Basic Training: A Fundamental Guide to Fitness for Men: Amazon.ca: Books

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
In these pages you will find exercises, activities, and photographs of men of all shapes and sizes that, I hope, will inspire you to begin a fitness program of your own. Read the first page

Explore More
Concordance

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

exercise(1)

Customer Reviews

29 Reviews

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Basically very soft-core, Jun 8 2004

By

Charles Sutherland (Indy, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Training: A Fundamental Guide to Fitness for Men (Paperback)

The author and photographer here have a sense for the same kind of soft-core male anatomy shot that makes catalogs from major clothing firms sell so well. There are very stylish and polished black-and-white photographs throughout the pages, not necessarily demonstrating the particular exercises, but in those kinds of poses that range from the high art (a chiseled black man standing against a white background holding up a big gray globe, various angles of stretches and the kind, etc.) to the "we're just having fun" shots of men running across a field or other similar photographs. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with these, and there is nothing overtly pornographic about these photographs, just rather titillating and artistically edging toward to the sexual.

This is not a book that is purchased for the exercises per se, as the workouts and nutrition information and other stuff, while basic and good, are not particularly inspired. The inspiring part is the layout, designs and photographs. There are workouts listed that probably make for decent programs, but they don't really have the promise of turning a mid-30s body like mine into the image of the Greek gods in grayscale that adorn these pages. Still, I do find that I am more "inspired" to work out in the hope, going ever more to the unreachable dream, that my physique might be more like theirs.

Still, I like having this book, and hope to purchase their second book. Just for the articles, you know.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for beginners, Jan 18 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Basic Training: A Fundamental Guide to Fitness for Men (Paperback)

I bought this book never having been to a gym, or doing any exercise. If you were the kid in PE that no one picked or find the exercise techniques and terminology confusing, this book is for you.
It also covers skin care and general health concerns. Definitely a book written by a gay man for gay men. It's great.
I started using his basic work out a week ago and already have noticed results. He also encourages you to work out alone if you want and tells you exactly what you need. He gives clear examples of the exercises with pictures.
I'm looking forward to reading his 2nd book!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

4.0 out of 5 stars Only one problem!!, Dec 16 2003

By

dcdiggs (Roxbury, Massachusetts United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Training: A Fundamental Guide to Fitness for Men (Paperback)

This is an excellent fitness book. My son has just joined a gym for the first time and is very excited about it all. I wanted to give him a good basic book to get him started. This book had everything I was looking for, until I noticed the pictures of a bare hairy hiney and unnecessarily bulging genitalia. And this was yesterday (12/15/03) that I was poring over various fitness books, not some time in the past. I found this very off-putting and feel my son would feel the same. So reluctantly, I have decided NOT to purchase this book. If anyone has suggestions about other books I could check out, I would appreciate it.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 29 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 32 reviews 4.4 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Power of Knowledge
This book is a staple to any man inundated with the constant stream of misconceptions of what the male body should be. Read more

Published on Sep 27 2003 by shmatty

2.0 out of 5 stars Average fitness advice with strong homoerotic overtones
I'm sure the fitness advice in this book is sound, but it's really no better than what you will find in many other weight training books. Read more

Published on Aug 3 2003