This book has done immeasurable harm. Anyone who follows routines even remotely close to those that are in this book will just end up, overtrained and frustrated.

Please people get this- arnold had amazing genteics, arnold did huge quantities of drugs and so does everyone else pictured in this book, arnold had unlimited time to train and recover BUT you do NOT.

You can build a tertific physique if you would follow sensible routines buy real world authors- Mark rippetoe, stuart mcrobert, mike mentzer, ellinton darden. Please heed this advice. I have nothing to gain by bashing this book. It is just not helpful for well intentioned people looking to build their body naturally. Please look elsewhere

This book is the most complete book for body builders whether you just started 3 days ago, or are a pro - pre show; looking for tips regarding stripping off excess water. I highly recommend it for everyone who intends on lifting weights for all the benefits related.

This book has everything. To include an inspirational history of bodybuilding. Reading about the competitions and Arnold's rise in the bodybuilding world just gets you PUMPED to work out harder. The exercises are documented and easy to read. And the creditials of the author say it all.

I call this book a must have.
One, it's huge. Takes up a lot of space on your shelf.
Two, it's huge. It has very good photos illustrating more bodypart exercises and inspirations than most of us will ever use.
The photos are all fantastic quality with lots of inspiration.
The book is not without flaws. The routines, even the beginner routines, would put the majority of exercisers into a state of overtraining.
There also seems to be a lot of the old fashioned "Bulk and Cut" advice.
Putting heavy whipping cream into milkshakes for extra fat calories and such. Not the healthiest way to go.
All in all though, I think that the sheer volume of information and inspiration is worth these issues.
I have yet to find a single, stand alone bodybuilding book that works for everyone.
For me, the perfect routine lies somewhere between the excessive volume here, and the intensity of Mike Mentzer's Heavy Duty.
But your metabolism, structure, hormone levels, etc. are not identical to mine. So learn what you can and figure out what makes sense to you.

What a great book by the one and only Arnold! Extremely detailed with so much great information and pictures and examples of just everything you need to know about bodybuilding. This is the Bible of Bodybuilding! I recommend to anyone that wants to get in shape or become a serious bodybuilder or even just the regular joe schmoe!

I have bought many bodybuilding books and this one is not very good. Here is why:
1. It's large and heavy - it's very difficult to keep this book on your lap and read. The only option is to put on the table. If you would like to take this book with you to the gym, or sit comfortably in a chair and read it - forget it, your arm will fall off.
2. Book is filled with photo's - if you enjoy the history of bodybuilding - this could be fine. But I expected photo's just to illustrate the exercises, not the review of American bodybuilding, especially from 20-30 years ago. Better make a dedicated book with photos and instead in this book provide clear examples for exercises.
3. Programs are not easy to adapt if you are starting bodybuilder and there is not enough variety to fit into your needs. I expected clear and simple programs with variations depending on my particular needs. There is a program and it's hard to figure it out how to properly change it for my needs.
4. Nutrition is a very short chapter at the end. I expected more advice and examples which would make it easier for me to understand and adapt. For example program Body for Life offers very easy instructions for meals and protein drinks etc. As far as easy to understand exercises with good and easy to understand photo's I found that Joe Weider's book is much better (and a bit lighter)...

The most thorough book I've seen. Arnold Schwarzenegger did a remarkable job covering any aspect of bodybuilding. From the different exercises, programs and nutrition to the most subtle topics. I read a few other books and this book is definitely the best one I read so far - VERY RECOMMENDED!

