June 12 the 12 best strength training books ever written
I’m addicted to books, I admit it.
The truth is that sometimes I buy them faster than I can read them.
You are reading: Books on strength training
but I’m always reading, learning and applying new things.
I love to learn and always have since I was a kid.
I wasn’t always the best student, but I always loved learning.
One of the downsides of being a constant learner is that you don’t always take action on what you read.
I hate it when that happens.
It was only in the last few years that this occurred to me: Always try to take something important away and put it into action.
If I can do that, I consider it a win.
I love to teach and share what I learn, that’s why I created this site.
There is a great saying: “when you are green, you are growing and when you are ripe, you rot.”“
in fact.
I think you get the point, always keep learning and keep growing to be the best you can be.
In my opinion, the easiest way to do this is by reading books.
people ask me what is the secret to reading so much, how do you do it?
how do you find the time?
Want to know the real answer to how I read countless books every year?
it’s very easy.
Always carry a book with you and read every chance you get.
here is my secret formula:
- sit (or stand if you wish)
- open the book
- start reading
- do this for at least 10 minutes of concentration . time each day
Turn off the TV, sit down, open a book and read.
there is no secret, just do it.
block time, even if it’s only 10-15 minutes (which is usually much more).
Why am I telling you all this?
because I read a lot.
no, I read a lot.
I told you, I’m addicted to books.
That said, I wrote this list of the 12 best strength training books I’ve read to date.
This was an extremely difficult task, narrowing down the countless books I’ve read on this subject.
There are others that deserve to be on this list, but if you asked for the top dozen books on strength, this is what I have for you.
These books are in no particular order.
Also, keep in mind that these are not conventional fitness books, but books for serious fitness enthusiasts, coaches, athletes, doctors, scientists, or rehabilitation professionals.
These are strength training and human performance books.
represent the science and application of getting stronger and moving better, just to clarify what the list represents.
If you read even just one of these, you’ll have a solid understanding of the importance of strength and human potential.
this was hard, but here’s my list.
yuri verkhoshansky and mel siff super workout
Is supertraining all that is advertised?
I think it is. And personally, I love it.
The fact is that this book is not for everyone and truth be told, it is a difficult book to read.
I’ve been “reading” this book for years.
you have to take it in “bite-sized pieces”. that’s the key to this book, in my opinion.
Although certainly not the most “readable” book, the book represents an incredible breadth and depth of knowledge about strength and performance training.
It has been said that it is one of the best books ever written on the subject of force and I agree.
dr. verkhonshansky and dr. siff have written a masterpiece that could be used as a continuing reference for the serious strength enthusiast or coach.
whether you’re a science nerd or a clinical strength coach, you’ll enjoy the deep science presented in the book.
As huge as the book is, it’s actually broken up into nice readable segments.
Without a doubt, this is definitely the most comprehensive book on this list, but it is more theory and science than practical application, at least compared to other books on the list.
The research is overwhelming (albeit outdated) and the depth in all areas of strength (speed strength, speed strength, maximal strength, explosive strength, hypertrophy) is mind-boggling.
If you read this and understand some of the concepts, you will have a deep understanding of the mechanisms of strength, performance, and even hypertrophy training.
I have to be honest though, if I didn’t have the science background, I probably would have gotten completely lost, and sometimes I was anyway because it’s so deep.
don’t expect to read the book quickly. this is a book you sit down and read in bite-sized chunks for a long time (as I still do to this day).
Take your time with it, digest it, and come back to it.
that’s what I do.
This is the “deepest dive” into strength training you’ll ever read.
This is a brilliant book for those who really want a full understanding and appreciation of the real force, but it is highly technical.
why read this book? for an in-depth understanding of strength and performance training from a physiological and scientific perspective.
easy force of dan john and pavel
I love this book and now we are talking about a book that is much more “user friendly”.
so many important insights, programming approaches, and concepts on how to get stronger and maximize hypertrophy.
a very practical book, while supertaining is very scientific, this is more of a practical application to training.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s science in there too. but it is a very practical guide to strength training.
Talk about valuable “nuggets” of information – this book is packed with them.
You’ll get endless programming ideas with a solid foundation.
This book contains the infamous easy strength program and then other simple and effective program ideas like the singles routinejust to name a couple.
