Scientific Principles of Hypertrophy Training (Renaissance Periodization)

Perfect for the fitness professional. Easy read, great info. Discusses best practices in fitness and health promotion

This book is pure magic, love the fact that anytime a statement is made it is back up with reference to an actual scientific study. Combine this book with RP Diet 2.0 and you are golden. I have lot 40lbs and look better than ever. I can not speak highly enough about it all I can say is that it changed my life! I started highlighting the important parts but ended up highlighting almost the entire book, had to use different color highlighters so I can still find stuff. Btw this is my second copy as my first one was a digital but I couldn’t take notes on that one.

This book is well researched well written and well thought out. I enjoyed every page and have learned a lot from this book and appreciated all the examples used to help explain and solidify what I just read.

A lot of great information.

If you love exercise science, and going down to the nitty gritty of why you do what you do, then this book is for you. I, personally, want to know what is the most efficient exercises are, so I am not wasting my time doing ineffective routines that will not advance me towards my goals. The book is very scientific with valid sources. Highly recommend.

Good book. Really enjoyed the info. Only problem is that the first 30 pages were attached upside down before it went back to being upright based on the book binding. Would be nice to read without flipping the book around.

This is a foundational read that lays out all the basics of hypertrophy training. I would recommend hobbyist and professional bodybuilders to give this a read. The book gets a little too nuanced in the later chapters, specifically the Individualization chapter. Overall, this book has helped me cut out all the gimmicky fitness advice and have sound answers as to why my training program is designed the way it is.

Awesome book!

This book is trying to be a "science" book on muscle development, using a training perspective (as opposed to detailed anatomical processes). It sort of works, and contains sensible ideas (most of which are probably true), but the presentation isn't very convincing because it is trying to universally fit/define new(ish) "science jargon" to a practical activity that is potentially very hard to describe, and then apply it to individual persons (the readers) that might have very different individual objectives. The author has made a very respectable attempt at trying to codify a way to speak about a potentially very subjective and individualised topic - personal training - but... the book uses the same definitive and supposedly authoritative style even when the evidence isn't compelling or, at least, well explained (for example, the effect that metabolites have as a stimulus...). I would have liked to have seen a primer chapter on what muscle is made of, how it is structured, what it is connected to (blood supply, tendons, nervous system, etc.), how the fibres use energy and dispose of waste products, etc, and what "states" the muscles cycle through... in order to frame the practical aspects of how to then configure load, reps, sets, resting periods, fatigue, recovery, etc. A description of what actually happens to your body when you lift a weight and/or apply resistance seems to me to be an essential concept that is never really explained, but would really help the reader. This book should only be read while carefully considering personal context - fitness level, training experience, skill/form, personal objectives, available time to train - all of which are variable for each individual over time, as well as across different people. The book suggests that there are three other books that should be read as pre-requisites, but I don't think this is necessary - just look up the author and watch a few of his absolutely excellent videos on the internet. This will help set the book in context and will provide a decent level of confidence that the author really does know what he is talking about and what confidence level he personally has about certain ideas, as this does not always translate well in the book alone.

Not beginner territory really but the beginning of the book lays out some recommendations for early reading. The book is great for the nuts and bolts of hypertrophy. Heavily referenced, it has all the most scientifically up to date considerations for growing muscle. I have found it to be incredibly useful in writing my current program. Apparently there is kind of a sister book on the scientific principles of strength training. If they ever offer that one in print, I’ll buy it in a second!

Brilliant information for those interested in taking their hypertrophy training to the nect level. Gives great detailed explanation on topics Mike is often referring to in his YT videos. Best for those who already have some basic knowledge of sports science.

This is one of the best books I’ve read on hypertrophy training. It’s detailed, evidence-based, and explains not only what works, but also why it works. If you enjoy understanding the science behind training, you’ll find a lot of valuable information here. That said, I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who’s just starting out. The book assumes you already have a solid understanding of strength training, and some sections can be quite dense. As someone who isn’t a beginner in the gym, I still found myself rereading a few chapters to fully understand them. If you’ve been training for a while and want to move beyond the usual fitness advice you see online, this book is absolutely worth your time. Just don’t expect it to be a quick or easy read—it rewards patience.

Good, super useful book if you combine it with the nutrition videos of dr mike. Not an easy read but worth it.