Strength Training for Beginners

by Kyle Hunt

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Strength Training for Beginners is a quick start guide with a 12 week tutorial to build up and maintain a home training program. Released 28th July 2020 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 250 pages (for the electronic format) and available in paperback and ebook. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

I liked the positive, upbeat, and encouraging "voice" of the author. I can imagine that he's a gifted trainer. The book follows a logical format which is accessible and feels do-able. The introductory section enumerates some of the benefits of weight training for all ages and life-stages as well as debunking some weightlifting myths. He also covers the necessary equipment (including some cost saving tips). New equipment is introduced very slowly (in the second and third months of the training program) and is minimal (dumbbells and weight bars).

The second section of the book includes the exercises themselves. All of them are accompanied by clear line drawings and step-by-step instructions. The descriptions are clear and concise. As an aside, I have recently suffered a shoulder muscle injury (torn and degraded supraspinatus) and as part of my physical rehabilitation, -all- of the exercises my physiotherapist has prescribed for me are included in the upper body exercises in this book (with several others). Special highlights, tips, and troubleshooting information are included in text bars throughout the exercises.

The third section of the book contains the actual monthly training routines. There are three months with different focuses for different training levels. None of the routines are outside the ability levels of most readers. The exercise routines in the electronic format have hyperlinks directly in the workout to easily find/refresh the info during a workout. The workouts are varied and have alternative exercises to change up the routine and avoid boredom.

There's also a short bibliography and links list at the back of the book along with a short author bio.

Honestly, who knows when it'll be safe for us to gather and work-out at training centers again. This is a nice, beginner accessible guide to setting up and maintaining a -real- and -achievable- home workout with relatively minimal expense. There are so many mental and physical benefits to strength training at all ages, this is a good place to just get started with no excuses or procrastination.

Five stars. Well written and do-able.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.