Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe is possibly the most successful book on weight training to be published in the past 30 years. In its third edition as of 2011, Starting Strength is a comprehensive guide for weightlifting, specifically barbell training. If you are looking for a solid guide to getting ripped and staying that way, Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe is a must-read.
What’s it about?
If you are at all involved in the health and fitness community, you have no doubt seen the many changes that the weight lifting scene has undergone. First it was bosu balls and resistance training, then it was high intensity cardio, and now we are on to CrossFit and kettlebells. What hasn’t changed, however, is that the best way to get strong is plain old weightlifting.
The premise of Rippetoe’s Starting Strength is that barbell training is the best way to get strong, especially for beginners. This book walks people through a huge number of basic barbell exercises complete with notes on form, beautiful illustrations and troubleshooting for people having problems.
If your goal is to get super ripped, you can follow the included diet plan, which promises excellent results, if you stick with it.