin the Texas Method with my wife and brother. If your confused about where you want to go with your fitness, are interested in getting stronger, more muscular, more generally fit for sports of any kind, then pick up a copy of this book. Whether you do Mark's programs or not, you will benefit in some way from the wealth of information available in this book, I guarantee it.

Both of Mark Rippetoe's major contributions to strength training literature are now in their third editions. Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training - 3rd Edition has established itself as one of the premiere pieces of literature for anyone interested in getting stronger, and now the 3rd edition of Practical Programming has joined it. The 2nd edition was full of wonderful information regarding the stress/recovery/adaptation cycle of strength training. Simply put, the more you do something (say, squat or deadlift), the better you become at it, and changes in programming (frequency, set/rep schemes, etc...) are required to further progress. New to the 3rd edition is an impressive amount of detail on how to go about the necessary changes in programming as a lifter progresses. The book contains its largest upgrade in chapters 6-8. With the assistance of Andy Baker of Kingswood Strength and Conditioning, programming for the novice, intermediate, and advanced lifters is covered in amazing detail. For the novice, the basic principles of the Starting Strength method are discussed as well as a fabulous real world example of a properly executed linear progression. New to the 3rd edition is an extensive look at how to elongate and squeeze every drop of usefulness out of a linear progression. It details resets, stalls, and recovering from the mistake of increasing your lifts too quickly. All of these scenarios are backed up with biomechanical details of the human body. Additionally, new to the novice section is a detailed account of the "advanced novice" lifter as well as specialized diet and training tips for the particularly overweight or underweight trainee. The Intermediate section has received the largest upgrade of all. While novice programming allows for progress from workout to workout, intermediate programming stretches out progress over a week to week basis. Though Rippetoe discussed his "Texas Method" style of programming in the 2nd edition, it prompted a lot of questions about variations and alternatives to the demanding programming. The details of the Texas Method are contained in 30+ pages of the most important, effective writing in strength programming literature. Broken into four phases, the amount of detail contained here is staggering, and should hopefully answer any questions and address all problems trainees may have with this very complex programming. Also included are "split routines" spread over four days, as well as a Heavy-Light-Medium system popularized by coaching great Bill Starr in the 1970's. The advanced chapter delves into periodization, or the structuring of training schedules beyond a week to week basis. The book makes very clear that this programming is for ADVANCED lifters who's progress on a week to week basis has stalled out completely. At this point, a strength athlete will be at the point where they are ready to specialize in a certain realm of athletics. Specific training details for powerlifters, MMA athletes, and Olympic weightlifters are described in exhaustive detail. Most recreational lifters will never reach this level, but its inclusion here is extremely welcome. The final chapter will prove extremely useful for current strength training coaches. It includes specific training details for females, youth, and an extensive section on older (35+ years) lifters. Simply put, Practical Programming 3rd Edition is required reading for anyone who has a desire to achieve their maximum potential in the weight room. Buy it, read it, read it again, and get stronger!

One of the best books on training. The few complaints aren’t accurate because there is a large range of adaptations across levels and exercises. I’ve got a kindle and paperback copy as a reference. If you care about training buy the book!

I probably should finish the book before i write this review but its a great book so far. Im 60% done and its filled with info on training programs that go beyond his basic format for starting strength book. For those who haven't read his first book, Starting Strength, the author recommends a novice do 3 full body workouts a week using basic barbell exercise of squats, deadlifts, press and power cleans. You add a little bit of weight each week in linear fashion to each lift. That will give you a solid foundation as a beginner and do a lot for strength and muscle building progress. This book picks up from there. Eventually you will need a more advanced routine as your linear progress runs out after about 6-12 months. It lays out the routines, variables and goals for the next year or two of your program to keep making progress. Progress in his terms is moving bigger weights on the basic lifts. Im only through most of the section on the Texas Method but even up to this point it gives about 6 routines to use to keep progress moving. I think the TM has 4 programs alone. They are sound routines. The next chapters, that ill be reading today, cover advanced routines, split days, Bill Starr method and special populations. I think also he adresses programming for someone who specializes in Olympic lifts or power lifting. Pros: Just like his first book its basic and effective method for getting stronger and bigger. Great info on the difference between a novice, intermediate and advanced lifter. Lots of options as you progress. Cons: I felt like the first half of the book was repetitive. He kept making the same point countless times. But once he got into programming it improved.

I really enjoyed Practical Programming for Strength Training because it answers many of questions I was left with after reading Rippetoe's Starting Strength book. It has been useful for me as someone who trains, someone who advises his wife on how to train, and someone who demands to know the reasons behind the programs laid out by Rippetoe. The Starting Strength book focuses primarily on the major lifts - how to do them, and why they are done that way. It does a very good job of this and is an invaluable tool for trainees and coaches alike. The end of the book lays out the basic Starting Strength novice program, which is working impressively well for both my wife and me at this time. Staring Strength is an excellent book for what it purports to be: a guide to "starting" strength training. However, the layout of the Novice program laid out is very basic, and it does not answer a lot of the questions that a serious trainee will inevitably start asking: what if I advance beyond the novice stage? What do I do if I'm returning to training after being ill for a few weeks? What if I have an injury? What if someone does not fall within the 18 to 35 age range? Etc. And of course, there is always the burning question of "Why is the program set up as it is?" and the follow-up "What constitutes good programming and why?" Practical Programming for Strength Training answers these and other questions in a very clear, thorough, and well-ordered fashion. It gives the reader a well-rounded understanding of the physiological mechanisms behind strength adaptation, upon which it lays out and justifies the novice, intermediate, and advanced programs. It goes into detail about various circumstances trainees may encounter during their progress towards getting stronger. All-in-all it is a very thorough, easy-to-understand, and well-argued book which provides the serious trainee or coach with a solid foundation in knowledge about programming for strength training. Unless you have considerable competence with barbell training, I would recommend starting with the Starting Strength book before moving on to Practical Programming for Strength Training.

Update 19 Apr 2021 - I was looking up a link to this book to forward it to another person and saw my review. Upon rereading the review I "nailed it" but probably did not make the key point strongly enough. This book is NOT for beginners. You really need to have 3 - 5 years of weight "training" (not weight "lifting") under your belt to really understand this book. I thought I understood it when I first read it. I have read some sections as many as five times and come away with a deeper understanding the more experience I get. This is not "easy" reading. This is a text book for how to design and develop strength training programs. "Original" review - This book was a real "eye opener" for me. I have never seen another book that explains the different approaches to getting stronger in such detail. There are hundreds if not thousands of books on "How to Squat" or "How to Deadlift" or how to follow someone else's "program" but I've never seen anything that delves into how to design your own program to manipulate the variables of recovery, intensity, and volume to achieve real results. I have had to reread some chapters as I am constantly reevaluating how I approach strength programming. Remarkable book that is NOT for beginners or even early intermediates. This is a book for people who want to understand how to make humans stronger over time and the tradeoffs and benefits of manipulating training variables.

Great content. Very happy! Ed