Name: Starting strength
ISBN: 9780982522738

Starting strength

Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Trainingis the new expanded version of the book that has been called "the best and most useful of fitness books." It picks up where Starting Strength: A Simple and Practical Guide for Coaching Beginnersleaves off. With all new graphics and more than 750 illustrations, a more detailed analysis of the five most important exercises in the weight room, and a new chapter dealing with the most important assistance exercises, Basic Barbell Trainingoffers the most complete examination in print of the most effective way to exercise.

What Hacker News says

exhilarationNov 2025

Nice, I just subscribed to their podcast. I'm an adherent to the Starting Strength / Mark Rippetoe school of thought but always looking to learn more.

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PaulHouleMar 2025

Depends on the book. There are a lot of books that are the equivalent of a podcast episode (anything by Malcolm Gladwell) or a series of podcast episodes (anything by Robert Greene) and even some serious and influential books in the social sciences and can be cooked down to a single university lecture like

Exit, Voice and Loyalty by Albert O. Hirschman

Logic of Collective Action by Mancur Olson

The Zero-sum Society by Lester Thurow (want to know why the world gave up on tariffs?)

maybe some worthwhile management books could be extended into a podcast series, I'd say

Quality is Free by Phillip Crosby

Then there are some books that really could change your life, say

Solid State Physics by Ashcroft and Mermin

The Art of Computer Programming by Donald Knuth

Principles of Compiler Design by Aho and Ullman

Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art by Steve McConnell

The Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home by Paul Stamets

Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe

Being and Event by Alain Badiou

Liberation in the Palm of your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche

The Art of Happiness by Mirko Fryba

All of which have the element that they'll only change you if you engage deeply with them or the subject, like for the Rippetoe book you're going to have to pick up a bar.

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robomartinDec 2024

All of these so-called solutions are a waste of time and largely just adding a ridiculous amount of complexity to what is a very simple problem.

Context: I worked a number of years in the special effects (movies) world. I supported hundreds of graphics artists working in dark rooms 16 hours a day. Think movies like Independence Day, Star Wars, etc. Dozens of artists wore all kinds of wrist braces all day. They also had just-about every single crazy ergonomic keyboard you could possibly imagine, including various forms of split, slanted, cavity, whatever. And, of course, the fanciest adjustable chairs and tables. I remember a couple of the guys working on Independence Day having to have surgery on their wrists. Crazy. Just nuts.

Do you know who did not suffer from these injuries? Without fail, anyone who was actively involved in sports or physical training (going to the gym, lifting, swimming, etc.) AND took regular breaks.

In my own case, having seen just how bad things could get, once I started to feel soreness on my wrists I took matters into my own hands. I use the flattest possible keyboards and a thumb-operated trackball. I designed and made my own desk to guarantee proper arm and wrist ergonomics.

Laptops, for the most part, are evil. They force the wrist into a bad configuration. Not good for prolonged work if you care about your health.

Aside from that, take breaks and lift weights. Amazing things happen when you squat, deadlift, bench and shoulder press on a regular program (I recommend Starting Strength).

The vast majority of the crazy ergo setups out there are a waste of time. They do not address the root cause, which is treating your body like we are robots. We are not. We need moderation, rest and exercise. That's the solution or, at the very least, the way to mitigate and prevent injury.

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nunezOct 2024

THIS.

You can also check out "The Barbell Prescription" by Andy Baker. This book is like Starting Strength but for the 45+ demographic. (Interestingly, Starting Strength can be used for this demographic also.)

There have been documented instances of older folks reversing degenerative conditions after picking up strength training. You're also never old enough to get stronger!

That said, finding a trainer that knows what they are doing is the fastest way to progress. I'm biased towards the Starting Strength community as these trainers undergo an intensive program before they are certified to be an SS coach (on top of their past intensive training), but there are many other qualified trainers out there.

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cthalupaOct 2024

There are plenty of ways to injure yourself on machines.

There are some specific dangers to free weights that aren't there with machines, e.g. if you are bench pressing outside a rack and you drop the weight on your throat, that's not the sort of thing that can happen with a machine, but... just bench press inside a rack if you don't have a spotter.

Either way, I'd recommend you get a trainer. Find a gym focusing on free weights. There's Starting Strength and affiliated gyms all over the country, there's barbell focused gyms everywhere, etc. At the very least when starting out, having someone that can help you get into proper form is really beneficial. You don't need to keep them long term, but they can be invaluable starting out.

There's also lots of places where you can record yourself working out and post a video and get feedback. You're not going to sever your spinal column squatting the bar or deadlifting with a pair of 10lb plates even if your form is garbage, so you can start light and have people help you get your form fixed.

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jawilson2Jun 2024

Found Mark Rippetoe's account.

If anyone is interested in learning about weight lifting, Starting Strength (by Mark Rippetoe) is a GREAT book to start with!

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