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Required reading


Guest mg6680

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I read the first few chapters of "The Key to Might and Muscle" by George Jowett this weekend.  An outstanding book that should be required reading for anyone interested in strength.  I haven't read any of the other articles at the natural strength site, but they look interesting also.

Maybe some of the historians here (Mr. Roark, Mr. Black, etc) could list a few other books that must be read?  Interesting stuff.

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I haven't read that gem of Jowett's but for the grip enthusiast I think his book Molding a Mighty Grip has some excellent ideas and points on grip strength.  The barrel stunts and tossing plates are the two exercises I'm most interested in trying.

Jon@han

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Before the board was moved we had a reference

reading list of grip articles that had appeared in

the bodybuilding magazines over the decades, as

well as some other references.

Wannagrip, can you dust off that list and post it?

This is just my opinion, so jump on me if you wish,

but it is my opinion anyway:Anything by Jowett that

has to do with history, I will probably read dead last

after I have read everything else- and yes, that statement

is based of having read some of his material.

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"The Key To Might And Muscle" is probably one of the books that I would LEAST recommend.  It is one of those "for historic reference" type of books, although some of what he talks about is very much true today.

The same can be said about anything of that era unfortunetly.  Arthur Saxon's books are fun to read, and "Goerner The Mighty" held my interest.  One that made me wince was, "The Truth About Weightlifting" by Alan Calvert.  I was able to pick out three VERY distinct errors so glaring it was almost laughable!  ;)

John Brookfield's classic, "Mastery Of Hand Strength" and Brooks Kubik "Dinosaur Training" are more in tune with what I would recommend.  As for a bio, try the Paul Anderson one written by Strossen "The Mightest Minister".  

The best books I have were the ones that Leo Gaudreau wrote, "Horseshoes, Anvils And Cannons".  I aquired a mint set of both volumes, and they are like GOLD to me.  Also, check out "Sons Of Samson" Volume I, and if you can get it, Volume II.  Here's a link to Hinbern's site if you're interested in a catalog:

http://www.superstrengthbooks.com

WARNING:  Once you start ordering a book or two, you can't stop!!  Very interesting reading!!  :D

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Sir Snott paid $200 for the two volumes of AH&C, as I

recall. They are as rare as finding gold. But ANYTHING

by Gaudreau is gold, as is anything by Willoughby, and by

Webster-who has a new book coming in short time about

the golden era of strongmen- please do not contact him

about it, he's working as hard as he can on it.

Strossen's book on Anderson is a good overview of Paul's

amateur achievements but it falters in regard to the backlift,

by ignoring the basic components of math and by not

addressing why Paul said the safe weighed 3,500 lbs when

Paul's daughter proved it weighed about 2,300 lbs. Hello,

that matters.

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Looking thru the Muscle Builder issues on loan to me from Larry Aumann, here are some more from Mac Batchelor:

Aug 1954 My arm wrestling battles

Jan 1957 MB- undefeated wrist wrestling champ- Smith

Aug 1957 Magic 3 for mighty wrists

Apr 1961 Forearm, Wrist, Grip

Feb 1962 Monarch of grip: George Zottman (this has yet another descriptive variation on the Zottman curl)

Mar 1965 p 34 Ligament strength

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A very intresting book is "The way to live" written by George Hackenschmidt.

Check this site also: www.sandow.plus.com

There is some very good information of oldtime strongmen there!

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  • 1 year later...
A very intresting book is "The way to live" written by George Hackenschmidt.

Check this site also: www.sandow.plus.com

There is some very good information of oldtime strongmen there!

Truely an excellent site! Thank you!

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I just aquired two very good books to add to my library: Developing Grip Strength by David Gentle and David Webster, and The Super Athletes by David P. Willoughby. :)

It's a clean "David" sweep! :D

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Dinosaur training kicks ass. Of Stones and Strength by Steve Jeck and Peter Martin is a good one (of course I'm a stonelifter though). I am reading The Spiritual Journey Of Joe Greenstein (The Mighty Atom) right now and am enjoying it greatly. When it comes to just grip, the only book I've really read is MOHS by J. Brookfield and its a good read with lots of quality ideas.

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I'll have to see if Bill has a copy for sale. The only place I've found copies of the book is at Abebooks.com, would rather not spend $150-$250 for it :blink

Chris

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I think that these 2 books are great

Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubik

Circular Strength Training by Scott Sonnon

Are some of the best books I have ever read on training, espically chapters envolving mind over matter, concentration, will power and the importance of training for health, yourself and family.

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  • 2 weeks later...
I'll have to see if Bill has a copy for sale. The only place I've found copies of the book is at Abebooks.com, would rather not spend $150-$250 for it  :blink

Chris

I tracked down a copy (NOT through Hinbern) for $75, not too bad compared to alot of prices I've seen for it.

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