The Wisdom of Mike Mentzer: The Art, Science and Philosophy of a Bodybuilding Legend Paperback – September 20, 2005

A Great book that not only covers HIT I and II as Mentzer spoke and wrote them but also insights into Mentzer's professional body building, nutrition and his consultation work he did with other bodybuilders, as told by his best friend and writing colleague, John Little, and his business manager and friend, Joanne Sharkey. (This book is third person written and so while Mentzer's philosophies are provided, Little and Sharkey also talk about their friend Mike Mentzer and you get insights into the Man and person Mike Mentzer that you would not get otherwise. This is an excellent compliment to Mike Mentzer's last book he wrote, "High Intensity Training--Mike Mentzer Way". Little and Sharkey make sure in the book, not to add anything or take away anything from Mike Mentzer's philosophy and doctrine. Further, there are many photos spanning Mentzer's career as a bodybuilder, coach and consultant, business man and socially. In addition, there are several work out routines with great explanation spanning different phases of Mentzer's career and his evolution in muscle development theory and practice. For those who have already read HIT I and II, this books tops off Mentzer's philosophy bringing it all together and updating with the latest knowledge and practices before his death. For those who have never read Mentzer's HIT I and II, this book gives you everything you need and the full spectrum of Mike Mentzer's Philosophy and Doctrine, Mentzer's way without adding anything to it or taking anything away. It is True Mentzer! A++

This book has been overwhelmingly useful for me, who has struggled with fat loss and building muscle for years.After espousing the principles with confidence of their soundness for results, I've seen real change in my workouts and my physique.I still have a ways to go, but the 2xl shirts I used to fill out now seem to hang looser when I put them on.I look at myself in the mirror and see some new and welcome contours.This book will introduce you to a man whose ideas are still changing lives for the better years after his passing.Here is a philosophy that you know must be true. It is simple and because it is simple, it is beautiful.My journey towards a lifetime of fitness is just beginning and I have to thank Mike Mentzer and the authors of this book for the inspiring and workable content here provided.I'm doing it and seeing results and am eager to do it all the way.

Mike Mentzer has always been my favorite body builder since I was young. The book is packed with his information on lifting and diet and great stories and thoughts. A very well written book with a lot of great pictures. Mike tells an honest story. I miss him. Thank you for this book Mr. Mentzer. I pump iron because of you and try my best to live a healthy lifestyle. The only man in history to score a perfect score at a Mr. Universe competition. Enough said.

A great book to read if you are into bodybuilding, especially if you are a Mike Mentzer fan. This gives us an in-depth understanding of Mike's thought processes as he gave advice radically different from what we usually hear.Things I like about the book:1. It has a lot of pictures of Mike that I have never seen anywhere else.2. Mike (and John) made me appreciate bodybuilding as an art and even a philosophical practice. Bodybuilding may be accepted as an art by many, but it is rarely discussed as such.3. The book is detailed and even gives us some training routines I bookmarked. The routine he prescribed for Dorian Yates is a PPL routine!4. Mike Mentzer took on a more scientific approach to bodybuilding than the other bodybuilders during his time, making this valuable reading. Ever since I started listening to some of Mike's audio tapes and interviews, I have found myself hesitant to take bodybuilding advice from anyone else.5. I love his advice especially when it comes to having a good character. He never let go of this even in competitive situations. This makes me trust him and his advice as honest.Things that could have been better:1. There are some anecdotal reports of people making huge gains by following Mike's way of training, but performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) and their role in these gains are never discussed.2. There are some claims that are really just hard to believe, like some people can work out so intensely that it would take their bodies months, even years, to recover.3. Doing one set is overstated. You probably never will have to do just one set per body part, because that would be appropriate to super-advanced lifters only. Most of the time Mike meant doing one set per EXERCISE, not muscle group.Even Dorian Yates and Mike Mentzer himself would do multiple exercises per body part (1-2 sets per exercise). I understand that Mike had to make a shocking statement to catch the attention of people who are into the sport, but I wish he clarified more often that training with very low volume is for the advanced lifters, and not for beginners who are just starting out.4. New research would disprove a few of the things that were accepted to be true back then. One example of this is when Mike Mentzer claimed that the lat pulldown (narrow, underhand grip) is a great exercise for the lats, biceps, rear delts, and also the PECS.