The term “workout” either means 1.) A session of exercise or practice to improve fitness, as for athletic competition or 2.) A strenuous test of ability and endurance.
There are thousands of books available about endurance, improving fitness and exercising, however we have narrowed down the choices to six in order to highlight some of today’s favorite picks.
Check them out! We’ve included some best workout books from a mixture of categories, so if you’ve already read a few of them, you’ll find some other great suggestions to help you with your fitness goals.
How to Choose
Since the options are pretty much endless, you should narrow them down based on your preferences and needs.
Here are a few things to consider as you compare and contrast books:
- Who. Think about who the author’s intended audience is. Was it written for bodybuilders? For women? For men?
- What. What do you want to get out of the book? You may want to understand more about the anatomy and the science of the body and how it performs during exercise. Perhaps you have specific fitness goals and you want a book that will help guide you toward them. Maybe you want some new exercises to mix up your current routine.
Think about what you want and need from the book.
- Quality. Don’t forget about the overall quality of the book!
Does it have illustrations and thorough explanations? Who wrote the book and what are their credentials in the exercise and fitness world?
Read a bit about the author to understand where their views on working out and fitness come from.
Top 6 Workout Books Complete Table
| Picture | Name | For | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Strength Training Anatomy, 3rd Edition | Anyone | $ | 4.8 |
| 2. Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body | Men | $$ | 4.7 |
| 3. The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Sexier, Healthier YOU! | Women | $$$$ | 4.7 |
| 4. 100 No-Equipment Workouts | Anyone | $$$ | 4.6 |
| 5. Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It | Anyone | $ | 4.5 |
| 6. The 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman | Anyone | $$$$ | 4.3 |
Top 3 Best Workout Books Reviews
We’re going to get right into the details on the three best workout books. Check them out!
1. Frederic Delavier Strength Training Anatomy
Written by human anatomy expert and talented artist Frédéric Delavier, the Strength Training Anatomy book will help you understand how your muscles perform during strength training exercises.
The illustrations in the book, which are very detailed, were drawn by Delavier himself, taking you from muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons and connective tissues. He provides you with examples of the most common strength training injuries and how to prevent them, along with exercises and stretches that you can incorporate into your workout routine.
Overall, the book is aimed at those who are in need of an anatomical reference for weight training. The way it’s designed is very helpful to the reader, with color-coded edges so you can easily flip to a section based on the area of the body you would like to read about.
It even has sections dedicated to men, women and sport-specific weight training.
This is a very thorough book and indispensable for those who are interested in weight training workouts.
2. Michael Matthews Bigger Leaner Stronger
This natural bodybuilding book is targeted at men who aren’t interested in using steroids to achieve their fitness goals.
Author Michael Matthews separates the myths from reality, helping you understand the surprising simplicity of building muscle mass.
If you’re sick of spending so much time and a lot of money trying to achieve your goals, then it’s time for you to read this book. You’ll learn about the most common mistakes that beginners face, it teaches you the bodybuilding routine that will help you sculpt a full chest, wide back, bulging arms and thick legs in just 3-6 hours a week and you’ll see that supplements aren’t the answer when it comes to body building.
The eating guide is great, showing you that some of your favorite foods (when eaten at the right time between workouts and in the correct proportions) rather than depending on fake stuff that was designed in a laboratory.
No BS. Just simple and sensible suggestions on how to approach bodybuilding!
3. Adam Campbell The Women’s Health
For the ladies in need of a workout guide, this book from Women’s Health is extremely useful.
It’s like a compilation of tips and workouts from some of the world’s top trainers, including exercises that will sculpt and trim you down from head to toe.
It provides you with exercise and diet plans for all needs, from losing 10 pounds of fat, preparing that bikini body, prenatal workouts and even a wedding workout! There are too many to list.
This is an excellent resource, but some have found that it may not be best for a beginner.
