HackerNews Readings: The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40

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All In: An Autobiography

Billie Jean King

? on Amazon

5 HN comments

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle: Transform Your Body Forever Using the Secrets of the Leanest People in the World

Tom Venuto

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Scott Carney and Foxtopus Ink

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Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream

H.G. Bissinger

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The Secret Life of Plants: A Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Relations Between Plants and Man

Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird

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4 HN comments

The Dangerous Book for Boys

Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden

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Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body

Michael Matthews

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3 HN comments

Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success

Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty

4.7 on Amazon

3 HN comments

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

Jon Krakauer

4.5 on Amazon

3 HN comments

The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40

Jonathon M Sullivan , Andy Baker, et al.

4.7 on Amazon

3 HN comments

24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid

Willie Mays , John Shea, et al.

4.8 on Amazon

3 HN comments

The Art of Peace: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido

Morihei Ueshiba and John Stevens

4.6 on Amazon

3 HN comments

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

David Grann

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H Is for Hawk

Helen Macdonald

4.1 on Amazon

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toasterlovinonSep 12, 2018

Your criticism is spot on. Separately, though, there is a growing community of people using weight training on older folks. It seems incredibly effective. Check out The Barbell Prescription by the Starting Strength folks if you’re interested.

jwronNov 9, 2020

This thread has so much misinformation that it's painful to read. I'd advise anyone offering advice to read "Starting Strength" (Mark Rippetoe), and if you are >40 (or >30 but in very bad physical shape), "The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40". That second book is actually a good read even if you are not over 40, because a) you will be, b) it contains excellent information on our physiology and biochemistry and a great rationale for doing strength training rather than just cardio.

Don't base your decisions on what has been written in this thread. Most information here is anecdotal, garbage, or both.

jwronMay 23, 2018

Stronglifts is a good beginner program, but people over 40 would benefit from reducing the volume (e.g. going from 5x5 to 3x5), as it becomes too much when the weights grow larger.

If you are over 35 (and sedentary), I'd really recommend reading "The Barbell Prescription" https://www.amazon.com/Barbell-Prescription-Strength-Trainin... — it will be a much better guide than most advice available online, which seems to be directed at youngsters.