I also love the format, as pavel and dan present the concepts with each of their own perspectives.
I read it pretty quickly because it was so interesting. and I refer to it very often.
There are also many great pearls from other top strength athletes and coaches.
As with most of the books on this list, you may need to read it multiple times to get the most out of it.
That said, you’ll still be able to gain valuable information that you can use right away.
An amazing read and I highly recommend it to all coaches and athletes. it’s a book you’ll use.
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why read this book? for a needed perspective on strength training and hypertrophy with specific programming and practical applications. there are many “nuggets” that can be applied immediately after reading.
initial force by rippetoe mark
essential.
classic.
If you train with a barbell, you should get this book to understand the biomechanics and technique of safe and effective barbell training.
This book is legendary.
I say this because it is the most important manual for the correct barre technique that I have ever seen.
This is the book I wish I had when I was just starting my training because it would have radically changed my approach to training.
This book is the essential manual for barbell training and breaks down in great detail the techniques of all the great barbell lifts, squats, bench presses, overhead presses and all accessory barbell exercises.
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There’s a reason this has been a best seller for years and years.
If there is a downside to the book it is that it is packed with technical information about elevators. if you don’t have a background in anatomy or biomechanics it might be more challenging, but this is a great way to learn.
It’s also a big book, so it will take some time to read through and understand all the material.
The chapter on squatting is worth the price of the book alone: it’s extraordinary.
This book was an easy decision to add to the list and knowing what I know today, I wouldn’t train without reading it.
I should also mention that all mark rippetoe books are outstanding. he is an interesting character and his content is outstanding.
Any of his books could have made the list and I would recommend them to everyone, but initial strength is where it starts.
high value content and a “must have” book for strength enthusiasts.
why read this book? in the simplest terms, to understand how to lift weights effectively. This is a barbell training manual for safe and biomechanically efficient lifting.
olympic weightlifting, 3rd edition by greg everett
for Olympic weightlifting (executing the snatch and clean), this book is best for proper technique, progressions, and a complete and in-depth understanding.
is another comprehensive book on the list and “the” definitive textbook for Olympic weightlifting on the market.
if you are a trainer or weightlifter and want to learn all the details and progressions, this is the book to get.
progress and focus much more with weightlifting than starting strength.
Whether you are just starting out or advancing with your techniques, this is the number 1 book I would recommend on this subject. I would also recommend getting the DVD to go with the book.
The new edition is almost 600 pages long, so expect to take some time to read this one, as well as the others I’ve already mentioned.
For a much lighter read and a more concise book on weightlifting, check out the much shorter Olympic Lifting for Sports by the same author.
The shorter version is still great with the right exercises and progressions and may be a better choice to start with. I think it’s a great book to go with the big version.
why read this book? For the athlete or coach who really wants to understand, train or excel at Olympic weightlifting, this is the complete guide. It is one of the books that I use and refer to constantly.
simple & claim by pavel
In the previous version of this list, I had pavel’s “enter the kettlebell” here.
However, I think simple & sinister represents pavel’s most up-to-date training principles and techniques when it comes to the Turkish-style and hard-style kettlebell swing.
These two kettlebell exercises are great value for all lifters, athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
This book is brilliant in its simplicity.
is an important book to fully understand the value of kettlebells for any athlete, trainer or enthusiast to improve strength and performance.
This book represents some of Pavel’s best work in a simplified approach and methodology.
For anyone new to kettlebells, this has become my top recommended resource for understanding the benefits of hard kettlebell training.
Compared to many other books listed here, this is a very light read, but a great value.
If you’re new to kettlebells, this is the book I recommend.
If you already have a solid understanding of the tool, this is essential to help you master the fundamentals, the swing, and how to get up.
why read this book? to understand hard kettlebell training and learn how to swing the kettlebell and the Turkish lift. the book is basically about those 2 exercises, but it is a book about the philosophy and methodology of strength and movement.
scientific principles of force by dr. mike israel, james hoffman & chad wesley smith
This book is only available through jtsstrength.com and is now available as an e-book or print edition (no surprise, I would have to recommend the printed ).
The book is extremely helpful and I almost classify it as a “modern” super workout, but more simplified and practical. the focus of the book is on the principles of training.
The principles outlined in the book are essential to program design and intelligent training progression.
