Athletics Books

I am basing this review on simply reading the book for about 15 minutes while killing some time at one of the big chain bookstores. From what I see, this book is wonderfully written and broken down perfectly, even for "older" novices like me (over 50, run a 9-10 minute mile, have run in about a half-dozen 5Ks' and looking to do more).

The presentation is colorful, motivational, and detailed enough for runners of all levels to get something out of it. I am currently reading the MARATHON YOU CAN DO IT book and that too is written in a breezy fun style yet there is a lot of text. HALF MARATHON seems almost like an outline with easy to view points and notes.

I also own the ABSOLUTE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO HALF MARATHON but if you only want one guide, Galloway's book appears to be the better and handier guide to own.

Loved this book and still refer to it often. Jeff Galloway's training plan is great and helps you stay motivated till the race and beyond. Also great paired with Jeff's book on running.

It's quick & easy with lots of color & specific tips. It's particularly good if you feel like you're too old or out of shape to run a half-marathon. While there are great tips for training for more competent & experienced half marathoners, as a runner moving into the "masters" category, I really appreciated some of his insight into prioritizing workouts and pacing so I could avoid injury and enjoy myself longer. Took his advice on walk break and set a personal record at my next Half Marathon, despite the aging knees!!

I bought this book while in the middle of following another taining plan for my first half marathon. The other, simpler plan was based on just grinding out the miles though it did include a few longish runs (8-10 miles) split into 2 halves with a short walk in the middle. I kind of liked a short walk in the middle (100m or so), it seemed to rejuvenate my legs. But ultimately the plan I was on eliminated them in favor of pure running.

Galloway recommends many more walk breaks and, at first, this seemed to me like cheating. But I figured I'd give it a try. I started running my 8-12K runs 1000m "on", 100m "off" (walk) and I saw something amazing happen: my split times came down and I could run longer and more enjoyably. My run/walk ratio of 10:1 is actually a lot higher run than he recommends, but it works great for me.

I just used the technique in the San Jose Half Marathon and the results were great. I beat my baseline goal by 10 minutes and even beat my stretch goal by 3. I beat my last 13 mile time trial time by a whopping 20 minutes and, more importantly, I felt great coming across the finish line (I was *crawling* on my last time trial where I ran 3 x 7K with only very short walks). My pace actually sped up throughout the race and my last 2 miles were my fastest.

So, for me, the system works. I am doing another half in January and will follow the entire program this time.

I rarely, if ever, write a book review but I literally just finished reading this and ran (well slowly strolled) to my computer to write this. I must say fate was clearly in play. I bought this book knowing nothing about it. I didn't even read the books description before adding it to my "cart". I am SO glad I did. This book was GREAT!! I actually laughed out loud several times while reading it. My husband must have thought I was crazy! It's so great to read about a real womans real struggles with diet & exercise. I have recently started yet another diet & exercise program myself and this is just what I needed in week #2 of my journey to keep me going. I would love for Sheilagh to write a sequel to this. BUY THE BOOK...you won't be disappointed!!

Sheilagh Conklin has put together a collection of chapters telling an engrossing tale of her quest to walk the Portland Marathon. Her hilarious and wanton naivetee about exercise, training and underwear kept me turning pages until I crossed the finish line with her! I recommend to any woman even thinking about starting to (dare I say it) "work out."

Funny stuff...a great read...plus, I'm mentioned in the book a few times. Grab a copy and put on your sneakers...let's go!

Well-written and a fun book to read; and also because the author went to so much effort to live and experience it, I give it 5 stars!
It is a great motivator, about an out-of-shape and overweight mom who has never exercised and is in her late 40's. She takes control, loses 50 pounds and breaks the cycle of being sedentary, to run in a 26 mile marathon. In nine months a power walker is born! Many humorous moments. The marathon, as it turns out, may not be the healthiest thing, but changing her lifestyle is.
Fun, humorous, honest and entertaining (Did she really sit on the porta-potty seat?).
Now, we need a sequel to know if the author maintained her healthier way of life...or maybe a blog...does she eventually break the sugar habit fully and rid herself of M&M's and Skittles? Diet Coke?? Well, I have to know!!!

Even though this book was written in the 80's it contains alot of awesome training ideas, some quiet advanced. Fun read and a great piece to add to your library.

Even though this book was written 21 years ago it still has a lot of good information. Anyone who has read muscle mags knows that the latest hype of the day seems to come and go like fashion in favor of the newest hype that can gloss a cover. But this book has a lot of information that has stood the test of time. He covers most areas that bodybuilders will need schooling in with straight forward, easy to understand advice. Some of the actual routines may be a little dated but no one can really agree on "the best" ways to train anyway. There are a lot of motivational photos and it does not try to fool you into thinking its a blueprint to turn you into a pro bodybuilder. If your looking for a book to help you see where many of todays ideas evolved from this may be of interest to you.