I rate this book 5 stars because Schwarzenegger does a great job of organizing all of the conventional strength-training exercises that have accumulated over the years into one book,and he describes them in greater depth and more detail than most other books do. So this book is of great value to anyone (beginner or advanced) who wants to use conventional training methods to get the body they desire.
With that said however, the exercises in this book will not enable you to obtain "maximum results in minimum time", which I believe is what most people want in the ideal workout plan. After all, if I were to ask you what your 3 greatest assets in life are, what might your answer be? You might very well say your body, your health, and your time. Those are assets that you can't put a price on. Like Emerson once said, "The greatest wealth is health". And as Donald Trump has said, "Your life is like a credit card given to you at birth. But money is not what matters here; it's the time you have on that credit card that counts".
So how does one develop a workout plan that truly enables you to obtain maximum results in minimum time? The answer lies in that powerful little word "intensity". In order to get really maximum results in minimum time, you need to be able to generate "maximum intensity". And to accomplish that, you need the "right definition" for intensity, which is one that works in both theory and can be applied practically.
And that's where this book falls short: it does define intensity, but the definition given is too inadequate and vague for practical application, so it is not the "right" definition. And as result, most of the exercises in this book will not enable you to generate maximum intensity, because they are not centered around the right definition for intensity.
To elucidate further, maximum intensity is vital to obtaining maximum results in minimum time for two reasons:
1) The key to building muscle from any weight-lifing plan lies in subjecting your muscles to a higher level of intensity than what they are currently accustomed to. Your muscles then grow bigger and stronger to adapt to that higher level of intensity.
2) Intensity is inversely proportional to duration. The greater the intensity of a weight-lifting exercise,the shorter it has to be in time duration.
Thus, it turns out that the "most effective" way to build muscle is actually the "least time-consuming" way, IF you know the secrets to maximizing your intensity. And of course to do that, you need the right definition for intensity to begin with. Otherwise, you won't know which strategies work best to generate maximum intensity.
Currently, the best published books that I know of for enabling you to achieve maximum intensity are "Static Contraction Training" (Sisco and Little) and "Max Contraction Training" (John Little. Those books are not without their flaws, but they do contain strategies that will enable you to take your weight-lifting exercises to higher levels of intensity than any conventional workout plan will.
Finally, it's interesting (but not surprising) to note what Arnold attributes his well-developed biceps to: he states in this book that he came to the realization that it was largely due to genetics. He says that whatever exercise he did for his biceps, his biceps just seemed to grow huge naturally. He does not attribute his huge biceps to having had the best workout plan for the biceps. And I can assure you that the plan he has for developing the biceps (put forth in this book) is not the the most effective or time-efficient way to develop the biceps. That doesn't mean that Arnold's approach for developing the biceps won't work; it will work, especially if you've got the right genetics, spend a lot of long, tedious hours working out in the gym, and if you take steroids. It's just not the the best appproach to use in terms of effectiveness and time-efficiency. And that's simply because none of these exercises will enable you to achieve maximum intensity, for the reason explained above.

I'm not a body builder or looking to get into body building but I do lift regularly. This book is extremely informative and helpful. There are small things that I've tweaked in how I excercise that have made a big difference already. This book is numero uno!

Buy this book. It is very high quality information from Arnold himself and will teach you everything you need to know about bodybuilding. The nutrition section is also very detailed, which I liked a lot.

a great motivational book with amazingly detailed information. It weighs 7 lbs, you'll get stronger just reading it. It is the best money I've spent in a LONG time.

THE BEST BODYBUILDING BOOK EVER MADE. IF IT WERE A HOTEL IT WOULD BEAT THE 7 STAR HOTEL OF DUBAI!

This book has everything anyone needs to know about sculpting the body. It does not matter if you are wanting to be a bodybuilder or just get into shape this book has everything!!!!

This is really a very good book. 800 pages will keep you occupied for a while. Lots of history, personal stories from Arnold and lots and lots of pictures from back in the day to recent times. Definitely worth buying.

In 70's and 80's when Arnold was competing steroids were legal and as a result to that some individuals were able to train the way he recomends. It is almost certain that if you follow the begginer program he suggests and you refuse to use any suppluments, like creatine, you are going to quit. If you are a beginner like me I believe that you are going to be benefited more from the Bill Pearl's Keys to the Inner Universe. Also have a look at www.billpearl.com , there you will find Pearl's programms for free.

This book is fabulous. Definately the bible of bodybuilding. Book is comprehensive as well, and a good read as well.

its not direct. Basically you have to dissect knowledge here. you also need a dictionary for many words used. Just not for people who don't have the time to do all that reading.

This book is great. Very detailed, and very informative. The book is for the serious reader in that it is roughly 800 pages in length. There is a lot of areas that I skipped (History of Bodybuilding, Posing, etc.) because I wanted to read the info on fitness, exercising, and resistance training. I am not an aspired body builder, just a guy who is looking to change his body for the better and get the proper information from one of the best guys behind the sport.

I highly recommend this book and plan to buy more copies for friends and family members since they cant seem to put my copy down when they come over to visit.

Arnold wrote down everything he knows regarding Bodybuilding. Several exercises, tips, including a training plan for Beginners and for Advanced.

There's a special part including health and nutrition, proving that nutrition is as important as exercising.

There's a chapter where he explains all techniques to improve your strenght, build muscle and be healthy.

