⭐⭐⭐⭐ Starting Strength by Rippetoe
| Full Title | Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mark Rippetoe, Lon Kilgore |
| Year Published | 2007 |
| Date Read | February 05, 2015 |
| Rating | 4/5 stars |
This is one of my all-time favorite books, and started me on the path of strength training through compound lifts. I’ve even evangelized it to others, including both friends and parents. One of the best quotes of the book, which I still reflect on when demotivated to go to the gym: “A weak man is not as happy as that same man would be if he were strong.”
The reason I give 4 stars, though, is due to the author’s way of communicating his belief system; many times in the book, Rippetoe will dismiss alternative exercises or forms of performing an exercise out-of-hand, without providing any reasoning, only harsh words. Such discussion may come off as authoritative to some, but it can feel a bit like promoting intellectual insulation.