I was recently sent a couple of fitness books to review; photos and links are below.

I'll try to say this without being horribly un-gallant: neither book represents what I would consider a high standard of fitness writing or exercise science. There is decent information in both books; however, if you're looking for up-to-date, attractively presented and engagingly written information with its own spin on things--I urge you to look elsewhere.

Moving on to speak more generally: I'm an optimist and believe that all trainers have something to contribute to this field; sure, there are people who have been in it too long; people who have gotten themselves into decent shape but truly haven't the slightest idea how to impart that information to others; there are people who are great people-people and terrible with the written word and/or with exercise science or current training practices. But I even believe that these people have something to offer someone.

The fact is, however, that no trainer can be all things to all people. Throwing myself under the bus, I think I'm good with general fitness; with helping people look better and feel good in their bodies in equal measure, and with coming up with an interesting variety of ways to get people there. But if you're going to enter a bodybuilding or figure-modelling competition and need all kinds of exacting information on dieting grams of protein and carbs and posing trunks--I'm not your man. I know a few local people who could do a bang-up job with you--my friend Karen Williams, for example, who's fared well in a number of physique contests herself, can make it happen for you--but I freely admit to not being one of them. I also think I'm decent with the written word and with public speaking, but I'd hate to go toe-to-toe with a Todd Durkin in a contest over who can get a room full of people psyched about working out. That dude could motivate a stone.

I know that many trainers want to write books or make DVD's or sell supplements or create an online coaching program, but not everyone's cut out for that. They may be great at motivating housewives to pump iron, but they might lack the writing and science chops to create a great, innovative program and present it in a captivating way. And with guys like Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove and Ian King and Eric Cressey and Chad Waterbury out there as your competition, you darn well better have your ducks in a row if you're going to throw your hat in that particular ring.

Buy this book here.... 

....and this one here.