There are several explaining photos, curiosities, and even a Bodybuilding history.

Its really a Bodybuilding Bible, and for those who don't want to be a bodybuilder, but want to do weight training, will learn until where they can go.

I am not a bodybuilder but this book is not just for bodybuilders. This book is for anyone who works out and wants more information on weight lifting, strength training, or body building. It is for anyone that works out with weights. It is the best book I have on the subject, and I have several shelves devoted to exercise, fitness, training, etc.

This 800 page book is divided into 5 smaller books. Book 1 is an Introduction to Bodybuilding and includes everything from the evolution and history of bodybuilding to equipment you might need to get started. Book 2 is called Training Programs, and includes basic training principles, stretching, basic and advanced programs, and using your mind to really focus and work your muscles to their fullest. Book 3 is called Body Part Exercises and teaches a lot about anatomy as well as including full descriptions (with pics) of almost every exercise under the sun that will work each body part. Book 4 includes everything you might want to know or need to know about competitions, and Book 5 covers Health, Nutrition, and Diet.

This book has helped me immensely! Although I haven't followed Arnold's recommended specific routines, I have learned so much from this book I have been able to bring to my own workouts. It is surprisingly interesting, well-written, and completely informative. I have learned so much more about proper form, specifics regarding nutrition, and new exercises I had not tried before. And, although it is called an "encyclopedia", the truth is, it's a book that is fun to read-- there is such an abundance of information here that make the book very difficult to put down.

The book is paperback, but it's very well made. The binding has withstood a lot of reading and bending-- the spine and pages are still intact. The book is illustrated with many helpful black and white photos and the pages are high quality with only a little gloss-- very easy to read.

A lot of different exercises to build any muscle group of the body. Very relevant to common gyms today. Very good all-in-one book.

A highly informative read with a lot of useful and inspirational information ...

Every time you read you want to go and work out!

The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised, simply put, is a great book for the average weight-lifter to the serious competitive body-builder. I wish I had bought this book when I first started lifting weights! This book describes and shows you with pictures the correct form to all sorts of diffrent weight-lifting exercises for all body parts. You'll learn a lot from this book, regardless of how interested your into actual body-building. The best book of its kind, in my opinion, and I suggest it to everybody that is serious about lifting weights and getting muscles. My only complaint is that the book needs to be updated a little bit.

I found this book a very comprehensive insight into body building and to the various different methodologies, techniques and ideas involved in building mussel. It ranges through all the fundamentals both mental and physical to body building including nutrition and explains proper technique and benefits from a wide range of excises from the chest training and to training the calves.

The book does have a competition focus but is written in such a way that an amateur recreational person who wishes to change their physique in the gym can get plenty out of it. The read has personally benefited my progress in the gym and has helped me create more intense time efficient and goal driven programs in the gym.

The book is not just centred on Arnold Schwarzenegger but has influences from a wide range of body builders. There are some attempt made to connect these body building practices to body mechanics and biological workings, but this book is really about what you should be feeling and proper exercise technique.

I would recommend this book to any one wishing to further there knowledge in the gym or looking for new ideas in which to increase intensity in their gym workouts or desires to make alterations within there gym routines.

Please read title of this post! Good luck to all! Best reference ever. It contains everything from history to training to contest and diet. Awesome!

Arnold Schwarzenegger's New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding is an immensely helpful book. Its 800 pages are carefully organized into broad sections on diet, competition, training programs, exercises for specific muscle groups, and even the history of bodybuilding.

What I found most helpful were the straightforward descriptions of exercises and equipment, and the many, many illustrations. After buying this book I immediately improved my workout regimen, and while I may never be an Arnold (one function of this book is to keep the amateur humble), I'm certainly better off than before.

Highly recommended.

Come on....its Arnold were talking about. If you into fitness and proper technique....this is your book.

I bought this book for my husband because he is into bodybuilding. He reads it all the time. He has found out so much information that he did'nt know and some that confirmed what he did know. This book shows proper techniques to use in order to get to the body you would like to be. It also has plans and charts to go by which is a good way to keep up with your training and progress.

Very analytical and a the same time simple to understand guide to bodybuilding and fitness

Ordered this book for our nephew for Christmas present on the 22nd November 2007, today is christmas and did NOT receive it yet. I'm very disappointed and disguted with the service I got.

