20 Best Books For Weightlifting (2023 Update)

2018 revised edition since shortly after its original release in 2008, olympic weightlifting: a complete guide for athletes & coaches has been the most popular book on the sport of weightlifting in the world and has become the standard text for learning and teaching the snatch and clean & jerk. this all new third edition has been expanded over 150 pages with revised and improved chapters, new chapters, improved organization, more tables and diagrams, over 600 photographs, improved readability, and improved reference functionality with an index, glossary and expanded table of contents. the book presents a complete progression for athletes and coaches starting with foundational elements such as breath control and trunk stabilization, squatting, balance and weight distribution, warming-up, individual variation; working to complete learning and teaching progressions for the snatch, clean and jerk; covering training program design extensively, including assessment for recruiting and new lifters, and 16 sample training programs; technical error correction, supplemental exercises, nutrition, bodyweight manipulation, and mobility; and a thorough section on competition to prepare both lifters and coaches. "simply the best book available on olympic weightlifting." -don weideman, vice president, pacific weightlifting association "without a doubt the best book on the market today about olympic-style weightlifting." -mike burgener, usa weightlifting senior international coach "outstanding, accurate, and concise a must read for athletes and coaches involved in the movements." -daniel camargo, usa weightlifting international coach "everett's olympic weightlifting text is one of the best instructional books for the sport to be published in years. bob takano, member usa weightlifting hall of fame "everett's book is one of the most accessible and comprehensive weightlifting sources available for the coach and athlete today. i highly recommend this book for every serious strength coach or weightlifting practitioner." -john thrush, head coach calpians weightlifting table of contents foundations understanding the lifts learning & teaching the lifts individual variation facility & equipment warming up breathing & trunk rigidity the squat foot positions & transition the hook grip the double knee bend starting position principles the snatch introduction to the snatch the receiving position learning the snatch pulling from the floor understanding the snatch the clean introduction to the clean the receiving position learning the clean pulling from the floor understanding the clean the jerk introduction to the jerk the receiving position learning the jerk understanding the jerk the clean & jerk error correction introduction to error correction universal errors snatch errors clean errors jerk errors program design & training introduction to program design assessment training variables jump training assistance work the bulgarian method specific populations the program design process restoration & recovery training practices sample training programs supplemental exercises introduction to supplemental exercises snatch exercises clean exercises jerk exercises general exercises nutrition & bodyweight introduction to nutrition bodyweight supplements mobility & flexibility introduction to mobility stretches self-myofascial release competition

From the author of what has been called the best book on olympic weightlifting, olympic weightlifting: a complete guide for athletes & coaches, comes olympic weightlifting for sports. this book focuses on athletes and coaches outside of the competitive weightlifting world to present a method of teaching the olympic lifts and their variants simply, safely and effectively to all types of athletes. also includes information on program design and flexibility training to prepare athletes to perform the lifts. "coach everett's olympic weightlifting for sports is a extraordinary product for any sport coach s library. as a proponent of the power clean and its variations for performance training, i found this book to be an outstanding reference for teaching methodology for the olympic movements. coach everett provides user-friendly terminology for the explanations of these movements. this book is a must-have for any coach who implements olympic lifts in their program. joe kenn, head strength and conditioning coach, carolina panthers "coaches, make room on your bookshelf for greg everett's olympic weightlifting for sports. thorough, well written, well organized, and full of information & pictures to help make each point understandable. this will help make you a better coach, and in turn help improve your athletes potential to succeed. i'm excited for greg and excited to put the information to use! jim malone, head strength & conditioning coach, san diego padres this is, by far, the most detailed and thorough book about olympic weightlifting technique. greg everett has done an excellent job in presenting and organizing the material in this book. the photos are great. i strongly recommend that any strength coach or sports performance coach own this book if he/she is teaching deep squatting, snatch and clean pulls, and olympic style lifts. it is well worth the money spent. ethan reeve, strength & conditioning coordinator, wake forest university "olympic weightlifting for sports is another outstanding book by greg everett that breaks down everything you need to know about the specifics of olympic weightlifting. i really like the way greg breaks down the progressions for each movement. i've always been a big believer in keeping things simple and specific for both coaches and athletes. this is a must-have for anyone trying to understand all aspects of olympic lifting. all athletes need to understand why they are training a certain way. this book explicitly covers that for olympic lifting." jeff dillman, director of strength & conditioning, university of florida this book is a great addition to any strength & conditioning coach s library. it gives very basic and descriptive instruction that does not complicate what a strength & conditioning coach has to teach and coach on a daily basis regarding olympic style lifts. kevin yoxall, head strength & conditioning coach, auburn university greg everett is my go-to resource when it comes to the olympic lifts. whether it s coaching, program design, or even addressing common limiting factors like flexibility, olympic weightlifting for sports leaves no stone unturned. whether you re a young coach learning the ropes or a grizzled veteran, this book is an amazing resource. quite simply, if your goal is to teach athletes how to olympic lift safely and effectively, this book needs to be in your library. mike robertson, president of robertson training systems and co-owner of indianapolis fitness and sports training

A comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to mastering the basics of weight lifting and barbell training at home or at the gym, created specifically for women stop looking for the “perfect program” and start working towards your goals with an exercise regimen designed to help you reach the next level in physical fitness. top strength training professionals will show you how to craft powerful workouts that are tailored to your unique goals. experts agree the fastest and most effective way to build strength and enhance muscle tone is to lift weights.

From square one to living strong–a beginner's guide to weight lifting. you don't have to hire a personal trainer to learn how to lift weights the smart, safe way. the beginner's guide to weight lifting is the perfect companion for men and women who are starting from scratch and want to begin working out at the gym or at home. from air squats to barbell bench presses, you'll explore beginner-friendly exercises with clear illustrations so you can perfect your form, get stronger while building muscle, and improve your cardiovascular health. the beginner's guide to weight lifting can help you get the most out of your workout routine by sharing how to set up your home gym, safety tips, nutrition, and more. it doesn't matter who you are, your age, or physical ability, it's never too late to start weight lifting. this ultimate beginner's guide to weight lifting includes: get started–learn weight lifting fundamentals like how to choose the right weight, defining gym jargon, and using proper gym etiquette. get training–build muscle and stamina with 35 beginner-based exercises and a complete 4-week weight lifting routine that includes specific exercises, sets, and reps that can be modified for your skill level. get results (and compliments)–you'll feel fitter and healthier, and you may even notice a firm muscle or two–plus you get well-timed encouragement when you need it. lift weights without the heavy lifting–all you need is the beginner's guide to weight lifting.

"if i were to go back and start my weight lifting journey from the beginning, this is the plan that i would follow"hi, my name is james atkinson ("jim" to my friends and readers). i am a qualified fitness coach, ex- airborne forces (british army) and i have a very diverse past in health and fitness. from personal training, long distance running to competition bodybuilding, it is fair to say that i have changed the shape and condition of my body more than most. – since my early teens i have been involved in weight lifting and resistance training of some description. i am now into my late thirties. – starting off in a powerlifting environment, the doors to a new world of resistance training were thrown wide open in front of me. the possibilities of what could be achieved with the correct weight training and diet inspired me to start work on building my own body into something that i could be very proud of! however, it would take me around eight to ten years before i found the correct path and begin to actually get some results. i will admit that i am not the quickest of learners, but if i was given the correct advice from the start, today, i would no doubt be leaps and bounds ahead of the physical development that i currently hold. – this book has a full year of progressive weight training laid out in the form of four "sub routines". each one of the workouts is a progression from the previous one. this means continued muscular development. and the great thing about this kind of training is that you can repeat it year after year if you wish. – some of the information included in this book: vital fundamental material on training mentality, planning, diet and motivation.4 x 12 week progressive exercise plans (a year in total)explanation of the training year. why you are training in this way – illustrated descriptions of all exercises included – accountability charts to keep you on track – optional healthy cooking recipes reader bonus – and much more! this book is written for anyone who is interested in developing their body with the use of resistance training. this type of training can be used not only for building muscle mass but for fat loss and toning alike. – if you are new to the weight lifting and bodybuilding world, you will benefit a lot more from this book, but on the flip side; if you have been in the game for a while and would like a few ideas to develop your knowledge further, you will also find this book useful. – i wish you the very best with your training and i look forward to hearing of your achievements! keep on lifting and i wish you every success! jim

