If you are serious about training and want to expand your knowledge then you really cant do better than the NSCA, Essentials of strength and conditioning, this is a seriously detailed manual that all students of physical training should have in their collection, all aspects are covered skeletal, muscular, energy systems, training protocols, everything you will need to fully understand how to progress towards your goals.
Next is the Poliquin principle's, Charles Poliquin is widely considered the number 1 strength coach in the world! and has trained gold medal athlete's in 18 different discipline's he also has his own certification scheme, where the NCSA manual is very scientific as it is a text book, coach poliquin's book is easier to digest for the layman, and will serve any budding trainee better than this months copy of FLEX, MUSCLE & FITNESS or the dreaded MEN'S HEALTH! thankfully there are no sections entitled Summer beach six pack in 4 weeks! or more sex less begging! buy a proper book like this and progress.
Another favorite coach and author of mine is Christian Thibaudeau, his Black book of training secrets is a great read, and a great example of why you should read as much as you can, by as many people as you can in your chosen field, in coach Poliquin's book you will be introduced to GVT (German volume training) this was a favorite of Arnold, only there are 3 main draw backs with this system, those being sheer volume, to reach 100 reps or 10x10 on any given movement you will have to reduce the load which is not conducive to building strength!
also you open your self up to the risk of over use injury! and finally BOREDOM!
in coach Thib's book you will find a system called Optimum volume training where he has addressed these issues.
The Dinosaur strength training manual, and the accompanying note book by Brooks Kubik are also a handy addition to any trainee's library, lots of bodyweight movements and isometric holds and bridging in this book, everyone should include bodyweight as part of their training regime, I as a trainer will never allow any new trainee near a bench press until they can perform 10 push up's with good form, and why would you let anyone near a squat rack when they cannot perform decent bodyweight squats, and we need not even mention the chin/pull up how many guy's do you know who literally live in latt pulldown land but cannot perform a single pull up from a dead hang!
Frederic Delavier's Strength training anatomy is also a must fantastic illustrations of all the major exercises and the muscles involved, even sections on injury for particular joints, an invaluable resource.
Chad Waterbury, another coach with a few books under his belt my favorite being muscle revolution, filled with information and various training routines.
The reason for this post is I was having lunch with a friend and fellow fitness professional, and we were discussing a suggested program from Men's health which had the trainee's first movement as plyo push ups! no mention of any mobility drills or dynamic warm up just straight in with the plyometrics! some poor novice will buy that magazine and think hey this looks great let me try this workout and end up with a strained tendon or worse still ligament, and wish they had read a bit more and learned about progression, these kind of magazine's are ok to read while you are on the toilet or stuck in the airport waiting for your connecting flight, if you have a good base knowledge of training protocols you can pick up tips and tweaks from these publications, but as far as real training knowledge pick up a proper book and learn something that will keep you safe injury free and progressing!
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