Customer Rating: 
Summary: A BRILLIANT BOOK for WOMEN who use WEIGHTS
Comment: I LOVE this book!! Hiss Boo Sucks to all those who whine about it not including the woman's upper body. When I discovered this, after having already been totally impressed by the quality and thoroughness of the medical knowledge, anatomical detail, terminology and artwork in this book, I immediately ordered Delavier's STRENGTH TRAINING ANATOMY, the original volume, which does include both men and women, and which gives a full description of the arms, neck, shoulders and chest. The first volume of course also deals with the back, legs, buttocks and abs (as the Women's volume does), but the Women's Strength Training Anatomy covers these areas in much more detail.
Reason: because women have such different physical characteristics from men, particularly in their lower skeleton. This requires a somewhat different approach to weight training, as the muscles are attached at different angles in women than in men. I can only applaud M. Delavier for pointing this out, and for filling the gap by writing this EXTRA volume particularly for the use of women.
I was so impressed that I happily paid 3 times the price for each volume, here in Australia, as you pay in America. I bought both volumes - and then purchased more for my son and his wife.
I'm a radiographer by profession, so I see through people on a daily basis - unfortunately only the bones, however. The realistic anatomical illustrations in this volume are exactly what is required to depict the muscles used in each exercise, and to pinpoint the optimum exercises to build up whichever body part requires work. Thanks to the use of these books for just 6 weeks, I can now see and feel hard, shapely muscle developing all over my 52-year-old body. When I see an area that needs building up, I can flip right to the appropriate pages for the most effective exercises for that part. I work out my whole body every 3 or 4 days, and can feel a marked difference in muscle strength and shape by the time each training session comes due.
I have a barbell, selection of plates, adjustable dumbbells, a fit ball, and a very inexpensive weight bench with quad extension attachment. I pack this up and take it in the car with me on my mobile job assignments. I can do almost every exercise in these books with this simple equipment, and could not be happier with this book.
Women's Strength Training Anatomy is not the whole deal in itself - it is the companion book to Strength Training Anatomy; an EXTRA volume with much more detailed info written especially for women. I'm always delighted to buy 2 excellent books instead of just one!
As for the complaints that the illustrations are "sexual" and should include more clothes - well, to the pure, all things are pure. I don't see anything remotely sexy in the human body being drawn, pared down to layers of skin, fascia, muscle, tendon and bone. But it is very helpful for educational purposes.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: missing info
Comment: I love this book, but, it is missing the arms (biceps, triceps, and shoulders) and chest! So, therefore, I give it only 4 stars for that reason...otherwise, excellent reference book.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the best books of its kind.
Comment: As is 'Strength Training Anatomy' this is one if not the best book of its kind. It is brilliantly illustrated and packed with great tips and extensive easy to understand information.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not Quite As Advertised
Comment: Like many other reviewers, I found this to be a beautifully illustrated exercise guide that provides step-by-step instructions for proper execution, variations to emphasize different muscle groups, and safety tips to avoid injury. I, too, feel that the book is incomplete, not just because there is nothing for the upper body, but also because the back section is inadequate. The upper back musculature, which is so important for maintaining good posture and stabilizing the shoulder blades, is not addressed at all. So, you won't find any kind of rowing or pulldown motions.
However, my biggest complaint with this book is in how it is being advertised. Amazon's editorial review and the book's own back cover promote this as a manual that focuses on women's unique anatomy and "exclusively caters to the mechanics and musculature of the female form." I took this to mean that the book would recommend certain exercises and variations based on structural features such as our wider pelvises, which tend to set us up for more patellofemoral problems than men. So I was immensely disappoionted to find that the exercises and variations are all uni-sex. Every movement applies equally to women and men. These are not exercises that are especially designed for or "better" for women; they are simply exercises that women tend to favor, such as the floor work and movements that target the legs, buttocks, hips, and abs.
For what it offers, this book is an excellent resource for women who want to know more about how to target certain muscles and work them effectively. Just be aware that the exercises are not female versions of what men do.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The easy way to learn exercises!
Comment: I adore this book and have bought it for several friends! The explanation it provides for different exercises is excellent and easy to follow. My only complaint is that it doesn't include shoulder exercises! Guess women aren't supposed to have shoulders????
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