You've put in the time, effort, and sweat to build a solid foundation, but you want more–more muscle mass, strength, and definition. look no further. serious strength training will bring your workouts and results to the next level. tudor bompa (the world's foremost expert on optimal schedules for training), mauro di pasquale (a leading authority on nutrition for strength training), and former bodybuilder lorenzo cornacchia have again teamed up to bring you the latest, greatest, and most effective exercises and programs for hard-core strength. featuring solid scientific principles and the latest research, serious strength training provides the blueprint for increasing muscle mass and achieving strength gains you might not have thought possible. follow the general programs or tailor one to your special needs through manipulation of the six training phases–anatomical adaptation, hypertrophy, mixed, maximum strength, muscle definition, and transition–and proper application of the individual metabolic profile. serious strength training is essential reading if you want to lift in the big leagues. choosing from 67 muscle-stimulating exercises and detailed dietary plans, make it your guide to the greatest training you've ever done.

Every athlete who spends time in the weight room eventually deals with pain/injury that leaves them frustrated and unable to reach their highest potential. every athlete ought to have the ability to take the first steps at addressing these minor injuries. they shouldn’t have to wait weeks for a doctor’s appointment, only to be prescribed pain medications and told to “take two weeks off lifting” or, even worse, to “stop lifting so heavy.” aaron horschig knows your pain and frustration. he’s been there. horschig has been a competitive weightlifter, and he understands how discouraging it is to tweak your back three weeks out from a huge weightlifting competition, to have knee pain limit your ability to squat heavy for weeks, and to suffer from chronic shoulder issues that keep you from reaching your goals. rebuilding milo is the culmination of dr. horschig’s life’s work as a sports physical therapist, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and olympic weightlifting coach. it contains all of the knowledge he has amassed over the past decade while helping some of the best athletes in the world. now he wants to share that knowledge with you. this book, designed by a strength athlete for anyone who spends time in the weight room, is the solution to your struggles with injury and pain. it walks you through simple tests and screens to uncover the movement problem at the root of your pain. after discovering the cause of your injury, you’ll be able to create an individualized rehab program as laid out in this book. finally, you’ll be on the right path to eliminate your pain and return to the activities you love.

Science and practice of strength training is a favorite book among strength and conditioning professionals. now in a third edition, it offers upgraded artwork, updates based on current science, and new information to enhance the practical application of the concepts presented. a new coauthor, dr. andrew fry, joins the already-popular author team of dr. william kraemer to make this third edition even better than its predecessors. together the authors have trained more than 1,000 elite athletes, including olympic medal winners, world champions, and national record holders. influenced by both eastern european and north american perspectives, their experience and expertise are integrated into solid principles, practical insights, and directions based on scientific findings. science and practice of strength training, third edition, shows that there is no single program that works for everyone, at all times and in all conditions. it addresses the complexity of strength training programs while providing straightforward approaches to take under specific circumstances. those approaches are backed with physiological concepts, ensuring readers gain a full understanding of the science behind the practice of strength training. in addition, the authors provide examples of strength training programs to demonstrate the principles and concepts they explain in the book. the third edition features more detailed artwork and has three new chapters on velocity in the weight room, overtraining and recovery, and athlete monitoring. the book is divided into three parts. part i focuses on the basis of strength training, detailing basic concepts, task-specific strength, and athlete-specific strength. part ii covers methods of strength training, delving into velocity training, training intensity, timing, exercises used for strength training, injury prevention, overtraining, athlete monitoring, and goal-specific strength training. part iii offers even more practical applications, exploring training for specific populations, including women, young athletes, and senior athletes. the book also includes suggested readings that can further aid readers in developing strength training programs. this expanded and updated coverage of strength training concepts will ground readers in the understanding they need to develop appropriate strength training programs for each person that they work with. ce exam available! for certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. science and practice of strength training, third edition ce exam, may be purchased separately or as part of the science and practice of strength training ce exam package that includes both the book and the exam.

