Just about everything you ever wanted to know about dumbbells. The book is divided up into three parts. The first part, the truth about dumbbells, explains all about the different types of dumbbells. The second part, the master moves, shows you the exercises you can do with a dumbbell which includes many pictures and instructions. This part makes up about 80% of the book. And finally, part three, a million moves for your muscles, essentially provides the reader with tips and suggested routines.A great resource if you're into dumbbells, readers who lift regularly might also be interested in Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to prevent rotator cuff tears a lot of lifters eventually get.
The first section gives an excellent introduction to dumbbells & pros and cons of different types of equipment. I personally use the Powerblock dumbbells. The second section has pictures of each basic, intermediate, and combined set of exercises. Part three is small, but has example exercises and helps you to customize a workout.
There was one odd thing about the book. There is a picture of a kettle bell on one of the introductory pages, but there isn't a mention of them or their use anywhere in the book. This was an unexpected surprise and then letdown. In all it is a great book. It only gets four stars because it *does not* give the ideology behind different workout techniques: high intensity training, pre/post exhaust techniques, progressive workload, 21s, 3X3 workouts, supersets, forced negatives, etc.
My advice is to buy this book or Brzycki's and also get Arnold's The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding.The book has some good features but they don't outweigh the negatives. The exercises have great descriptions of how to do them but they lack the the list of what not to do. The exercises are grouped alphabetically which I thought was a good idea until I tried to do them. Since exercises are usually done in a specific order having them alphabetical it takes more time to find the ones you want to do first. Also, not every exercise book gives each exercise the same name. The book also lacks in listing good routines to get you started.The book's basic design is that it shows you the core dumbbell exercises (about 40) like bench press, lunges, shoulder press, etc. Then in each section it details how by doing things like changing your grip, foot position, using a bench, etc. you can perform variations of the core exercises. That's how it comes up with the 21,000 moves.
It's a good value if you are new to using dumbbells or if dumbbells are the only type of resistance training that you are planning to do. I like the section entitled "Combine & Conquer" where it shows you how you can combine moves into one exercise in order to expedite your workout. Note, all the pictures in this book are in black & white.
However I think another book, The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Stronger, More Muscular YOU! by Adam Campbell (or the Women's Health Big Book of Exercises), is a better value. This book has pretty much the same dumbbell exercises but also has body-weight exercises, cable exercises and free weight exercises. It has good sections about nutrition and and sample workouts. The pictures are in color. This book is appropriate for beginners to advanced; and home-only exercisers to gym rats.
Lastly, almost all the exercises in these books can found on the internet, for example at websites like or . However, I like to have a book of exercises to refer to when I'm looking to change up my workouts.Purchased this book last week and was very impressed on what could be done with just a pair of dumbbells. Even the experienced lifters in the gym were trying some of the exercises and lifts. This book was discussed and passed around the gym -even personal trainers were reading it. I would say it's a must buy for novice, advance lifters and personal trainers and their trainees.
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