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Purchase the Starting Strength Book now!
Featured Review:
Starting strength is a breath of fresh air in the muggy atmosphere of pseudo experts hawking complicated systems and theory’s which are more intent on dazzling and confusing the reader than enlightening them. It is written in a concise language with easy to follow instruction and no frills or gimmicks, but just tried and true fundamentals which will produce the desired results. This instructional text is an absolute “must” for every athlete or coach who is serious about strength training.
Bill Starr, Strength Coaching Legend
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Every day I get asked what the best book for weight training is. I always give the same answer: Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training. This book is essential for anyone serious about learning or coaching the basic lifts. It will give you insight and tips on how to become a proficient lifter. Everyone wants to train to be a champion both without the basic foundation most will never build up championship strength. This book will give you that foundation.
Jim Wendler, Elite Fitness Systems
Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training by Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore is now out in a 2nd edition. Unlike some 2nd edition books, which merely include a new preface in the way of revision, this is a majorly substantial update and expansion of what was a great tome to begin with. The material in the original, 2005 edition is included, but there are lots of new graphics and additional chapters of valuable material beyond the initial release. Another subtle, but important difference, is that the focus of the book has been altered, from being coach-focused to being lifter-focused. Throughout the book, there’s an encyclopedia of practical tips you can put into your training program — right now — and see improvement almost immediately, and — significantly — you will understand why it helped you. This attitude, which is reflective of the broad experience and insight of the authors, will serve this book’s readers for years to come.
Five key exercises are covered, squat, bench, deadlift, press and power clean, as well as assistance exercises. For each, there is in depth explanation of rules, recommended equipment, and the elemental points of proper lift performance. Some of the graphics are simply the best we’ve ever seen when it comes to illuminating the real essence of a given lift. (one example: a clever “yin-yang” representation of the relationship between the power clean and the deadlift… another example is the photo series showing the value of squatting with a board in front of your shin). If you have the first edition, you won’t be sorry you got the 2nd. If you get the 2nd edition, you’ll wish you hadn’t gone 3 years without the first one.
Mike Lambert, Powerlifting USA
[Originally published in Powerlifting USA, Vol 30(2), October 2007]
I was able to check out the new greatly expanded edition of Starting Strength from Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore, a book which I have wholeheartedly endorsed since it was first published and could not recommend more strongly. Essentially the new edition makes the book a complete reference for someone involving themselves in weight training (rather than a work more geared to coaching). It goes well beyond the comprehensive coverage of the core lifts that made the first so useful and gives a remarkably complete picture. Between this and Practical Programming - that's a near totally complete resource that will likely serve 99% of people for their entire training career.
I'd recommend this book to anyone involved in weight training from a brand new novice in the gym for the first time to a refer and see improvement almost immediately, andence manual for a fairly seasoned coach. I know I've said a lot of positive stuff in the past about Mark's work but really - take a look at my site and what I've tried to do...Mark essentially wrote the books that I'd have written had I the time and did about as good a job as I think anyone in the world could have (and certainly better than I could have managed). Very impressive stuff.
Madcow, 5 x 5 Training page
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