I am thankful to the authors for not wasting hundreds of pages showing how to do common exercises. Afterall, how many books do I need that will show me how to do a bench press? You probably already know the most common exercises anyway if you are looking at purchasing this book. If you want an encyclopedia of exercise variations, I would recommend Bill Pearl's book, Keys to the Inner Universe.

Mass goes beyond other Bodybuilding books in ways too numerous to list. Just as one small example, many books give example workout plans for beginner, intermediate, and advanced bodybuilders. However, this book goes one step further by telling you when you are ready to advance based on what percentage of your body weight you can lift in various exercises.

The book tells how to target different muscle cells, numerous ways to structure your workout, different ways to specialize on lagging body parts, numerous tricks for increasing intensity, how to cycle intensity, tips on nutrition and weight loss, recipes for mixing your own protein drinks, etc.

Makes a great companion to Beef It, one of Kennedy's other books. In fact, I would recommend reading numerous books, including books by other authors such as Vince Gironda and Fred Hatfield. Information is power.

However, if you have to start with just one book, you could do far worse than to pick this one. I agree with the previous reviewer that this is a book you won't read and then toss. You'll keep coming back to it.

BTW, Kennedy's co-author on this book, Dennis B. Weis, has a great web site with free training tips and articles. I asked Mr. Weis about the book, and here is what he said:
"Actually I wrote the entire book and Bob Kennedy was so kind as to supply all the interior support photo's and most importantly of all get us a book contract. Regarding the book Raw Muscle! It continues on where Mass! left off so to speak and likewise Anabolic Muscle Mass continues on where Raw Muscle left off. Thanks again for your comments. Please check out my monthly Q & A column in MuscleMag International."

Chapters:
CONCENTRATION - THE BODYBUILDER'S WAY
THE SCIENCE OF REPS AND SETS
TRAINING MECHANICS - MUSCLE OVERLOADING
STRUCTURING A WORKOUT SCHEDULE
BODY-PART SPECIALIZATION
OPTIMUM MUSCLE-BLASTING TECHNIQUES
THE WISDOM BEHIND PHASE TRAINING
A TREASURY OF BODYBUILDING SECRETS
THE CHAMPIONS' SECRET - AEROBICS
MUSCLE INJURIES - CAUSES AND TREATMENT
THE NUTRIENT FACTOR
ESTIMATING YOUR ENERGY EXPENDITURE
SOME FACTS ABOUT BODY FAT
A GUIDE TO LOSING EXCESS BODY WEIGHT
OVERCOMING WATER RETENTION
TEN TIPS FOR GAINING MUSCULAR BODY WEIGHT
CARBOHYDRATE LOADING
BLENDER MAGIC
THE FINAL COMMENT

I have read and tossed out many many books and magazines on Bodybuilding over the years. I only have three books I refer to over and over again, and of the three, this is by far the most comprehensive and easy to understand. I refer to it so often that it is never put away back on the shelf. I don't write reveiws here often, but I owe so much to this book that I felt obligated to let others know how good it is.

This book has the goods - it is very serious, not a typical sports book, but it teaches at every level. Civil Rights. Science. Women. Black Power. It is tough to think of what it leaves out. Starts slow, but really picks up and by the time it is done, it's like you've been watching PBS for two hours and didn't feel it. Learn.

This book really helped to open my eyes about the events surrounding the 1968 Olympics. More than that, it also talks about many other significant issues such as women's roles during that time, the way certain people saw various events before, during, and after the times. Be prepared to be patient when you read this. Dr. Bass takes her time and goes way back with her research leading up to the games in the late 60's. There were some areas I was not too interested in, such as some scientists' claims that black superiority in the athletic arena is due to biological and genetic advantages. Yet there were other times in the book like when Tommie Smith explained the MEANING, the TRUE MEANING, behind he and Carlos' actions that really made me take it in and appreciate the courage they had to take a stand at that time on that particular stage. From the black socks to the scarf Smith wore on his neck to both of them not wearing shoes on the victory stand while the national anthem played. More than just discussing the Olympics, she digs deep into the perception of the black athlete, from the 1930's when Jesse Owens was the man to the 60's, and to the 90's with Michael Jordan. Like I said earlier though, be prepared to be patient when you are reading this. There were some parts that I had to bear with to get to what I wanted to read, but all in all, it's a read that can definitely challenge your views not only about the black athlete, but sports and life in general.

A work that provides insight into how race is understood and projected in U.S. society -- and the world -- and where its ties to nation, class, gender, etc. come into play most dramatically. This exploration of the black power movement at the Mexico City olympics is a critical examination of a multitude of topics: television, sports, civil rights, humanity, globality -- the list is varied and important. Complex, complicated, interesting, imperative. A learning experience for all who turn its pages.

