My Recommended Reading List
I am constantly being asked about the books that have made the most impact upon my career and my life over the years.
Needless to say, with an average annual read that exceeds 100 books there are a lot to choose from but if I were pressed, I would have to say that the books listed below account for those that have been most influential.
The reading list is divided into sections that will make your search easier, but bear in mind that it is not only the reading but the application of this material that will have the biggest impact upon your life.
I once read a quote that said 'Success is kept on the top shelf and the only way to reach it is by standing on the books you've read'. I honestly attribute much of my success in recent years to this ideal.
On that note, I recommend that those of you who are serious about becoming successful, buy and read a minimum of 20 books a year to build your 'reading muscles' up to serious strength.
The books below are a great place to start.
To your Success!
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Principles Of Anatomy and Physiology - Tortora Grabowski
Exercise Physiology - McArdle, Katch and Katch
These two books have long been my mainstays for physiology and exercise physiology. Practically every general principle you will ever need to know is contained within these 2 books
Surface and Living Anatomy - Gordon Joslin
Although I'd never heard of the author before purchasing this book, I must say that it is a great piece of work for those in need of a quick and easy to learn palpatory guide. The CD ROM is especially good.
Trail Guide to the body - Andrew Biel
This is a fantastic tool designed to aid your advancement of your palpatory skills. Fully illustrated and well explained throughout, it will teach you how to find every muscle, origin, insertion and bony landmark on the body by feel.
An absolute MUST skill for all bodyworkers
SPINAL
Therapeutic Exercise For Spinal Segmental Stabilisation In Low Back Pain - Carolyn Richardson, Gwendolin Jull, Paul Hodges, Julie Hides
This Book, and the research it represents, is the driving force behind the fitness industry's fascination with TVA exercises. Yoou really should buy this so that you can find out where 99.9% of FITPRO's have got it wrong!
Clinical Anatomy of The Lumbar Spine and Sacrum - Nikolai Bogduk
Functional Anatomy of the Spine - Jean Oliver and Alison Middlemitch
Both of these books are an essential addition to the library of anyone even considering the treatment of back pain and related dysfunctions. Bogduk in particular has produced much of the research that many of our modern spinal 'stars' are using to write their own works.
Low Back Disorders - Stuart McGill
This book MUST be on the library of anyone who works with back dysfunction in any way, shape or form. McGills explanations of bracing and its role in spinal stability will teach many fitpros a thing or two.
ASSESSMENT
Muscles, Testing And Function - Florence Kendall
Still the favourite text amongst corrective exercise specialists this book is perhaps one of the most educational insights into postural assessment for those new to the subject.
YOU MUST HAVE THIS BOOK!
Neuromusculoskeletal Examination And Assessment - Nicola J.Petty and Anne P.Moore
This book details the exact start to finish procedures needed to gather and interpret your Kinetic Chain Assessment. I'd buy it!
BIOMECHANICS
Joint Structure And Function - Cynthia Norkin
This book is fantastic! If you want to learn about forces and the way the kinetic chain shares them around its many joints and muscles then buy this book.
Each chapter ends with a self-test that'll help you to find out if you really understood what you've read.
Joint Range Of Motion and Muscle Length Testing - Nancy Berryman Reese and William D. Bandy
This book details the assessment of joints and muscles using goniometric measurement throughout the body.
It'll dispel many of your pre-conceived ideas about flexibility.
REHAB
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation -Dorothy E. Voss
If more trainers and therapists read this book there would be far less confusion about how to 'correct' dysfunction in the human body.
The principles laid out, especially the P's will help you understand 1000% more about function than you do now.
Motor Learning And Performance - Richard A.Schmidt and Craig A. Wrisberg
The idea that you can provide corrective exercise without knowledge of motor learning and performance is laughable. Buy this book and learn why many of your exercises are failing to hit the mark.
Exercise In Rehabilitation Medicine - Walter M.Frontera
If you're serious about rehabilitation of those with disease and disability then these books deserve a place on your bookshelf. They'll teach you loads about the more technical side of disease - But remember, we're HEALTH professionals and the study of disease, whilst important, will not tell you how to make people healthy.
NUTRITION
Biochemical Individuality - Roger J.Williams PhD
The first time I read this book I was blown away! Until then, had never even considered that we were so different as to each be truly unique. After reading this, your whole philosophy on nutrition will change entirely.
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration - Weston A. Price
Price travelled the world looking at the links between nutrition and disease in indigenous peoples as varied as Inuit Eskimos and Australian Aborigines.
What he found and revealed in this book is a fascinating examination of evolutionary physiology and reinforces Williams claims that we are biochemically unique.
BioBalance - Rudolph A.Wiley
Nutrition and Your Mind - George Watson