Powerlifting training can skyrocket a man's strength, health and confidence. this book is for the mature athlete or fitness enthusiast who wants to experience the huge benefits of power training. competing is optional. for mature athletes, there are always some risks associated with lifting "big iron". great gains are possible if an athlete follows the "training smart" system in this book. training smart involves three distinct things: mastering the athletic skills needed in powerlifting; doing sport specific conditioning; and mastering proper lifting technique. the author, a retired scientist, has been lifting weights for 60 years. he began his powerlifting career at age 48 and competed at the national and international level for 25 years. during his life, he has competed in eight different organized sports. based on extensive research and his long career, in this 300-page book, the author provides detailed instructions on how to master the skills of strength needed for heavy lifting; a unique conditioning program to reduce the chance of injury; extremely detailed instruction (with pictures) for properly performing the squat, bench press and deadlift; and five complete training routines for the squat, bench press and deadlift, along with dozens of tips on building a powerful body over age 50. these are probably the most detailed instructions on optimal lifting technique available anywhere. in addition, the author provides detailed instruction on the mental approach to training, nutrition, injury management, plus training plans and a full chapter on how to prepare for and compete in a powerlifting meet. an amazon review of the authors book mastering the squat (5 star rating) "this book is a gem… great workout programs. probably the most practical guide on squats written out there…."

Wall street journal best seller improve your physique, build lean muscle, and increase strength for more than twenty years, bret “the glute guy” contreras has been on a quest to improve human performance, focusing his research on the gluteus maximus, the largest muscle in the human body. what started as an effort to improve his own weak, flat backside quickly evolved when he discovered the wide range of functional movements to which the glutes contribute. properly trained glutes not only help you lift heavier, jump higher, sprint faster, and swing harder but also help prevent knee, hip, and lower back pain and injuries. bret went on to earn a doctorate in sports science and is now known as one of the world’s foremost experts on strength and physique training. after helping thousands of people reach their strength goals and achieve their ideal physique in his world-renowned training facilities, bret brings you glute lab, which pulls his field-tested and scientifically proven methods and techniques together into an all-in-one glute training system that will help you develop leaner, rounder, stronger, higher-performing glutes. this all-encompassing guide explains why glute training is important for health and performance, how the glutes function, what critical role they play in the body, and how to design the optimal training program to accomplish your aesthetic and performance goals. this book offers thirty-six weeks of programming and several training templates for those who want to dive right in, breaking down each technique with step-by-step photos and descriptions. bret also reveals the most common faults people make when performing these movements and offers hundreds of tips for getting the most out of every training session. you can implement his system in your local gym or even in the comfort of your own home. glute lab is more than just a book on glute training. these principles and methods can help you maximize muscle growth and strength, improve body composition, overcome training and physique plateaus, train around injuries and discomfort, determine ideal training frequency and exercise selection, design periodized programs, and so much more. in short, this book gives you the tools to make strength and physique gains and design balanced programs that cater to a wide range of goals and work for your entire body. whether you’re a regular person looking to improve your appearance, an athlete looking to boost your performance, a physique competitor or bodybuilder looking for an edge over the competition, a powerlifter looking to increase your strength, a crossfitter inspired to gain knowledge, a personal trainer interested in offering your clients cutting-edge training techniques, or a physical therapist looking to improve your clients’ health, glute lab will equip you with the information you need. in this book you will learn: the fundamentals of optimal glute training the anatomy and function of the glutes how to select exercises based on your physique and training goals how to perform the most effective exercises for sculpting rounder, stronger glutes variations of the hip thrust, deadlift, and squat exercises sample training templates and splits that cater to different training goals and preferences how to implement advanced methods into your training routine diet strategies to reach weight loss and body composition goals sample glute burnouts and templates twelve-week beginner, intermediate, and advanced full-body training programs with a glute emphasis how to design your own customized training programs how to overcome plateaus in training, strength, and physique

