Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Simply put: You don't need this book.
Let me start off by saying that from quality-of-production, and quality-of-information standpoints, there is nothing wrong with this book. The two-star review is reflective of its value, not necessarily its quality.Let me state that another way. If you know the first thing about fitness, this book will offer you nothing. Zero. Zilch. Most of you already know how to get that six-pack: resistance training to create lean body mass, cardio work, proper diet, and ab work. Congratulations, you've just saved your hard earned money. There is nothing these or any Ab-gurus can teach you. In defense of this book, the authors are honest. They don't offer shortcuts, they tell you what to do, honestly. It's precisely what you already knew you'd have to do. Nothing new under the sun; hard work and discipline. If, and only if, a nicely packaged manual with some motivational photos and words will help you to finally say, "Ok, if that's really the only way, then I'll do it," then for you, this is a 5-star volume. If you already know your exercise basics, as most people who are far enough along the path to fitness for a tight midsection to be a realistic goal are, you're in for a 2-star disappointment.
Rating:  - What a waste and now I get spammed constantly...
I bought this book in hopes of getting something new that wasn't already out there. Boy did I miss the mark. This is a tribute to the narcissism of the author. Tons of pictures of Shawn...standing on a ball, holding different women, and basically huge type with nothing new. Even worse he is schilling some new products and a website, that if you dare sign up for, will spam you with tons of email per week. Email for overpriced products, stupid e-cards with this buffoon on them, "personal letters" with how much he appreciates you, and on and on. Ugh!! I've tried to get off the email lists and it won't end. BEWARE of this book!! The information is already out there in numerous venues and in much briefer context. I give it one star because that is as low as Amazon.com allows and for the fact that at least he made the type so big that I didn't waste much more than two hours on this stuff. I have already sold it. How is this guy Bill Phillips' brother? Makes you wonder if they are truly related. I will sum up the book for you: I don't eat bread, peanut butter, anything with flavor. I drink/eat tons of chemicals, some proven...some not, and I work very hard building software that is a never ending stream of SPAM!! (Of course all of this comes in a coffee table size book too big to put on your bookshelf.) Shopper's BEWARE!!! Spend your dollars elsewhere!!
Rating: - DON'T BE A FOOL
Ok, I admit I love to read fitness books specially from guys in a great shape like Shawn Phillips even knowing I have nothing to learn because he will hide his "secrets". This book is no different at all. If you are starting your fitness life you will consider Shawn, Bill or Joe Nobody as your menthor or the Lord of Fitness Knowlodgment. That's gonna happen simply because you never had any experience before. If you are a skinny guy trying to pack on muscle mass or an experienced lifter who has achieved plateau expecting this book will help you are gonna be very very disappointed. If you are in this case this book worths less than half star. If you are an out of shape person trying to loose fat this book might worth for you no more than 2 stars. If you buy it be sure to enjoy the pics (I can't deny, Shawn has a great looking shape). His pics can inspire you to get a new look even though in the end his amazing pics can let you down once you discover what he preaches isn't 100 % of what he does. Why am I being so hard with him ? I tell you right now.
Shawn is the owner of Nutros and was the founder (with Bill) of EAS supplement company. Their bodies are fantasies created to sell products. His body is great but no greater than photographers. Yes, photographers shoot at the most flattering angles, they use light and shadow to accent the beautiful and hide the flaws. Using photoshop they can airbrush away any remaining imperfections to create their carefully manipulated sculpture. Don't be a fool, none of humans can achieve their look only working out, eating clean, taking some supplements, ... you know what I mean ... models go through extreme and unhealthy measures to achieve their look. They often starve and dehydrate before a shoot. If it's not enough when the camera clicks the models are flexing and sucking their abs (they are pros, and try to smile and look casual, but, believe me, down below they are flexing and sucking it in). A model can learn to cover up many flaws by mastering posing techniques, that's why they get paid to ilude you that taking tons of protein and magic pills will make you look like them. The truth is Mr. Olympia or Mr. Men's Health cover both don't look in picture peak condition 365 days a year. For free I'll give you the good tips you would learn buying this crap. Be consistent, eat clean, supplement if you need it, exercise regularly and don't expect to have his ultrachiseled abs (this last tip is mine). As I read in the other review, don't think Shawn just perform 2 exercises for each body part a week. Rest is vital to muscle repair and grow but you'll be able to train again after 3-4 days doing more exercises and sets than he recommends. If you need to contact him for any reason regarding to the program he won't answer you back. Be careful, he doesn't focus on details like forearms, calf, etc. Everyone knows, for example, in order to avoid plateaus you should follow a program that naturally change your workouts each 3-4 weeks. Shawn's incomplete program will tell you to do it by yourself using your "imagination". If I do it by myself, why the hell am I getting it ? I bought his program and he gives me an empty sample of his routine (I wish I had his true "step by step" program). If do you still wanna get this, buy mine at used books, please.
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