Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning

like kent_mc2 this is all you need for the CSCS exam. This and the Exam Content Descriptions. Do all the questions in each chapter and read the chapters that you are weak on and skim the chapters you feel strong in. Use the chapter questions to see if you need to go over the chapter again. This can be done in a few days if you have some kind of science or exercise science background or other PT training. Some of the basic sciences at the beginning can be a bit intimidating if you did not take basic sciences in college, but only a small percentage of the exam is basic sciences. I keep this book as a reference now.

The essentials is just what it states - it covers the essentials! It is not the last word on everything written for everyone. It is primarily a teaching reference. This is a reference that has the research and science behind it to back up the statements.

This is not a how to do it all reference, but it is a fine reference. The areas that the text covers are well written and imaged in a fine fashion. I imagine that you can count this reference as claiming a place on the selves of more Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists than any other textbook.

It was a book I really needed right away for a test I needed to take. It got to me fairly quickly, and I am satisfied with the condition of the book.

If you are studing for the CSCS exam this is your book. And I should stress this is the ONLY review material that you need, the other "review" materials are a waste of time and money. This book does an excelent job preparing you for the test--read the chapters take the tests at the end of the chapters and you should pass with flying colors. As a side note, yes this book is rather dry, however there is NO other book that covers the entire relm of strength training as well as this book--yes, there are better speciality books than this one and yes there are books that are easier to understand--but as far as covering all the bases, this is the best I've found. It also has good color pictures--as opposed to Designing Resistance Training Programs.

First what this book is NOT:
If you are in a big hurry to start exercise or if you do not like the thorough scientific approach to bodybuilding, go for other books. Also this book does not give the exercises (just very few basic ones).

Finally what this book is for:
The book is intended for training schools; it gives only the scientifically proven facts, and gives these facts clearly and is very well organized.

I give it 5 stars because it is exactly what it says it is (very honest approach). The good thing is that bodybuilding world is full of dirt (wrong or suspicious information is everywhere), so this book would clear the mess in the non-educated person's mind and give the most precious information - the PROVEN ESSENTIAL information. And by proven I do not mean proven by Joe Amateur who tried that on himself only - as usually is the case, but SCIENTIFICALY proven. That is the biggest advantage of this book.

Unfortunately, this book cannot guard you from all frauds in the field of bodybuilding because the field is too complex and no book can cover everything. If you start with this book, then if you buy some books on exercising, then exercise regularly as your (new) way of living, than think a lot about your training, and maybe some other things...., you will enjoy the most benefits of good health and strong body. A lot of ifs, I know, but every knowledge is hard to grasp.