WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE REALLY FREAKING SMART. Most fitness or strength-related questions are most honestly answered with the phrase, “It depends.” There are very few things that are universally right or wrong, but people are still looking for spoonfed answers and cookie-cutter solutions. Unfortunately, that’s not going to get you very far.

In these two books, we want to equip you with the tools to start thinking about training the way an expert lifter or an experienced coach would. There aren’t going to be many pre-packaged answers or, say, a training routine you can implement directly. Rather, they provide you with an all-in-one handbook for navigating the minefield of online fitness information.

These books represent the cumulative knowledge gained from over a decade under the bar, the frustrations of a 5-year plateau, hundreds of classroom hours, working with hundreds of clients, and countless conversations with other lifters and coaches.

I’ve put in the time, the effort, and the energy to learn all the lessons contained in these books (often, unfortunately, learning those lessons the hard way).

The Art and Science of Lifting represent the culmination of that journey, and the knowledge I’ve accumulated along the way.

These books are designed to equip you with the information you need to succeed long-term.

There are literally hundreds of books laying out someone’s specific training program or diet. That wasn’t the purpose here. The goal was to give you the lay of the land so you’d be better equipped to evaluate books like that, articles, videos, or other resources you come across in the future.