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Maximum Strength: Get Your Strongest Body in 16 Weeks with the Ultimate Weight-training Program
Rating:  -
Start aka packing day
broad jump: 74 inches
squat: 110 kg
bench press: 77.5 kg
deadlift: 140 kg
3 rep chin up: 5 kg + bodyweight 68 kg
after aka moving day
broad jump: 85 inches
squat: 140 kg
bench press: 92.5 kg
deadlift: 160 kg
3 rep chin up: 15 kg + bodyweight 70.6 kg
Rating: -
I've been reading Eric Cressey's online articles on T-Nation and his website for some time now, and already have a couple of his DVDs and Ebooks so had high expectations upon ordering this book. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get serious about strength training, whether you simply want to get strong, play sport or look good, this book will serve you well.
Rating:  -
I like Eric Cressey.
I first came across him in his Magnificent Mobility DVD with Mike Robertson, which is an EXCELLENT product. Eric certainly knows his stuff. Hence, I was expecting quite a lot from this book. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite deliver.
Eric is essentially an educated and literate power lifter, who tries to convince you to take up power lifting because he really likes it. Ok, maybe that's not 100% fair, but sometimes that what this book feels like. I come from Coach Ripptoe's Starting Strength and Practical Programming school, and there were a great many exercises that Eric includes that (as far as I could tell) were either at worst pointless or at best of little use.
His section on warming up explains a lot of the exercises from MM, and is very useful.
Overall, I was a little disappointed with this book, but despite that, it does have some good points and interesting things to say.
Rating:  -
I been a follower of Eric'c work now for quite some time. This guy really is at the top of the game and everything he says is proven.
Rating: -
If you have never trained effectively and follow this book's advice you may make progress but in truth the program detailed in this book is overly complicated and uses far too many exercises. Many of the exercises recommended are poor (why lunge if you can squat) or dangerous (the box squat is risky for your back). There is no mention of potentially the best exercise of all for many trainers - the trap bar (or shrug bar) deadlift).
In truth the number of different exercises recommended can be cut right back to five or so.
1. A squat / trapbar deadlift
2. Conventional deadlift / Stiff legged deadlift/ Romanian deadlift
3. A rowing exercise or chin/pull up
4. Overhead press
5. Bench press or dip
Over some cycles add some good accessory exercises like calf raises, grip work, ab work or maybe curls and you'll be well covered.
There's no need to add variety. Stick with the basics, keep meticulous records, add weight as often as you can as long as you lift in good form, exercise twice a week (you need only work each muscle group once a week) and you'll do well.
There's no need to shock or surprise muscles by adding new exercises. If you keep adding small weight increments over time as strength increases you can stick with a small pool of exercises. If staleness does occur take a break and start a new cycle at lower weights than you finished, a step back to take two forward.
This book simply does not give anywhere enough emphasis to the big basic movements that will make you grow.
 
Maximum Strength: Get Your Strongest Body in 16 Weeks with the Ultimate Weight-training Program
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