If you are implementing Starting Strength, this is a fantastic and extremely necessary companion for you. While the forum on the website is helpful, your question has probably already been asked and answered and it’s probably in this book. There’s no need to find it and bookmark it, or print it out, it’s all right here.

As for the writing style….Mark is not one of those fluffy “motivational” personal trainers. He has a strong, biting, sarcastic wit about him and it translates into his writing, even more clearly than in “Strong Enough?” I imagine some people will be turned off by that, but it’s their loss. Speaking of that book, with the existence of Mean ‘Ol Mr. Gravity, Strong Enough is now pretty much unnecessary beyond being a fan of Mark, if your goal is to gain strength training knowledge.

This book has a very specific purpose and it does very well at that. If you need it, get it. If you’re looking for a more generalized text, get Starting Strength or The Strongest Shall Survive (or both).

– Christopher M. Hickman, Channahon, IL

[Originally posted on Amazon, January 15, 2010]

Mark Rippetoe writes lucidly, at times technically, but always accessibly and even sometimes with humour. A man who has dedicated his life to coaching and the iron and whose piercing analysis of many of the issues, if not all, relating to strength make you feel as though you have been privy to an oracle!

Starting Strength was very good, but this is even better. I can only recommend this book and hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

– Ousel37, Germany

[originally posted to Amazon.com, December 30, 2009]

“momg is a DELIGHT — just arrived filled to the brim with his inimitable trademark sense of humor, fun stories, great ideas/concepts/references, and best of all, it proffers a hefty compendium of helpful information designed to improve your lifting, enhance your technique, and help you rebound from injuries/bad technique/and general foolishness.”

“I was expecting something along the lines of Strong Enough?, but I was pleasantly suprised when I saw the size (that’s what she said) of this book; like SS:BBT, but with smaller print. So in other words, there’s a lot of information in this book. It is a delight to read, because you can flip open to any page and get a little snippet of wisdom. I’ve been lurking on this forum for a long time, and I thought I had read everything, but now I realize how much I missed.”

“MOMG is 366 pages of 8.5 x 11″ paper that contains what were deemed the more interesting questions and discussions on the Q&A forum, with all the unhelpful discussion removed.

It breaks the discussions up into 19 chapters by category (e.g. questions pertaining to footwear, mistakes, eating, psychology, common beginner questions, programming, and so on).

On top of the large pages, the margins are small so the book is packed with as much information as possible; no worries there.

Essentially, you get all the questions and answers Mark and his buddy considered appropriate enough for printing, so that says something already. As mentioned previously, they took out all the useless crap so only the informative responses are included.

The bottom line: if you have a question, someone has most likely already asked it and had it answered. With this book, you’re bound to come across it, with the benefit of knowing what you’re reading will be helpful and not filled with a bunch of lame shit in between. Plus it doesn’t strain your eyes like a monitor, and is easier to bring to the shitter/bed/anywhere than a laptop.”

“I took MOMG to my nurse practitioner’s office today, because I’d rather read old interesting internet posts than old less-than-interesting magazines. She asked me what I was reading, and I showed her the cover. She said, “Oh, by the size of it, I thought it was a textbook!” Since I was there for an appointment, I didn’t have the time to explain to her how right she actually was.”

You can view the full thread here.  And if you register on the forum, you can add your own bit.

I got interested because I had a back pain that was bothering me a lot (I am 42 years old). I went to the doctor, they took pictures of my column with a scanner. Nothing appeared. I took long sessions with the kinesiologist. But the pain was still there. I decided that my back was weak and I need to gain strength. I bought this book, I bought the equipment, and started practicing. That was a few months ago…..

And now my back pain is absolutely gone!!!! My back is strong and also these exercises make you lift objects in every day activities using the same technique of “dead lift” that works perfectly for your back… Also, I noticed that my knees do not hurt any more when I run. Of course. The “Squat” has made my legs strong….

The quality of my life has really improved thanks to this book. I absolutely recommend it. I also left the gym with all their fancy and expensive machines, as I got at home all I need.

– Aldo Barreto Sanguinetti

[Originally posted on Amazon.com, November 22, 2009]

I’ve been training with weights for many years, and until fairly recently had slavishly followed the kind of routines advocated in the popular “Muscle Press”, with relatively poor returns for my efforts. I only wish I’d heard of Mark Rippetoe 15 years ago and stopped wasting my time! I’ve made my best gains ever in the last 18 months, now being at the tender age of 44!!

– D. Heritage, UK

[via email feedback 10/31/2009]

I have two more recommendations: (1) Rippetoe’s Starting Strength DVD, since it helps with the more technical lifts and with little things you could miss in the book; (2) Coach Rippetoe does a Q&A on the forum [Starting Strength Forums] where he answers programming questions and gives feedback re: form, etc. Not only is the information he posts valuable, but Rippetoe is extremely witty and his posts are always helpful and amusing (be sure to use the search function before you post, lest you be ripped by Rip). In sum, buy this book, you’ll never look at the guys doing biceps curls in the squat rack the same again.

– Tom, California

[Originally posted on Amazon.com, October 15, 2009]

I recommend this book for the following reasons -
1. The content is straight forward, very elaborately explained, the layout of the book is very clean and eye catching.

2. The big 5 exercises explained are the 5 most important exercises in a strength trainers program (or atleast should be).

3. Very good for technique and motivation.

4. The physics is also explained in text and pictures.

5. “Must have” to perfect your form and avoid injury.

6. Very important for weight trainers of all ages, esp more important if you are older since you cannot afford injuries.

Bottom line – Highly recommended. Buy it. Read it. Understand it and PRACTICE IT.
PS – I strongly recommend the DVD for additional clarity.

– Vijay Krishna, Everett, WA

[Originally posted on Amazon.com, September 25, 2009]

This book is awesome for learning to squat, deadlift, press or clean. It will improve your form and provides lots of advice on how to correct your and others problems. Highly recommended. If you are still using the form and technique you learned from your know-nothing high school football coach then get this book and see how Rippentoe tells you to do the lifts. I feel like I finally know what I am doing.

— A. Cochran, Columbia, MD [Originally posted on Amazon, August 22, 2009]

This book will harrow, yes, harrow your very soul

Forget what you know, forget what you think you know from our oppressive, cabalistic, allied media sources, outlets and fitness industry pundits.

In this book you will find the truth they do not want you to know. The secret that we are stronger than we know.

Buy it and learn how to really train.

– M. Liao, Honolulu   [Originally posted on Amazon, August, 29, 2009]

Review

this book is amazing, you think you know so much then you read something like this.
would recommend for anyone, especially someone looking at taking there own training and coaching to the most maximum of levels. could not put this on down.

My crossfit training will benefit a great deal i feel after having a squiz at the book.

– Chad Johnson, Australia [Originally posted on Amazon, September 4, 2009]

1. Which exercises are most important and why.
2. How should you perform them and why.
3. How should you advance and when should you change your program.

I have completely reinvented my training at 27 and have more progress in 4 months on this program than in the last several years.

That, and Mark is hillarious.

– Benjamin Adams

[Originally posted on Amazon.com, September 24,2009]

I have to say that this has been the single best resource that I recently have been able to pick up on power-lifting/weightlifting. While working individually and staying true to what’s written in the text, I found that improving on technique according the Rippetoe’s material caused a jump in the amount I was able to lift, as well as disposal of fear that I was doing so incorrectly to avoid self-injury.

This book is a must-have for any serious weightlifter, especially those who do so recreationally and/or individually.

– Mukesh Nigam, USA

[Originally posted on Amazon.com, September 12, 2009]