| Brother Iron, Sister Steel -- A book review | |
| --by Paige Waehner | |
|
I'm
not a bodybuilder. I mention that because the book I'm reviewing this
week, Brother Iron, Sister Steel, is actually for
bodybuilders. I have to admit, I wasn't terribly excited about
reviewing a book about bodybuilding, no matter how amazing the author is.
The author, of course, is Dave Draper who
has held the titles of Mr. America, Mr. Universe and Mr. World throughout his
bodybuilding career.
So, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the book and started reading it. While the front cover clearly declares this "A Bodybuilder's Book," it isn't just for bodybuilders. Dave Draper shares honest information about weight training for any exerciser at any level of fitness. |
|
The introduction gives a behind-the-scenes look at bodybuilding competitions and the humorous and, often poignant, moments Dave Draper experienced at the beginning of his career. He then reminds us of some basic truths about exercise that many of us forget:
The uncomfortable truth is, too many of those who venture to the fields of iron and steel give up, quit, abandon the glorious task too soon to realize the sub-surface bounty of exercise, good eating and training. The qualities they lacked to keep them going were amongst the qualities they were about to discover. Strength is the product of strength. One does not become strong unless one is strong. (Draper 34)
The information that follows covers all the basics: how to set up a weight lifting routine, how to set goals, keeping the enthusiasm going and other keys to success. There aren't any real revelations here. You've heard or read most of this before, but the difference lies in the delivery. Dave admits he doesn't offer any magical knowledge or solutions, but just simple statements of fact that you'll appreciate. He makes each point clearly with no muss, no fuss, which I found refreshing in a world of information overload.
The rest of the book offers hundreds of tips for training each muscle of your body, including Dave's own favorite workouts. He also gives basic nutritional advice along with a sample of the diet he follows when preparing for a competition. He also covers supplementation and basic information about whey protein, Creatine and other popular bodybuilding supplements.
The section on overtraining, plateaus and overcoming obstacles is particularly inspiring. He doesn't just give the usual advice (i.e., "try something new!"), he actually gives you some ideas for what to try and how to make it past frustrating plateaus.
The end of the book provides some wonderfully entertaining pictures of the 'old' Dave back in the 60's and 70's (nice hair, Dave!), along with some insider info about bodybuilding greats like Frank Zane and Arnold Schwarzenegger, both of whom Dave Draper trained with at different times in his career. The only thing I missed in this book was pictures and demos of the exercises, although he does give in-depth descriptions of many of the exercises.
For the most part, you won't find anything spectacular in this book...no miracle diets or exercises and no promises that you'll end up looking like Dave Draper by following his workouts. I think that's what makes this book so enjoyable to read. The writing is honest and conversational and the advice is given with the simple caveat that everyone is different and there isn't one right way to build a strong, muscular body.
Whether you're a bodybuilder or just a regular exerciser, like me, you'll enjoy reading this one! For more information about Dave Draper, visit his website where you can see pictures, get training tips and order Dave's book.
Picture reprinted with permission from Dave Draper.
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