I learned so much from this book. I thought that it might be too hard to read, but it was worth it: I will never watch sports -- especially the Olympics -- the same way again. There's too much to list contained here: the Olympics, the media, race, sexuality, women -- it goes on and on. I think everyone should read it.

I frequently referred to this book in our company library. Now that I'm retired I bought my own copy. I looked at several books on the topic and found nothing and good at explaining how our bodies work. I've saved myself a lot of medical fees over the years.

I have had this book for over 20 years. It is a great reference covering just about every part of the body. Any muscle or joint aches and pains, this book tells you what causes it and how to fix it.

Great analysis of cause and practical approach to cure. Especially good with joint issues. Thanks Dr. Garrick, your efforts have limited my pain and time in recovery! You should be everyone's first responder to sports injury...another edition??

This is the best book on athletic injuries I've used. It's old, but the sound advice hasn't been improved upon. I had a chronic hamstring injury when I got the book (back in '86) and for the first time in years I was able to rehab it completely and compete pain free. I've since referred to it for advice on knees and shoulders. Most recently I had an early stress fracture only a few weeks before an important competition. Following Garrick's guidlines, I was able to recover completely before the event. Garrick understands an athlete's need to stay active and take positive action to recover from an injury and tells you exactly how to do this. He also realizes that an injury that is "cured" by rest and cessation of the activity most often returns when the activity is resumed unless active rehab has been performed.
Highly recommended. The only reason I gave it four stars rather than five is it's brevity. I wish he would write a much longer and more detailed reference.

No matter what your level of running is, you can learn something from this book. There is a wealth of information here from basic fitness running to competitive running...this book has it all. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about what would appear on the surface to be a simple sport.

This is a great beginner's book on learning how to run. The advice is practical and it had me running with confidence in no time. Buy this book if you want to learn the basics of running without a bunch of technical mumbo-jumbo.

I found myself picking this book up again and again, reading another one of the many pieces of wisdom on one of the so many topics of running covered by this book. I have been running for over 10 years, from marathons to triathlons to weekend trail runs, and yet this book tells me things about running that I have either forgotten or had not yet learned. And the format of the book makes it easy to read a topic for a quick bit of insight or motivation. A good solid resource for runners from beginners to veterans!

This is an ideal book for those beginning running and hoping to improve. What should you wear, what should you do, how can you avoid injury? All the answers are here in a well written, clear and concise format. Joe Henderson has written many books and for the beginning or intermediate runner this might be not only his best, but the best currently available. Tips, tables and helpful hints from years of experience and years of running are here.

Many, many great concepts and ideas in this book have changed and confirmed lots of things I do with my teams. Very valuable!!

This book, as well as all books by this author, are excellent. They are obviously an good resource for its intended audience of coaches, but it is also useful for any leader. I consider, and recommend this book to others, as my bible for leadership. It is easy to read and understand. The concepts build logically and interact well with each other.

An excellent resource not only for coaches and those involved in sport activities but also for parents and educators. Janssen and Dale talk about the importance of team building and the real reasons most kids get involved in sports: to have fun and to have social opportunities, among many others. That is not to say that winning is unimportant but rather that it is only one aspect of involvement with sports. A must read for parents and educators who believe winning is the ONLY thing.

This is very good. Well written, easy to follow, and very practical applications for yourself and your team. Most of this stuff I am going to implement or had already implemented.

For any beginning coach, or coach that is struggling with reaching your players, you must have this book. If your team is underachieving, this book will help. The references to successful coaches and their experiences is really a positive.

The one funny about this book, is how much it refers to Gary Barnett in a positive light. This is kind of ironic based on what is happening to him right now...

Coaches should buy this book...

We have owned this book for many years and reference it regularly. It has been loaned to a number of friends and colleagues many of whom purchased their own copies after reading it. The descriptions of injuries are excellent, and, although is was published a number of years ago, the the advice is still sound. I highly recommend it to anyone who plays sports or exercises or has family members who do so. It is also a great reference to have at gyms and company libraries. I highly recommend it.

The Paperback version of this book was given to me free when I was a medical student in 1985. I practice rheumatology and am an athlete myself. Whenever a question comes up regarding an athletic injury, if I am not immediately familiar with the disorder or can't find information from other sources, I dust off this book. I can't recall a time when this book failed me or the patient. Its conservative approach with a big measure of wisdom makes it the best sports medicine book I have ever seen. With regard to non surgical treatments, it never seems to get out of date. For this reason it is probably the only textbook I still own dating back to my medical school years. The reason I accessed this site was to see if a revised edition exists, which sadly doesn't seem to be the case. This book is not only the best I have seen for a physicians use, but for a therapist or sophisticated athlete as well. I would welcome any information on a possible successor to this edition.