This book does contain some great information and material. Unfortunately, not enough of it is based on research and science. If you want to know the truth about natural bodybuilding, its best to consult ACSM ( American College of Sports Medicine) or NSCA (National Strength & Conditioning Association). The routines and training frequency in this book are only suitable for the genetic elite and users of steroids and other harmful but effective performance enhancing substances. I began lifting using this book as a bodybuilding bible. I started at 175 pounds! I did make significant gains.....Initially. But I later learned I could have lifted fruit baskets and gained muscle mass with my low body weight. I am now 230 pounds 12% body fat (no exaggeration) and I could put on more muscle and lose fat if life permitted. But this progress is directly the result of books like "Power Eating" and "Brawn" and "Strength Training". The truth is, for continued progress in bodybuilding, this book is not a good book. Remember that Arnie did finally admit to taking just about any steroid or substance he could find, just before he became the governator! I have nothing against him, I sincerely respect him. But there is much more reliable material available.

I was interested in the art of bodybuilding and this book was recommended. It is historically informative and detailed to the excercises for each body part. The workouts are for the professionals, so you have to adjust to your own personal needs. After a month of following some of the tips, there was a noticable difference in my physique. I would venture to say, after the first workout, I knew there was going to be a change. You could read up on newer books, but this book is a solid foundation for everything. It's worth the price.

As a regular gym user I find this book an invaluable resource. It provides advice and ideas which help me create my own workout
routines and also explains why each exercise is important and
exactly what it does. I highly recommend it to anyone who is
trying to build or define their body. Thanks Arnold!

This book is exactly what it says it is- an encyclopedia. It is divided into no less than five "books." Measuring in at about one and a half inches thick, if the info contained inside doesn't help you get bigger, just try lifting the book!

A quick rundown of each chapter. The first book is basically an introduction to bodybuilding, covering a lot of miscellaneous, but important topics. The second book covers the training programs, the third the body part exercises, and the fourth book competing. The fifth and last book covers nutrition and diets.

As you can tell, there's really only one word to describe this book- comprehensive. Would have liked to see a little more on injuries, for example there only about a half page on shoulder injuries, but then again this isn't exactly a sports medicine book either. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem or rotator cuff tear that is keeping you out of the gym.

This truly is an Encyclopedia that can be used not only by bodybuilders, but by anyone that wants to get involved with progressive resistance training. This can be a guide for the most experienced, to the novice who has never picked up a weight. Great reference for planning and maintaining an exercise program.

I had bought this book for my 18 year old son that is very health concious and is into weight lifting. From the time I got it, he read it in every night and has shown me a lot of information in it as well. My son's friend saw it and started reading on it every time he was over and he stated "This is my new favorite book". So I ended up buying another one for him for his birthday! They both are always looking things up in it and taking it when they go to work out. Two thumbs up!

This book is exactly what it says it is- an encyclopedia. It is divided into no less than five "books." Measuring in at about one and a half inches thick, if the info contained inside doesn't help you get bigger, just try lifting the book!

A quick rundown of each chapter. The first book is basically an introduction to bodybuilding, covering a lot of miscellaneous, but important topics. The second book covers the training programs, the third the body part exercises, and the fourth book competing. The fifth and last book covers nutrition and diets.

As you can tell, there's really only one word to describe this book- comprehensive. Would have liked to see a little more on injuries, for example there only about a half page on shoulder injuries, but then again this isn't exactly a sports medicine book either. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem or rotator cuff tear that is keeping you out of the gym.

Forget the new diets, new exercises, uneducated personal trainers, just buy this book, and your have all the knowledge from diet, training, technique... just everything, even how to pose!

Arnie was the best, and he has given all his knowledge to the world in this book. This book is indeed "the bible"

This book is exactly what it says it is- an encyclopedia. It is divided into no less than five "books." Measuring in at about one and a half inches thick, if the info contained inside doesn't help you get bigger, just try lifting the book!

A quick rundown of each chapter. The first book is basically an introduction to bodybuilding, covering a lot of miscellaneous, but important topics. The second book covers the training programs, the third the body part exercises, and the fourth book competing. The fifth and last book covers nutrition and diets.

As you can tell, there's really only one word to describe this book- comprehensive. Would have liked to see a little more on injuries, for example there only about a half page on shoulder injuries, but then again this isn't exactly a sports medicine book either. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem or rotator cuff tear that is keeping you out of the gym.

