How to Build Strong & Lean Bodyweight Muscle: A Science-based Approach to Gaining Mass without Lifting Weights

An absolutely amazing workout book, that strips away all the pointless fluff of many an approach to working, and reduces it to the very basics: a handful of exercises, and only the equipment you can carry in a backpack, making this truly the "anywhere, anytime" workout.The book is a from-the-group up update of Anthony's first book "Homemade Muscle - All You Need is a Pullup Bar", and so much more than that. It completely revamps the program design, and seeks not only to give you a useful strength training program, but to teach you the fundamentals of exercising in general, and bodyweight training specifically, empowering you to create your own programs and your own approach to fitness. Covering training science, nutrition, exercise selection, program design, it also comes with a 6 months+ long program to take you to peak fitness, as well as recommendations for how to maintain your fitness levels once you get there.If you're fairly well-read on exercise theory and nutrition, there aren't any revolutions in the book per se, but instead a refreshingly straight-talking rundown of the universal basics. Anthony bases everything on a combination of his knowledge of exercise science and his own personal experiences, giving a personal touch, without ever descending into bro science. And if you're new to strength training, the book is one of the best introductions to the science and theory behind strength training I've ever seen. Plus, the prescribed programs cover everything from the absolute newbie to very advanced trainees.The personal approach is gratifying for those who doubt whether you can actually build a muscular physique without lifting weights. Anthony is living proof that you can.The exercises and to some degree the program design won't be completely new to those who have followed Anthony's YouTube channel for a while, but instead puts all that knowledge in one extremely well-organised text, meaning I won't have to jump back and forth between his YouTube videos so much (Anthony, if my lack of YouTube traffic hurts your viewing stats, I'm sorry).

I have the Kindle version of "How to Build Strong & Lean Bodyweight Muscle: A Science-based Approach to Gaining Mass without Lifting Weights". It is a very good book on Calisthenics. It seems to be very honest, it is useful and well written.This book is a practical case of the Aesop's Fable "Hic Rhodus, hic salta" written 2600 years ago. In that fable, "there was a man who had been away on a journey and had then come back home. He strutted about town, talking loudly and at great length about the brave deeds he had accomplished in the various lands he had visited. In Rhodes, the man said, he had jumped such a long jump that no man alive could equal it, and he claimed that there were witnesses who could back up his story. A bystander then remarked, "Alright! If you're telling the truth: Here is Rhodes, jump here! ("Hic Rhodus, hic salta”). The fable shows that talking is a waste of time when you can simply provide a demonstration".Anthony Arvanitakis, the author, has done this type of demonstration. With his personal example and his struggle in life he shows us what can be achieved with his bodyweight training method which he has summarised in this book. He is an awesome person and if you read his books or watch at his YouTube channel you will understand why.I would also suggest you to read "How to Never Skip your Workout Again" by the same author.Warning about the English language of this comment: English is not my mother tongue.

I was actually impressed with this book on bodyweight training. It is well written and contains some of the latest scientific findings related to strength training and hypertrophy.How to Build Strong & Lean Bodyweight Muscle isn't the most comprehensive books on bodyweight training, but it does contain enough to get someone started on the right path.It does include various training plans using foundational bodyweight exercises (you could easily substitute easier or harder variations), but it's nothing revolutionary or as exciting as other bodyweight training plans I've seen and used.Overall, this is a good book on bodyweight training that is enjoyable and easy to read.

I initially bought HomeMade Muscle: All You Need Is A Pullup Bar back in 2017. I wanted to get into better shape for an upcoming heart surgery. Anthony's story inspired me and I followed his program to prepare for my surgery. Not only did I notice my body change, but my mindset changed as well. I went into my surgeries physically and mentally tough. After my surgeries, I was going to go back to All You Need Is A Pullup Bar, but saw Anthony had come out with a new book. I purchased it and am so glad I did!There is so much information online about fitness and different methods of training: circuit training, supersets, rest-pause sets, de-load weeks, working to momentary muscle fatigue/failure, etc. Anthony incorporates all those into a training program that is adaptable to your fitness level. I also appreciate that Anthony has learned from results & science and incorporated them into this book (particularly with respect to increasing leg strength).I've seen a lot of strength training programs online, and they all charge at least 5-10 times the cost of this book, and that's usually just for one 6 week program. I'm so glad I found this program and highly recommend it.