A revolutionary fitness plan for women, focusing on weightlifting to create a lean, strong, feminine physique in the new rules of lifting for women, fitness experts and authors lou schuler and alwyn cosgrove continue their wildly popular new rules of lifting series with a comprehensive strength training, conditioning, and nutrition plan specifically designed to help women reap the benefits of weightlifting. along with women's fitness expert cassandra forsythe, they show how stepping off the treadmill and into the weight room can help women get the body they want.contrary to popular belief, weight training will not cause women to “bulk up,” but rather will create the properly conditioned muscles that will in turn increase metabolism and promote weight loss, and give women a lean, healthy look. the new rules of lifting for women includes six months' worth of progressively challenging workouts that strip fat while increasing strength and building lean, head-turning muscle—all in two to three hours a week. the authors also provide an easy-to-use, customizable nutrition program that shows you how much to eat to reach your goals.the new rules of lifting for women provides a strengthand conditioning regimen to help every woman discover her most lean, strong, and beautiful self.

Now, after six more years of testing and adjustment with thousands of athletes in seminars all over the country, the updated third edition expands and improves on the previous teaching methods and biomechanical analysis. no other book on barbell training ever written provides the detailed instruction on every aspect of the basic barbell exercises found in ss:bbt3. and while the methods for implementing barbell training detailed in the book are primarily aimed at young athletes, they have been successfully applied to everyone: young and old, male and female, fit and flabby, sick and healthy, weak and already strong. many people all over the world have used the simple biological principle of stress/recovery/adaptation on which this method is based to improve their performance, their appearance, and their long-term health.

"in bringing the body to its highest pitch of perfection, various moral qualities, the value of which it would be difficult to over-estimate, must necessarily be brought into play. the first essential to success is the power of concentrating the will upon the work. muscles are not developed by muscular action alone. physical exertion, however arduous and long continued, will not make a man strong, or the day labourer and the blacksmith would be the strongest of men. mechanical and desultory exertion will never materially increase a man's strength. he must first learn the great secret, which ought to be no secret at all. he must use his mind. he may not be able to add a cubit to his stature, but by taking thought a man can most assuredly increase the size of his muscles, strengthen all his organs, and add to his general vitality. but he must put his mind, as well as his muscles, into the work. and by exercise and practice the will-power is greatly increased, until, in course of time, the whole organism is so absolutely under its control that the muscles can be kept in perfect condition even without what, in ordinary language, is called “ exercise.” that is to say, that without violent exertion, but merely by the exertion of the will, the muscles can be exercised almost to any extent.

"to my mind, every man should devote at least some small attention to weight-lifting. i don't think that i have come to this conclusion simply because i myself have gained some distinction as a weight- lifter, but rather for the reasons set forth below. first of all, why does a man learn to box well, because it is asserted that every man should learn how to defend himself in case of necessity. a good and sufficient reason, you will say. the same may also be put forward as an excuse for learning wrestling and ju-jutsu no doubt, but i am inclined to fancy that the noble art would possibly be more useful than either. now, beside all this, every man in every walk of life is certain, sooner or later, to be confronted with a heavy object, bulky or otherwise, which he strongly desires to lift". – arthur saxonthis is an original version, restored and re-formatted edition of saxon's 1910 classic.