This book rocks, I have yet to really digest it but so far it has proven to be a great source of invaluable information regarding how to get in shape (even if you don't want to bulk up like Arnold!) I definitely recommend "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised By Arnold Schwarzenegger with Bill Dobbins." (I wasn't able to put the link in somehow).
Sincerely,
Joel.

Crazy Informative,
workouts, new aproaches to workouts, excercises that aren't even on bodybuilding.com, nutrition, posing, contest preperation, and that's only the first things that pop into mind when i think of this book,
it's a must for anyone who takes weight lifting or more so body building seriously, or would like to get into it.
i'd been body build for a year and had hit my plateau after around five months, but after reading through this book, it's only been a couple of weeks and i'm noticeably breaking through that plateau;
the gist of this review:
i swear by this book

The title doesn't lie-I can't imagine a more comprehensive bodybuilding book. Not to mention it makes a great doorstop..or a weapon...Although the photo shoots are a bit dated, and Schwarzenegger clearly has his own opinions on who makes the great bodybuilder list, the history is fun and the exercises are clearly described and photographed. This book is great for all bodybuilders, male or female, novice or pro.

This book is exactly what it says it is- an encyclopedia. It is divided into no less than five "books." Measuring in at about one and a half inches thick, if the info contained inside doesn't help you get bigger, just try lifting the book!

A quick rundown of each chapter. The first book is basically an introduction to bodybuilding, covering a lot of miscellaneous, but important topics. The second book covers the training programs, the third the body part exercises, and the fourth book competing. The fifth and last book covers nutrition and diets.

As you can tell, there's really only one word to describe this book- comprehensive. Would have liked to see a little more on injuries, for example there only about a half page on shoulder injuries, but then again this isn't exactly a sports medicine book either. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem or rotator cuff tear that is keeping you out of the gym.

I bought this book for a friend who had expressed some interest in body building, mainly to just get into shape. He was very impressed with the detail and information that was included in this book. He is doing one of the routines that was once done by Arnold, himself, and my friend tells me he's more sore then he's ever been in his life, so it must be working. We would recommend this book to anyone looking to get into bodybuilding or to just get in shape.

This book is exactly what it says it is- an encyclopedia. It is divided into no less than five "books." Measuring in at about one and a half inches thick, if the info contained inside doesn't help you get bigger, just try lifting the book!

A quick rundown of each chapter. The first book is basically an introduction to bodybuilding, covering a lot of miscellaneous, but important topics. The second book covers the training programs, the third the body part exercises, and the fourth book competing. The fifth and last book covers nutrition and diets.

As you can tell, there's really only one word to describe this book- comprehensive. Would have liked to see a little more on injuries, for example there only about a half page on shoulder injuries, but then again this isn't exactly a sports medicine book either. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem or rotator cuff tear that is keeping you out of the gym.

Great book for learning and improving bodybuilding. The start of the book is the Bio of bodybuilding, I only browsed that section. The rest of the book is educational and requires contemplation. Each person is unique and training methods and routines differ for each person. The book is a great guideline for learning and developing your own personal training routines.

If your serious about hitting the weights you need this book. Arnold has been their and done it he shares his knowledge about bodybuilding.


Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.

History of the sport from the late 1800's to 1990's +. If you are a serious bodybuilder looking to tweak all the muscles of the body, get this volume. Loads of pictures, illustrations of anatomy, nutrition schedules, etc. As titled, it is an encyclopedia; as only Arnold can tell.

This book is exactly what it says it is- an encyclopedia. It is divided into no less than five "books." Measuring in at about one and a half inches thick, if the info contained inside doesn't help you get bigger, just try lifting the book!

A quick rundown of each chapter. The first book is basically an introduction to bodybuilding, covering a lot of miscellaneous, but important topics. The second book covers the training programs, the third the body part exercises, and the fourth book competing. The fifth and last book covers nutrition and diets.

As you can tell, there's really only one word to describe this book- comprehensive. Would have liked to see a little more on injuries, for example there only about a half page on shoulder injuries, but then again this isn't exactly a sports medicine book either. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem or rotator cuff tear that is keeping you out of the gym.

I've read through several books from Amazon and downloadable off the internet and this is one is by far the best one for the money. The only one that comes close to this one is the Men's Heath Home Workout Workbook (no longer in print). You can buy 17 different muscle books and get 17 different and conflicting instructions sets (and that holds true if you bought 17 different Men's Health books).

This book doesn't have all the information on every aspect of bodybuilding but it has a good base on pretty much every aspect.