Buy the book: http://RunningAFEVER.com/BiggerLeanerStronger
In the world of body-building, knowledge is power. Bigger, Leaner, Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body, by Michael Matthews is an attempt to provide a more-or-less complete reference for diet and exercise, specifically for men intent on becoming physically lean and muscular. The edition reviewed is the paperback second edition published by Oculus Publishers.
Bigger, Leaner, Stronger is divided into sections. Sections I and II present big-picture philosophical concepts, section III is on nutrition, section IV is a detailed training guide, and the remainder cover supplementation and some summary and marketing notes.
The biggest advantage Matthews has is his research. His assertions are supported by reference to scientific studies. His explanations include why one study is different from another, and may have different applications. His bibliography is extensive. The text of the book covers some 274 pages, followed by a 37-page bibliography.
Some detriments include the typical cheesy before and after pictures, with puffed-out bellies in the former and dehydrated twisted torsos in the latter. Along with this is a lot of marketing material for his other products. The language can be colloquial, but is not offensive, nor does it detract significantly from the clarity of the message.
The nutrition section includes advice, mostly on weight and bodyfat control, but does not neglect the importance of micronutrients. Though not a complete diet reference, it is useful as a starting point for building a comprehensive plan.
Section IV on training offers a number of alternatives to choose from, including three-, four-, and five-day plans to distribute muscle-group work for the best results for the reader’s particular schedule. Matthews details the reason behind the order of exercise, why warm-up sets are useful, and provides some basic descriptions of the exercises, and even a few diagrams. Links to videos provide external content with more detail. My best endorsement of this book is that I still refer to this section on a frequent basis, as I am using it almost exclusively as the blueprint for my weight-lifting routine.
Supplementation is a 28-billion-dollar industry and no comprehensive guide could fail to address the topic. Supplements are attractive to our easy-results consumer mentality. After all, drinking a milkshake is a lot easier than committing to months of workouts day after day. This is why there is a professional sport called bodybuilding. Matthews admits that supplementation is not necessary to build a lean, muscular body and goes as far as to say he prefers whole foods. This reverse psychology makes him seem more credible. Like many bodybuilding gurus, Matthews has a line of supplements which, like all such products, claims to have the support of scientific research. But the evidence in the reading of Bigger, Leaner, Stronger at least shows that he has the ability to assess and present such research.
The bottom line is that Bigger, Leaner, Stronger is a good reference for the amateur bodybuilder. I continue to use it and find it to be very valuable.