Best methods for squat and deadlift most productive mini-cycles preparting for a competition mastering technique unlike many manuals this is not a crash course to get started. this manual is document of how this was all possible.

If you want to be muscular, lean, and strong as quickly as possible without steroids, good genetics, or wasting ridiculous amounts of time in the gym and money on supplements…then you want to read this book. … the bottom line is you can achieve that "hollywood hunk" body without having your life revolve around it–no long hours in the gym, no starving yourself, no grueling cardio that turns your stomach.–back cover.

As a physical therapist, coach, and certified strength and conditioning specialist, dr. aaron horschig began to notice the same patterns in athletes over and over. many of them seemed to pushed themselves as athletes in the same ways they push themselves out in the real world. living in a performance-based society, dr. horschig saw many athletes who seemed to not only want to be bigger and stronger but to get there faster. this mentality ultimately led to injuries and setbacks, preventing athletes from reaching their full potential. now, after developing unique and easy-to-use techniques on how to train and move well, dr. this detailed plan enables you to unearth the various weak spots within your body-the areas that leave you in pain and hinder your ability to perform-and completely change your approach to athleticism. discover new strength, new power, and astounding potential you never knew you possessed. horschig knows that when you transform the way you work out, you transform your body-and your life.

The barbell lifts they compete in are specifically designed as the ultimate test of strength. now, this step-by-step guide show you how to can train like an olympian so as to supercharge your muscle-building and lifting abilities.packed with exercises for all muscle groups, the program in this book teaches you the insider techniques used by professional weight lifters to get the most out of every workout. it offers everything the aspiring olympian needs, from self-assessment of their current fitness level to advanced techniques and recovery stretches.you may never make it to the olympics, but by the following the program in this book you will achieve a personal gold medal level of strength and fitness.

The barbell lifts they compete in are specifically designed as the ultimate test of strength. now, this step-by-step guide show you how to can train like an olympian so as to supercharge your muscle-building and lifting abilities.packed with exercises for all muscle groups, the program in this book teaches you the insider techniques used by professional weight lifters to get the most out of every workout. it offers everything the aspiring olympian needs, from self-assessment of their current fitness level to advanced techniques and recovery stretches.you may never make it to the olympics, but by the following the program in this book you will achieve a personal gold medal level of strength and fitness.

"this massive and authoritative master blaster book is the greatest bodybuilding book ever written, primarily because it is firmly based on the training principles of the weider system of bodybuilding, which have been followed by literally every bodybuilder in the modern history of the sport. i began developing my weider system back in the 1930s and continue to refine and add new weider training principles to it. you can rely on the information i present in this book to improve your physique. good luck!" — joe weider on instinctive training "one of the most fundamental secrets of successful bodybuilding is getting to know your body and how it reacts to various training and nutritional practices. unless you have finely honed your instinctive training ability, it will take many weeks, even months, to evaluate each experiment. it definitely pays to master the weider instinctive training principle." — franco columbo, two-time mr. olympia on progression "the key to building massive, powerful muscles is to doggedly increase the training weights you use. but it is only good to increase training poundage if you do so in perfect form. there is a direct correlation between the amount of weight you use with perfect biomechanics in an exercise and the mass of muscles that move that weight." — lee haney, three-time mr. olympia on muscle confusion "once i reached the advanced level of bodybuilding and started entering competitions, i discovered that i quickly became bored with a set training program. i began to use the weider muscle confusion principle, changing to a new and more challenging routine every time i came into the gym to bomb a particular body part." — lou ferrigno on supersets "since supersets constitute a big jump in training intensity, i always tell bodybuilders new to the weider supersets training principles to experiment with supersets, compounding movements for the biceps and triceps, or forearm flexors and forearm extensors." — albert beckles, ifbb world pro grand prix champion