We have owned this book for many years and reference it regularly. It has been loaned to a number of friends and colleagues many of whom purchased their own copies after reading it. The descriptions of injuries are excellent, and, although is was published a number of years ago, the the advice is still sound. I highly recommend it to anyone who plays sports or exercises or has family members who do so. It is also a great reference to have at gyms and company libraries. I highly recommend it.

I have played just about every sport known to man in my 43 years of life. I bought this book in 1985 after a softball injury kept me from going to a national tournament. IT IS TIMELESS. It is organized by body section, which makes it an easy reference manual for the non-medical folks like me. Leg injury, find it in the leg section, back injury, back section, etc. I came here because I hurt my back this weekend while loading moving boxes into storage and one of the MANY boxes contains my "sports injury bible" (obviously this book). I frantically searched through as many boxes as I could to find it without hurting my back further, but it is KILLING me that I can't find it (killing me MORE than the injury!). It has become a trusted friend over the years and I came here thinking I wouldn't mind having a backup for now. Mine has been leant out MANY times over the years to teammates and other friends, and saved me TONS OF MONEY by replacing doctor and hospital visits. If you are an athlete and endure the typical weekend sportsman's injuries, and HATE going to the doctor only to hear: "Take two of these and call me Monday", find this book and hang on to it! It shows you how to rehabilitate AND strengthen injured muscles, ligaments, etc. My softball injury was a second degree tear of the rotator cuff muscle (I found that out from reading the book and WITHOUT going to a doctor ONE!). The book told me how to figure out what was wrong, how to fix it, when I could go back to playing (both conservative AND agressive estimates), AND THEN how to strengthen the muscle and surrounding muscles so that there would be MINIMAL scar tissue. Within months my throwing arm was even STRONGER than before the injury. Dr. Southmayd has many interesting stories of helping pro and amateur athletes with their rehabilitation intermingled with the why this works and that doesn't. He writes from an understanding of the perspective of the athlete (when can I get back to playing?!?). I consider myself lucky that I have one of these, bought ignorantly as an alternative to seeing a doctor in 1985. Get one if you can, I can't wait to unload these boxes and find mine!

That the mathematics book is considered really a distinguished reference to all kinds of the sport.
By the pieces of information and the explanatory drawings to all of the tactics and the sportS movements.
And more than 120 sport prioritize by a plentiful interesting and wonderful style by the pieces of information and the clear drawings to each sport.
And concentrates on the rules and Alastratgiat to each sport with an useful historic summary.
And he by a right considers an easy mathematical encyclopedia by a printing with high quality.

Sports: Complete Visual Reference provides a survey of the history, rules, strategies and equipment for over a hundred sports played around the world, covering classic Olympic events, individual and team sports, mechanized and equestrian events and others. Color illustrations and clear explanations discuss the origins and rules of each sport and its evolution over time.

A terrific book describing thousands of sports. You will find sports such as softball, gymnastics, swimming, bowling, diving, and martial art sports. And that's less then a quarter of what the sports in here are! (You name a sport, it's in there!) The book features a history for each sport, the rules, the equipment, and has full color graphics showing basic moves and positions. A must-have for everyone interested in sports.

This book provides in-depth information on all known sports, even some I did not know about! The illustrations are great. It is perfect to know what a sport is all about. Start reading it and you won't stop. Reference at its best. I strongly recommend this work of art.

Bravo!

I just joined a masters' swim team. I was the same age as John Jerome when he swam in this book. I just found this book motivating and that it increased my knowledge and understanding of elite athletes. It also taught me more about the world of competitive swimming. The book mainly dealt with people who were good swimmers/competitive swimmers when they were younger. I wish at least one swimmer like me without previous experience was in the book, but I still found the book had application to me. I reccomend it.

Well, I bought two books. The other one is about a guy who is trying to be a cross country skier. I am glad that I read the other one first otherwise if I read John's book first the other one will be super boring. This book is not just about how he becomes a swimmer but rather how people should deal with the inevitable - aging. I enjoy his writing so much that i bought 3 more of his books.

I was a swimmer throughout my younger years. It seems that only swimmers can understand why and how swimmers do what they do.... John Jerome, in his own style and grace, creates a book that really hits home. Super for: teenage swimmers, coaches and parents of swimmers.

I read this book after a suggestion in Phil Whitten's book on swimming. It was hard to find, but very inspirational to me as I was getting heavily into serious swimming and athletics at 48, the same age as the author was when he got back into swimming. His adventures are thoughtfully described and his experience easy to identify with. The book got me interested in Jerome's other works, which are also very involving.