[Franz29]

Davie, on Dec 24 2009, 06:21 PM, said:

i have "lights out" - keep falling asleep reading it

<Groan>

[absolution]

If you had a choice between Greg Everetts or Tommy Kono's Olympic weightlifting books which would you buy? (from an athletes perspective)

[Chet]

absolution, on Jan 10 2010, 12:57 PM, said:

If you had a choice between Greg Everetts or Tommy Kono's Olympic weightlifting books which would you buy? (from an athletes perspective)

Probably not much help but..

I don't have the Kono book (yet )...but Everett is a good and accessible read, a worthwhile addition to the bookshelf I would say.

[Tick88]

Same as what Chet says about Everett's book and I don't have Kono's book yet…but…

I also have 'The Weightlifting Encyclopedia: A Guide to World Class Performance' which has some very high recommendations...including from Kono himself.

If you are quite new to Oly lifting/or just starting to train (which I am sort of <2 years) then Everett's book is what I would suggest because as an introduction it has some good instruction and it is quite easy to follow, lots of pics (great if you’re a visual person), that takes you through the lifts and assistance lifts and supplementary exercises. I know there have been some critics, but my knowlede is such I can't really pick at it.

If you are just starting out and if you work better with visuals, I would not recommend the WL Encyclopedia to learn from (unless you like to read a lot). I bought it 3 years ago I think when I was just starting to find out about oly lifting. I thought wow, lots of pages, high recommendations must be good. When it arrived, I thought, WTF. Where do I even start to read this thing.

Not knowing as much about the lifts back then so I found it very hard to get my head around the volume of text…there is lots of it…over 500 pages. The detail in this book to be honest just couldn’t hold my attention back when what I wanted was some simple to follow introduction with sequential pictures, like Everett’s book.

NOW, HOWEVER, with my interest in this type of lifting having grown, I am just starting to appreciate that WLE is quite an amazing book and superior to Everett’s book in the amount of knowledge that is in it. It is immense. It covers all possible aspects of training Oly lifting from what I can gather. In depth detail of content can be found here: http://www.wlinfo.com/ with excerpts from different chapters shown to give you an idea.

Everett’s book is good and recommended, but it you really want in depth insight and something that will always add to your knowledge both as an aathlete and coach, then WLE should be considered if you want to spend those hard earned notes. I paid quite a lot for it…can’t remember how much, about £40-50 plus delivery.

[Chet]

Ahh, nice one Tick88.

Don't have the WLE but borrowed it off a friend for a good while, and DEFINITELY plan to purchase at some point.

Would agree with the above.

[Phil Nourse]

Read them all. It might sound obvious but you'll soon learn in Olympic lifting that each coach has a slightly different philosophy of what constitutes 'correct' technique. If you read an American coach it will be different from a British coach and so on.

It all allows you to build a picture of what might work well for you....and to chuckle to yourself when someone swears blind that a certain technique approach is the ONLY one that's right! ;o)

[absolution]

Very true about different coaching styles. Even Coach Burgener has a different style to his daughter.

Think I will go for the Everett book next time I am paid.

[absolution]

I ordered Practical Programming by Rip and kilgore. Looking forward to it

[Rich]

I see that Pullum Sports have some new books in stock - including Greg Everett's Olympic Weightlifting and Rip's new one, Mean 'ol Mr. Gravity.

[Chet]

Rich, on 15 February 2010 - 03:39 PM, said:

Rip's new one, Mean 'ol Mr. Gravity.

Chipping away at this one just now.

It's basically a collection of interactions from his StrengthMill Q+A forum.

Pretty amusing, with some interesting insights - and good as you can just dip in and out, as and when you have time.

[absolution]

Anyone got the Westside Barbell book of methods?

[Robbcore]

absolution, on 15 February 2010 - 07:34 PM, said:

Anyone got the Westside Barbell book of methods?

hell yeah, awesome book, some amazing stuff in there. Unfortunatley there is quite a bit of louie simmons repeating himself as its a collection of articles more than a straight-forward book but that doesnt really take anything away from the fact that in terms of powerlifting there cant really be anything better on the subject, can there?

[absolution]

Just got Muscle Logic today by Charles Staley. I have used EDT in the past and it seems very much akin to Crossfit Wod's where you have a set time such as Cindy.

Still not got the Westside book. They're stuff is so pricey as is the elitefts stuff by Dave Tate.