Science and Practice of Strength Training, Second Edition

Zatsiorsky has a depth of knowledge related to the strength requirements for many sports and activities gained from his many years experience in the former Soviet Union.

This is probably the best book I have yet read relating to strength training.


Decades of experience   April 10, 2003
Lincoln F. Brigham Jr. (San Diego, CA USA)
31 out of 34 found this review helpful

This book is based on decades of methodically documented training of Russian athletes. Rather than use hypothesis of what training methods SHOULD work, found so commonly in U.S. training literature, what you'll read in this book is scrupulous analysis of what actually worked and what didn't work. There is no equivalent in the U.S. athletic training system; no one has tracked and scientifically analyzed the training of U.S. athletes like the Russians did with their centralized training programs.

This is a must-read book for serious sports strength and conditioning coaches. It's a little too technical for the average fitness trainee, however. The format is a bit like a scholastic textbook, not a how-to book.


Basic Book   June 27, 1998
B. D. Hernandes Jr. (Brazil)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is a very interesting book about strenght training, with a fine balance between pratical advices and scientific principles. Only one phrase can define this book: It's a Must!!!!


Excellent Book   November 2, 2007
nigelb (Toronto, Canada)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I read this book upon the recommendation of Louie Simmons from one of his
[...] articles. I can safely say that this is one of the best books out there. It contains legitimate research and case studies of ELITE world class athletes. You won't find a perfect program here, because no such thing exists... Rather, you will find principles that you can employ to your training and research results based on other world class athletes (most notably Olympic weightlifters).

Best part of all, the text isn't infested with bodybuilding magazine type advice that distorts many trainees philosophy. The bottom line is that 3 sets of 8-12, pre-exhaustion and pyramid sets among other techniques are flawed and ineffective for elite strength athletes and Olympic athletes.


Science Not Myth   November 22, 2007
Jordan H. Weber (Richmond, VA, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

As the name implies, this book is a scientific analysis of the practice of strength training. Rather than the typical myths advocated by publications such as Men's Health and other popular sources for training information, this book provides the scientific foundations for strength training. It helps cut through the many myths surrounding strength training and provides in depth scientific analysis by one of the world's leading biomechanists, kinesiologists, and strength training experts. Zatsiorsky has influenced the weightlifting, powerlifting, strong man, and sports training worlds as well as academia. He describes theories as well as methods. This book belongs on the shelf of any serious student, professor, coach, or athlete. I, myself, am a tennis player and have benefitted greatly from this book. Clearly one for the ages, this book is excellent. Worth at least 100$.