I’m looking for some bodybuilding books, but not books that talk about what it’s like to be a competitive bodybuilder, or an autobiography of a bodybuilder. I’m looking for a book with decent training information/tips in. I’m not a newbie to the bodybuilding/lifting life, so I don’t really need a “This is how you should do an exercise” kind of guide; moreso just looking for something to read and perhaps pick up some decent training and/or nutrition tips to add to my regime. Also aware that any info I need can be found online, but this is more for just relaxing on the bed away from the computer or toilet reading haha.
I’ve read the following over the years:
Encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding, Bigger Leaner Stronger, Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger, Joe Weider’s Ultimate Bodybuilding, The World’s Fittest Book, Jim Stoppani’s Encyclopedia of Muscle & Strength, Strength Training Anatomy.
I’ve got the following bookmarked, but no idea if any of them are actually any good and worth buying. A few of the above were a load of crap, so trying not to waste my money from now on…
Beyond Brawn, Better Than Steroids, The Black Book Of Training Secrets, The Muscle & Strength Pyramids.
Just looked it up and it came out in 93. I’m guessing the info in there still holds up today, or is it quite outdated? I only ask as I know training methods have been looked at in depth over the years and what was supposedly optimal/decent back then may not have been afterall when looking at it in depth.
For a bedtime read, which may, or may not be, considered informative, it’s an easy light hearted read on the history of bodybuilding, referencing some of the bodybuilding greats in the mid to late 90’s.
Dr. Scott Stevenson’s writing style is a tough read for me, but his Be Your Own Bodybuilding Coach that @throwawayfitness highlighted above is an extraordinarily complete work on the subject matter.
Brad Schoenfeld: “Max muscle plan 2.0” for what program/strategies work best in the gym according to science - or - “Science and development of muscle hypertrophy” if you want to dig deeper into details of the current science.
