Mean Ol' Mr. Gravity

by Mark Rippetoe

Mean Ol Mr. Gravity is a compilation of Q&A posts from Mark Rippetoe s StrengthMill forum. Edited for brevity, efficiency, clarity, accuracy, and taste (in a loose sense, sorry), Mean Ol' Mr. Gravity adds to the information available in Starting Basic Barbell Training and Practical Programming for Strength Training by tailoring it to the individual through his responses to questions posed by actual humans regarding their own training. It preserves the coarseness, humor, and candor that have become Rip s trademark style.

A Question.

Hey Rip, why would you make a book out of a bunch of posts that are already available on the web? What could you possibly have been thinking?

Mark An excellent question. I have no idea, other than the fact that a book like this makes an excellent bathroom companion. The reading-kind of companion. Information and humor in small, easily managed chunks. Conveniently digestible pieces, as it were. Well, you know what I mean.

Yeah, what were you thinking? I mean, I know there s a lot of information here, I know that all of the really stupid stuff that would waste my time while reading it online has been removed, and that the videos posted on the board don t load very fast in a book format anyway, but why a book?

Mark Look, just read the damn thing, okay? You ll be fine.

Genres: Fitness, Health, Sports, Nonfiction, Science

364 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2009

About the author

Mark Rippetoe is an American strength training coach and author. He has published a number of books and peer-reviewed articles. He has a BSc in geology with a minor in anthropology, but no degree in exercise science. He has several decades of experience as a strength coach, is a former powerlifter, and is currently a gym owner.

Rippetoe was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he now resides. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in petroleum geology from Midwestern State University, where he met his mentor Bill Starr in 1979. He competed in powerlifting from 1979 to 1988, winning the Greater Texas Classic in 1981. He bought Anderson's Gym in 1984, which later became the Wichita Falls Athletic Club. He collaborated with Glenn Pendlay, international-level Olympic lifting coach and Professor Lon Kilgore, who established the USA Weightlifting Regional Development Center in Wichita Falls. Over the next 30 years, he used the gym to test and refine his training program that would maximize strength gains, ultimately resulting in the Starting Strength program.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having now read each of his books, I'm of the opinion that anyone who is even remotely interested in personal fitness should read Mark Rippetoe. If there is a revolution going on in the fitness world (and there seems to be), it can surely be said that Mr. Rippetoe is at the forefront of it.

After reading his work, you can make your own decision about how to proceed, but you owe it to yourself to understand the information he provides and why it matters.

[César · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una colección de posts en un foro administrado por el infame Mark Rippetoe. Tremendamente ilustrativo en aspectos como gestión de lesiones, dieta, balance de la vida diaria con el entrenamiento con pesas, y las vergüenzas ideológicas del autor. Con apariciones de personajes como Lyle McDonald, Andy Baker y Stef Bradford.

[Dave Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-have bathroom reader for anyone serious about strength training who enjoys not being serious about strength training.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of the same. There is only so much you can say on the matter I suppose. A series of q and a from the website, not very entertaining I thought.

[Craig Cecil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you get past and come to understand Mr. Rippetoe's philosophy on weightlifting and life in general, the book really starts to open up and reveal some insights and truths regarding all aspects and nuances of weight training. It's a massive read that gets you up to speed on the Starting Strength forums. You'll come to know familiar posters and anticipate the answers, both from the man himself and your growing insight into, as Dan John would say, the "correct way". So, while gravity may very well be the meanest of all, Mr. Rippetoe, like the Grinch, offers blatant honesty, lessons and truth--rare things these days.

[Matt Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried (from laughing), I learned about all the things that I was doing wrong through Marks criticisms of others.

There is a hell of a lot of good information in this book, and it is fairly well organized into its respective sections. I found the latter quarter of the book to be extremely hilarious, and there were several times before that where I felt like someone was asking a question on my behalf.

It's not the most efficient way of getting an answer related to a specific programming, diet or form question, but it's a very entertaining and informative read.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Буквално извадки от форума на Начална сила, в които Марк Рипетоу отговаря на въпроси на потребители относно тренировки, храна, травми и изобщо всичко, свързано с неговата програма.

Книгата е идеално допълнение както към Starting Strenght, така и към PPST, тъй като в нея можете да намерите отговори на всякакъв тип въпроси, които могат да възникнат. Освен това неподражаемият стил и хумор на Рип блестят в пълна сила.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coach Rip is just brilliant, and isn't afraid to keep pounding the basics into the thick skulls of athletes and gym rats everywhere. Lift heavy stuff. Eat right. Rest enough to allow recovery (and even better, super-recovery). Don't be stupid. Don't be impatient. Just chill out, and do it.

[Dmitry Tumanov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh