The Physics of Resistance Exercise

This is a unique book that can benefit anyone who is interested in efficient resistance training. Most books only offer insight into the techniques found effective by the author ("I did it this way and so should you"). Mr. Brignole's book approaches weight training from a much more analytical and intelligent perspective; he uses basic physics principles to rate the efficacy of exercises for each major muscle group. This book represents a great deal of research, thought and effort on his part and will be his most noteworthy accomplishment to date, in my opinion. It's truly rare to find such groundbreaking work, backed by science and written by someone with actual in-the-trenches experience. In an industry dominated by dogma and pseudoscience he has offered fresh, logical material presented with sufficient explanation without being overly dry or redundant. I very much look forward to more work from Mr. Brignole and hope that this book becomes a common resource for gym goers very soon.

This is, without a doubt, the best book about physical fitness I have ever read. In-depth explanations and descriptive photos. I wish this book had been around 35 years ago when I first started lifting. I have completely changed my routine and undoubtedly prevented injuries.

I bought this book after doing some research on the author and I must say it really opened my eyes as to the proper way to train and the best exercises to use. After decades of working out off and on the reason for pain in my muscles and joints has finally been explained in a very understandable way. Doug Brignole is very qualified to write on the subject of resistance exercise, weight training. I've switched over to using the exercises explained in this book and am getting the best workouts ever, without all the pain usually associated with weight training. I finally feel so much more in the muscles I'm working and feel like I'll continue making gains, growth and all pain free. The pumps are there and without the fear of damaging the joints. This is a must have book!

As a Physical Therapist, I have to say that he makes a lot of sense regarding length tension relationships of muscles and how to take your back out of a lot of exercises that typically cause significant shear stress on the back.

I don’t fully agree on compound lifts for stabilization because many of my clients need to learn core stability while holding a load. How to lift things around the house and avoid injury. This is a great book for bodybuilding and avoiding injuries in the gym. If you are already injured then I would avoid some of the back extension exercises and getting your elbows fully lateral from the shoulder while exercising the pecs, but those are relatively minor compared to the injuries we see from people performing powerlifting exercises... especially without working up training mechanics.

Knees over toes needs to be worked up toward as well since most people have pain there. Additionally, this is not a rehabilitation book - it is geared toward developing muscle.

McGills big 3 is a good addition for core stabilization and some muscles that I feel are important are the anterior tib, lower trap and wrist extensors for balance. I have learned quite a bit from this book and I highly recommend it to anyone focused on optimal muscle building while preventing most exercise related injuries.

I love what Doug has done with the mechanics (a branch of physics, not physics in its entirety) aspect of resistance training. I do wonder, however, about his recommendations (not really in this book) about volume being the key to results. I get the feeling, from his defense (or lack of detraction) of performance enhancing substances, that he was another 'enhanced' bodybuilder - so I take his volume / frequency / intensity recommendations with a grain of salt.

This is probably the best, most useful workout book I have read on the subject and and I have incorporated many of the recommendations pointed out by the author Doug Brignole. The book explains the various exercises for each muscle group in terms of levers (bones) and force generators (muscles). He shows the optimum exercise for each muscle group based on the most efficient (and safest) method to engage that muscle through a full range of motion with the force at the beginning of the movement (where the muscle is strongest). I would say Brignole has a bias against the classic heavy compound exercises (deadlift and squat) and favors isolation exercises such as leg extensions, sissy squats for quads. It all depends on your goals, if you are a committed power lifter you will likely find the book objectionable. If your interest is to increase strength and minimize injury and do it in the most time effective manner this is invaluable.
I have two criticisms with this book but mention them with the hope that Brignole addresses then in an update. This book is such a valuable addition to the workout literature that I think these will only make a great book greater. The first criticism is Brignole gets a little sloppy with the detailed physics. In fairness he does acknowledge that he simplifies his arguments by eliminating the trig. For example if the resistance comes from an angle other than perpendicular to the exerted force. In a similar vein when a resistance is on a lever (lifting a weight) he gets sloppy with the calculations of the force needed to move the resistance. The concept is explained, just maybe a little more rigor in a side bar. My other criticism is that he does not have enough cited references to the original literature. In some chapters he has references, but many do not have the references.
In conclusion, if you lift weights this is the best $50.00 you will spend. I thank Mr Brignole for putting this together.

The thing that improved my workouts the most over the years isn't any supplement. It's information. And wow this book sets the bar high. I love how clearly everything is explained. And how we learn the principles, so that we can apply them any time under any circumstance, in any gym. So we can optimize the load on the muscles in an optimal and injury-free way.

The only thing I would add to this book is a quick workout schedule. On the other hand, by having the information and going through the book to extract it, you learn it more in-depth. Compared to when someone would just give you the schedule. Since we wouldn't understand the logic behind it.

Thank you for writing this, Mr Brignole!

“I have read many books on the subject of fitness, but this book—The Physics of Resistance Exercise—is absolutely the best one I’ve ever read, without question.

Doug Brignole does a remarkable job of explaining what all the muscles of the body actually do—with illustrations—and reveals the factors that make an exercise better or worse, for each of those muscles.

I wish I had been able to read this book years ago. It has completely changed my understanding of how to workout with maximum efficiency. I highly recommend it.”

Joe Shooshani

I've followed Doug Brignole on social media/YouTube for years. I had hesitated buying this book because for one it's expensive and second, some of Doug's methods are counter to established gym mythology. After seeing him on the Mark Bell podcast I decided to pull the trigger. Could not be happier. I'm a 53-yr old guy who's been in the gym since the early 80's. I have so many ingrained beliefs that as I've read Doug's book and applied the concepts, and experimented with the exercises I've found that I have a mind-muscle connection in some cases that I've never had before. My joints are much better because I'm not loading my spine inefficiently and instead optimizing the risk/reward ratio of weights vs joint strain. These are not just beliefs but Doug explains the physics and biomechanics behind his methodology (in painstaking detail) so if you are interested in training and take the time to read, digest and apply the concepts I think you will be shocked at what you find. I'm a huge Doug Brignole fan and in my opinion this is the only training guide you need ESPECIALLY for us silverbacks. Great job Doug.

Having first taught a YMCA course on lifting and competed in teenage bodybuilding in the mid-1970s, having read countless muscle magazine articles and books and written a few myself, I thought I'd pretty much seen it all until I heard about Doug Brignole's book while watching some videos. I was most pleasantly surprised to find that this is the most helpful, logical, and just plain best book on building the body I have ever read. After reading it once, I've been re-reading the various body part chapters before I train them. I've added several new movements, dropped several old ones, and adapted some others in keeping with his guidelines. I'm enjoying my workouts, my muscles have grown, and my joints have had no complaints. I cannot recommend this one highly enough.