Bodybuilding: Tracing the Evolution of the Ultimate Physique

This book offers an in-depth look at the people, movements, and events that have shaped bodybuilding from its beginnings in Ancient Greece to its modern-day form. LaVelle examines the contributions of various bodybuilding pioneers, from Eugen Sandow to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and explores the social, political, and economic forces that have influenced bodybuilding over the years.The book is written in an engaging and accessible style, and is full of interesting anecdotes and stories that make the history come alive. LaVelle also provides plenty of photographs and illustrations to help bring the history of bodybuilding to life. He also includes a helpful timeline of key events, which allows readers to easily track the evolution of bodybuilding.Overall, Bodybuilding: Tracing the Evolution of the Ultimate Physique is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and development of bodybuilding. LaVelle's comprehensive examination of the topic makes it an invaluable addition to any bodybuilder or curious consumer's library. 10/10, would recommend.

I think what surprised me most about this book is the depth to which it delves into its topics. The author devotes a fairly large section of the book to events and things that preceded the beginning of actual bodybuilding. I think the idea was that he wanted to put everything that came after its invention in perspective, and if so, his goal was accomplished. This is a pretty big book, but once I made it to the end, I very much got the sense that bodybuilding ended up as something very different from what it was meant to be, and totally the opposite from all the things that made people want to do it in the first place. I also never realized what a strange combination of events made it into what it's like today. All these thing alone made it into an interesting read.This book definitely provides the best overall explanation I've ever seen for how bodybuilding became what it is. This is something I've never really seen satisfactorily explained by a single source. The book presents a good (and necessary) parallel history of steroids and other drugs and specifically describes how how they impacted bodybuilding. This I think sheds better light on the way bodybuilding developed and turned out than anything else.The book also does a good job of talking about the people that were behind all the changes that took place over the years in bodybuilding. One thing I've known for a while is that a lot of people very much dislike Joe Weider, although I wasn't sure exactly why. Although this book doesn't go deeply into his life story, it definitely reveals enough about him for me to now understand the Weider-hate. I also now have a better opinion of Bob Hoffman (the former head of the AAU and York Barbell), despite the overt racism he displayed.Another review of this book mentions that the author is a "real bodybuilder," but in reading the book this never becomes apparent, and in fact, I think this is immaterial. I say this because of the way the information is presented. Normally I would expect a book on bodybuilding, written by a bodybuilder, to be either a fluff piece or a bitter diatribe. (Thankfully, the book also isn't about Arnold being elected as governor, as the other review strangely implied. I think there's already a lot of books on that topic. But I digress...) This is neither. To me it seems almost like textbook, with bodybuilding as the subject. The author approaches the subject from a sophisticated perspective, and for some bodybuilding fans this might not fly, but for those want a good understanding of what the book calls "one of mankind's most unusual inventions," I've got to say, this book is a must-read. This is bodybuilding, presented as a serious historical topic. Definitely recommended.

Are you a bodybuilder or just trying to sculp you physique; don't get dumbfounded about how all this HYPE got into the mainstream. People don't just go to the gym. You lift or just doing cardio but in some way had a little curiousity why seems like everybody gets into this nowadays. Get this book and find out, for a bodybuilder its a great read. For a normal 'just got into this' excercise fad person like me- I definitely like it. Imagine the greek sculptures of antiquity and the body they had, up to todays bodybuilders. There is a reason why men, also women are into muscle, as a way of life or for an actual contest or show. Knowing the forerunners of bodybuilding from Eugen Sandow up to Ronnie Coleman (probably Jay Cutler). The gamechangers, the promoters, how the business exploded and some pitfalls in the industry. Interesting read, not a waste of time, get some backgrounds and know the art of bodybuilding! Highly recomended, order through Amazon for a great price and service.

I have been in the weights game now for about 5 years. I'm no pro or anything by a long shot, but I've read the industry mags like everyone else and I'm aware of bodybuilding's so-called "golden age" as well as the stars and icons of present and past eras. Even so, I found this book to be quite revealing and informative; it's incredibly well researched and comprehensive. This book is a definite page turner, and it delves into the gossipy topics we've all heard about before but does so with an objective depth while never coming across as trashy. Strongly recommended for those with even a vague knowledge of the world of bodybuilding.

When I first read "Training for Mass, Vol. 1." I wasn't sure if I was going to like the book. I did. When I was deciding if I was going to read Volume 2, I wasn't sure if it would be worth it, too much redundancy maybe. I was wrong. It became my bodybuilding bible. All Mike Mentzer books were moved over to make room for Gordon's stuff. That brings me to this book. I am amazed in plain English. Gordon out did himself in detail... In consistenly keeping me interested. It's all there, the history of BB. So well documented and tightly written. Great job Gordon! Awesome! My only other comment is WHAT's NEXT?! AND HURRY UP!

Absolutely the best book I have read as far as a chronological account of bodybuilding, from Sandow to the modern day chemical freaks that we are in shock to admire. Excellent research is apparent in this printed documentary, it seems Lavelle was right there to narrate some of the triumphs and unfortunately, tragedies as well. It starts with "Before the Beginning", leading up to Sandow, the first really accepted show-off of the male physique, to Ronnie Coleman's bloated, Olympia body. This book is full of great pictures also, good quality, vivid descriptive narration.