Muscle Building Books

I like to know what others read; it gives me a glimpse into how they think, what they like, and what makes them tick. In that light, I thought you might like to know what I read.

Muscle Building Books

I actually have so many books that what I'd like to do is share what's on my bookcases in somewhat of an organized manner. I'll first start with "muscle building books," or more generically, books about fitness.

Note that these are physical books. Books you can buy at the store or borrow at the library. I have countless ebooks, too. Maybe I'll cycle through those, too. But for now, muscle building books. I have many other weight training books stored away for safekeeping; those below are in my office.

1. Pumping Iron – This is not a book about fitness or muscle-building per se, but it is a book about bodybuilding. In fact, it's THE book that put the sport of bodybuilding on the map.
2. Arnold Education of a Bodybuilder – This is the first bodybuilding book I ever bought. Any aspiring bodybuilder ought to read this one. Plus, it's a chronicle of a person who truly has lived the American Dream.
3. Coming on Strong – Franco Columbu's answer to Arnold's Education of a Bodybuilder. It's interesting to see how Franco "clarifies" some of Arnold's history!
4. Bodybuilding: A Scientific Approach – Written by Dr. Squat himself, Fred Hatfield, this book packs in more science than nearly any other book, before or since. If you want to build muscle scientifically, this is the place to start.
5. Powerlifting: A Scientific Approach – Another quality book from Dr. Hatfield, this one is about his sport, powerlifting. He's the first man ever to have squatted over 1,000 pounds. And he wasn't huge.
6. Unleashing the Wild Physique – Co-written by the Iron Guru, Vince Gironda, and Robert Kennedy, this is the book that really piqued my interest in hardgainer bodybuilding. I learned a lot from this book and Hardgainer Manifesto owes a lot to Vince and his principles I love this book!
7. Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding – This is the book that I had to have as a kid growing up but didn't have the funds to buy it until I was out on my own. It was EXPENSIVE. But it's Arnold's book, all about bodybuilding. Everything is there.
8. Getting Stronger – This is one I inherited from my wife. It really was the "Encyclopedia" before Arnold's book came out. Written by legendary bodybuilder Bob Pearl.
9. The Incredible Lou Ferrigno – Louie was my favorite growing up. It didn't hurt that he played the Incredible Hulk.
10. Franco Columbu's Complete Book of Bodybuilding – Franco's own bodybuilding book. He was a super-gifted athlete. Loved his enthusiasm!

Those are the ten muscle building books I've got on my bookshelves in my office. I don't know which books I'll share with you next time around, but I can assure you that you'll be intrigued (I have a very eclectic collection).