Are there definite anatomical differences in the way men and women should build their bodies? According to the best-selling author and illustrator of Strength Training Anatomy, the answer is an overwhelming yes! Exercise variations based on a womans unique anatomical features are also covered, helping to isolate muscles and make each exercise more effective.

Make your workouts work harder for you! If you work out to strengthen and shape your body or if you help women get stronger and more defined, this is one book you need for understanding the female form and getting the most from your exercises.

I liked the idea of a strength training book for women that addressed our physiological differences, had great illustrations of which muscles are involved in each exercise, and showed women doing real exercises like deep squats, good mornings, etc.

Unfortunately, I didn't look at the small bit of the title which tells you it addresses lower body only. Where are the chest, shoulders, arms and the rest of the back?

Have to agree with the reviewer who mentioned the hip adduction illustration. Bare chest and, of course, nothing on the lower torso since the illustration is showing us the muscles involved. Given the legs wide position of the hip adduction machine, this picture seemed more sexual.

Maybe the author is planning Part 2 that will include the upper body.

Again, I feel the back was sorely overlooked here.


insulting and demeaning   January 4, 2004
 33 out of 50 found this review helpful

I wanted to write a quick review for this book. While the information is valuable and accurate, this type of information can easily be found in any checkout counter "beauty magazine". The reason I am taking the time to write this is bacause any woman who wants to know about her anatomy and how it works in relation to work and exercise in a gym is definately going to raise her eyebrows at the way the women in this book are posed and drawn. Albeit some nudity is necessary to demonstrate the use of certain muscles, (strip away some skin as well), but in some of the examples it is ludicrous for me to believe that the artist isn't using a slight pornographic eye. For instance,on page 69 (is that an accident?) the woman is doing adductors at a machine and she is completely nude! This is a difficult machine for alot of people to use because of the obvious position it puts you in, then the "artist" draws only this woman completely nude. You can be rest assured you will see at least one nude breast on every other page. It was very funny to look at, but as far as a book to walk around with at the gym, I will pass thank you. If a man even picked up this book at the gym he would be called a pervert! In conclusion, I want to reinforce my statement to pass on this degrading book supposedly for women to help us with our workouts. Well, I wasn't fooled. This book gets two thumbs down and line the kitty litter with its pages.


Where's the Rest?   April 2, 2003
 27 out of 31 found this review helpful

Yes, sorry, yet another woman dissatisfied with only abs back legs and buttocks illustrations. I am a Personal Trainer and was thrilled to see a version of "Strength Training Anatomy" for the female body...and then immediately disappointed that Mr Delavier didn't finish the book. I just can't imagine what he was thinking of! Oh well back to the male version (brilliant) and drawings unrepresentative of the muscle mass of half my clients! We wait with baited breath for your sequel Mr Delavier - Chest, Shoulders & Arms!


Short changed   January 24, 2003
 26 out of 30 found this review helpful

I preordered this book based on the excellent book by Frederic Delavier "Strength Training Anatomy" I feel a little short changed because, although the quality of the content is good, there is not section for shoulders or chest in the womens version. Last time I looked they still qualified as body parts for women!