Although the book is oriented to the weightlifter, this book of principles can be extrapolated to any area of strength training. that’s why this book is on the list.
If we understand the principles of training and do not violate them, we can have great success and consistent results. If you’re wondering what I mean by principles, a couple of examples of key principles are specificity and overloading.
dr. israel (who is brilliant) did an excellent job of simplifying the science, but the book is definitely designed for the savvy lifter or trainer.
As with most of the books on the list, it will likely take a few full reads to fully understand the concepts.
why read this book? to understand what constitutes good strength training and progression. An invaluable book for any athlete or strength coach to help design short and long term programs for optimal results.
kelly starrett flexible leopard with glen cordoza
This is not positioned as a strength training book, per se. it’s a performance book.
*note: I recommend the second edition as a fully updated and better organized reference book.
the flexible leopard is a great resource for optimizing human movement and preventing injuries as it is relevant to the strength and performance athlete.
is a dynamic guide and paradigm-shifting approach to the human body that will help us improve performance, whether in strength training or any performance skill.
extremely complete with philosophy and practical “how to” applications. loaded with images and visual demonstrations for readers to apply immediately.
The book covers fundamentals, techniques, progressions and arrangements. it’s not just about mobility, but about conceptual applications for human movement and performance.
The chapters on the laws of torque and midline stabilization are easily worth the price of the book because these concepts alone can radically transform our approach to training .
This book has been called “revolutionary” and “a game changer” for the strength and performance athlete.
why read this book? to better understand human movement in relation to physical performance. The book covers the principles and fundamentals of movement, as well as specific practical applications and “motion fixes.” a very innovative and useful book for the library of athletes and strength coaches. I have another “movement” book for you further down the list.
marty gallagher’s purposeful primitive
This is an interesting book. it’s also very different from many others on the list.
first, mary gallagher is a genius. She has trained some of the best strength athletes in the world, including Ed Coan, whom she has called “the greatest weightlifter of all time.”
This massive book is nearly 500 pages long and covers a wide variety of topics, beyond just strength training.
Personally, I really like the first part of the book (goon masters), which shares the stories of many high-level athletes and powerlifters.
learn about legends in strength like paul anderson, ed coan and kirk karwoski is an amazing read with great stories and background on some of the best strength athletes in the world.
provides a great perspective.
The book also covers methods, mindset, nutrition, and a variety of other topics, including cardio training.
The practical application of the material is also excellent, with many programming ideas and examples that can help in program design.
I know that many people who have read this book call this work “one of the best books on strength development ever written.” it’s deep and covers what we all need to know.
why read this book? Honestly, stories about strength athletes are outstanding and I would say read this book for the stories alone. The reality is that there is much more to the book than just stories, and Primitive With Purpose is an extremely important book for improving many aspects of health, fitness, and performance.
the science and practice of strength training by vladimir zatoriorsky and william kraemer
one of the most referenced books in my training library.
This work is incredibly useful for those with a keen interest in strength training, but it’s also more digestible for the layman.
While it’s scientific and reads more like a college textbook than a book, it’s definitely a lot easier to pick up and comprehend than something like supertraining by verkhoshansky.
again, this is a more simplified version of supertraining, containing concepts and ideas from verkhoshansky’s work, but with a simpler approach.
This book offers many excellent ideas, as well as many practical applications relevant to strength training.
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It’s also extremely well organized and if there’s one book for anyone to really understand the science of strength training, it’s this one.
is an essential resource to have in the library for understanding optimal programming approaches, special population training, and basic principles and concepts > of strength.
As I mentioned, I refer back to this book quite often.
Essential reading for coaches, trainers, and serious fitness enthusiasts.
why read this book? Read this book for a broad, fundamental understanding of strength development. all coaches and trainers should have this is their training library. Do you remember the title of this book: The Science and Practice of Strength Training? well, the title delivered on its promise and that’s why you need to read it.
intervention by dan john
if there is one work in the body of literature that has had a huge impact on me, dan john’s work would certainly be at the top of the list.
I’ve read each of dan’s books, cover to cover, and they are all outstanding works that complement each other. I could recommend any of dan’s books and easy strength is already on this list.
but i highly recommend the intervention as an introduction to dan john’s “systems” and it will change your approach to training and performance.
why read this book? because it is written by dan john. no really… it’s written by dan john and there are very few prolific writers in the industry like dan.
dr. Jonathon Sullivan & andy baker
This book is new to the updated version of this list (this book was published in late 2016).
It was a comment on this post that introduced me to this great book and when I discovered it, I immediately bought a copy and read it.
In my opinion, this book is one of the most important contributions to the strength training literature ever written.
why do I say that?
There are many reasons.
first, dr. Jonathon Sullivan is an MD who understands strength and what it means not only for human performance, but also in terms of improving the quality of life for all humans.
The first part of the book (Why From Exercise Prescription to Training Program) is one of the most important reads in the strength training literature, and if you don’t read anything else, you should read this important part. of the book.
This section contains the scientific explanations why strength training is so important in life.
This goes beyond the athlete and athletic endeavors, but brings things down to the physiological level in an easy to understand way (as Dr. Sullivan does exceptionally well).
I wrote about these ideas in my own book (the edge of the force), but dr. Sullivan has taken these concepts to a whole new level and communicates information brilliantly and simply, based on scientific research.
why read this book? There is no other book that explains the physiological benefits of strength training so well. This book is valuable to everyday medical professionals, trainers, and weightlifters. This book is highly recommended for everyone, but it may be the one for you if you think you’re “too old” to lift. strength is the best medicine, and this book proves it.
gray cook movement
why is this book here?
To be strong, we must first have the base of the movement.
grey is a brilliant guy and this book really helps to “bridge the gaps” between movement and performance.
While this is not a book for the casual fitness enthusiast, it is a book for the serious coach, trainer or lifter or athlete to help maximize the physical body’s performance.
a simple explanation of the book is this.
“Physical condition cannot be put before dysfunction.”
gray’s fms (functional motion display) has changed the way we look at performance. While fms is not the only thing that can be assessed in motion, it has been scientifically proven to be useful in motion assessment to identify “red flags” in movement patterns.
There are some real gems in this book.
but, like others on this list, it’s extremely dense, rich in content, and will take some time to understand.
It’s really like a textbook.
no, it’s a textbook.
why read this book? grey is amazing and this book addresses the principles of quality of movement required to maximize performance and minimize risk of injury. the disadvantage of this is that it is a very heavy read. I know a second edition of movement is coming. I am anxiously waiting…
here is my list of the 12 best strength training books ever written.
I have to tell you again this was really hard to put together because I’ve read so many great books on strength training.
It was hard to narrow things down to just 12 books.
And there are some really great books on strength training that I haven’t read yet, so maybe the list will keep changing as I discover others, who knows?
you may have read the list and thought, “well, what about this book or that book?”
well, if you create a list of only 12 books on any subject, you have to remember that not all the great books will be on that list, you know what I mean?
I don’t want to discredit any great strength training book that isn’t listed here.
For example, I can tell you that there are many other excellent books written by Pavel that are also “game-changers”.
I chose the ones I thought were the best.
could you argue that your other work should be included?
absolutely, you can.
could have included other books by mark rippetoe and dan john that are also “off the charts”.
but I had to narrow it down to the top 12.
I could have made this a huge list of all the outstanding strength books I’ve ever read.
And to tell you the truth, I initially had the list at 10, but I just couldn’t put down 2 books, so I ended up with 12.
again, this was very difficult.
conclusion and next steps
I hope this list will help you in many ways.
First, I hope you feel inspired to pick up one of the above books that you haven’t read, get it, and act on it.
Second, I hope you’ll keep this list as your “must read list” in the area of strength and performance.
These books are all excellent and have my highest recommendations.
learn and act with them, one at a time.
And finally, I hope that if you’ve read some of these, maybe I can challenge you to go back and “reread” and relearn something new to implement.
all of these books are great if you don’t leave them on the shelf taking up space.
Instead, refer to them constantly and put them into practice.
better understand movement, mobility, and strength.
Always seek to be better in these areas and get closer to your maximum physical potential, whether you are a beginner or advanced.
we can all find new ways to be better tomorrow than we are today.
These books will help you do just that.
and remember what I said at the beginning of this article.
reading is easy.
Carry a book with you at all times and read whenever you can.
read, learn and apply.
spread the word! share this on facebook, twitter or anywhere you want.
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