The best a man can get...

This book really is the ultimate in men's fitness. The language is straightforward, clear, and concise. The guide is also incredibly comprehensive, covering everything from mental focus to nutrition to each exercise. I'm currently doing the 14-Day Body Sculpting Workout and I find it challenging and very effective. You don't need to use heavy weights as you just need to focus on proper form and "zoning in" on the muscle(s) you're working. You can almost feel your body taking shape as you progress through the workouts. Also, the descriptions and images of how to perform each exercise are very well done and help you focus on exactly what you need to do to maximize your efforts. I'd highly recommend this book to any man looking to get into serious shape the right way. Many thanks to Hugo and James!

Very comprehensive; a good value for your money

The book is divided into 4 parts followed by appendices. Part 1 is background/foundational knowledge: myths, common mistakes, focus/concentration during exercise, etc. About 30 pages altogether. Part 2 explains the components of a successful fitness program; Training, nutrition, rest and recovery. About 52 pages or so. Part 3 explains the exercises. There are individual chapters for legs, back, chest, shoulders, triceps, biceps, and abs. About 140 pages. Part 4 explains the routines. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced routines. About 20 pages. There is an appendix for each of the following: glossary, table of food values, sample diets, exercise chart, nutrition log, tracking your progress, grocery shopping list, body hair free, body-sculpting under special circumstances, anatomy charts, and exercise descriptions.
The book is very thorough. The authors spent the time to make it as complete as possible. The exercises are very well described, and there are photos as well. My only beef was w/ the description of the nutrition program that they recommend. At one point it sounds like they're recommending a diet based on individual protein needs. But the ready-made diets they provide seemed to be based on calories. I felt that it was a little vague; so I e-mailed them and they answered my questions to my satisfaction (they're very busy and it did take nearly 2 weeks though, so don't be in a hurry!). Here is an excerpt from their reply e-mail: "The reason for the discrepancy is the following:
While the best way to determine needs is by
calculating your individual protein requirements (a la
zone style) and then going from there, fact is that
most people get overwhelmed by such calculations..." And later in the e-mail,"SO what we did for those people that are intimidated by numbers is that we broke the diet down by calories
instead of protein requirements. While the protein in
the calorie broken down diets may be a bit higher than

what some individuals need, since the amount is not
extremely excessive and total calories are not that
high, the body will not be storing that extra protein
as body fat. Worst case scenario it gets burned as
energy.

So for you we would recommend that you follow a diet
based on your individual protein requirements. Use 1
gram/lb for low calorie weeks and 1.5 grams per pound
for high calorie weeks. Also, adjust the carbs
accordingly.

As far as the Zone Diet, like you said it does make
sense. The only thing that we do not agree with Dr.
Sears is the strictness that he prescribes in adhering
to very precise gram amounts and the fact that he does
not like starchy carbs. Other than that, he is pretty
much right on the money. Balance, not the banning of
one macronutrient in favor of others is the key for
long term success."
The book is well-written, comprehensive, and the authors seem conscientious, and willing to answer additional questions. I recommend this book without reservation.

Not Bad, but Not Good Either

If you want an easy way to lose weight and gain muscle- and you are just beginning... This is not a bad book. It will teach you the basics and you will make progress via "newbie gains". I think the advice and programs are well rounded and sound, but in the end, it's up to you. You need to make the effort- no book will do it for you.

The book is a little misleading in one area. The 14 day body-sculpting workout is just that- 14 days, then you change the program and continue with another 14 day program. Don't think (and I didn't when I bought the book)that you will be "ripped" in 14 days because it is not going to happen.

For the price, it is a good basic book with exercises that can be done with minimal equipment at home or at a gym. There are several other books out there too that are very similar- The Edge, Body for Life, etc.

One thing that I found rather annoying though was the grammatical errors throughout the book. I tend to lose faith in something when I see a bunch of errors. I'm not the best writer, but I'm also not writing books and if I was, I'd hire a better editor.