Bigger, Faster, Stronger

By Greg Shepard

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4.5)

Achieve Athletic Excellence with Proven Training Methods

Transform your athletic potential with a program designed for strength, speed, and power.

View on Amazon

Why This Book?

The book “Bigger Faster Stronger” by Greg Shepard has taken the world of athletes and their trainers by storm. The book entails a practical and effective program that includes a person's strength, speed, and flexibility. Such elements can enable athletes to become the best in their particular field.

The book is perfect for athletes who wish to up their game, trainers who want their team to do better, and fitness lovers who want a rational approach to workout plans. It caters to anyone related to competitive sports and people looking for a systematic method of scientifically developing their athleticism.

One-Sentence Summary: Overall, Bigger Faster Stronger is a systematic approach to strength training to enhance an athlete’s performance on the field.

About the Author

Greg Shepard is currently a world-known strength coach who started the “Bigger Faster Stronger” program, which numerous athletes and teams worldwide have embraced. With decades worth of experience, he specializes in athletic performance.

In his work Bigger Faster Stronger, Shepard aims to highlight his extensive knowledge of formulating a holistic training system involving strength, power, and conditioning. The program’s efficiency has been proven with global acceptance in high schools, colleges, and professional sports teams.

Among Greg Shepard’s other significant works are manuals and videos that expand on the BFS methodology and offer more details.

Book Overview

Publication Details	Initially published in 1991, Bigger Faster Stronger has undergone updates to remain relevant to modern training needs. Available in paperback and eBook formats.
Format Availability	Available in paperback and eBook formats.
Main Focus	The book details a step-by-step program designed to improve athletic performance through strength training, plyometrics, and flexibility exercises.

Publication Details

Initially published in 1991, Bigger Faster Stronger has undergone updates to remain relevant to modern training needs. Available in paperback and eBook formats.

Format Availability

Available in paperback and eBook formats.

Main Focus

The book details a step-by-step program designed to improve athletic performance through strength training, plyometrics, and flexibility exercises.

Key Themes and Insights

BFS program principles: The book introduces the six core principles of BFS, which are Balance, Variety, Overload, Progression, Adaptation, and Recovery, which are the basis of the program.

Strength Training for Performance: Shepard insists on the use of functional strength building with emphasis on squats, bench presses, and power cleans.

Speed and Agility: Speed training drills and agility exercises are also included to improve speed and reaction times, which are necessary for athletes participating in competitive sports.

Flexibility and Injury Prevention: There are also dynamic stretching programs that are part of Shepard’s program, which foster improved flexibility and reduced likelihood of musculoskeletal injury.

Goal Setting and Motivation: An important feature is the focus on motivation through setting realistic goals and a competitive hat among the athletes.

Standout Sections

The 1-2-3-4 Program: A unique system for organizing workouts efficiently.
The Importance of Plyometrics: Explains how explosive movements can significantly boost athletic power.

Practical Applications

Bigger Faster Stronger offers readers actionable advice that can be easily integrated into daily training routines. Some practical applications include:

Organization of Physical Activity Sessions: BFS offers the clients all-inclusive pre-prescribed schedules for different days of the week, incorporating weight training, speed drills, and flexibility therapy.
Personalized Training Approach: An athlete may modify the program to suit his game and position, for instance, in the case of vertical jump, sprint speed, or any other particular approach.
Team Use: An additional coach can use BFS with his/her team and make sure that the team adheres to the progress.
Biomechanics: Injury pointers are assisted with suitable stretches and warm-up protocols.

Strengths of the Book

Proven Success: This program was employed by thousands of teams and athletes and proved to work in many types of sports.
Clear Instructions: The class goes from easiest to most difficult; this makes it easier for people with varying degrees of fitness education to approach the material.
Holistic Approach: The program allows proper development of all related functions through attention to strength, speed, and flexibility, as this is the goal of professional athletic training.
Motivational Tone: The book's passion for athletic performance is truly infectious, inspiring readers to push their limits and strive for greater achievements.

Critique and Limitations

While Bigger Faster Stronger offers a wealth of valuable insights, there are a few areas where it could improve:

Limited Sport-Specific Guidance: The problem is not with the broad-based concept, but the program's pre-determined (and generic) nature might not fit the body's specifications for more advanced sports.
Visual Aids: Additional diagrams or photos of exercises could enhance the reader’s understanding.
Advanced Techniques: Elite athletes might find the program’s content too basic for their needs.

What Made This Book Popular?

Sales Success: Bigger Stronger Faster has found its place in athletic training programs worldwide.
Critical Acclaim: Coaches and trainers have commended the book due to its effectiveness as it is practical-oriented.
Reader Impact: The book rating on Amazon and good reads is also quite high, indicating their satisfaction in achieving their fitness goals.
Cultural Influence: BFS has revolutionized what strength and conditioning programs should look like in high school and college sports.

Comparison with Similar Books

Compared to other athletic training books like “Starting Strength” by Mark Rippetoe or “The Training of the Weightlifter” by Bob Takano stands out for its simplicity and adaptability. While “Starting Strength” focuses more on powerlifting fundamentals and “The Training of the Weightlifter” caters to Olympic lifting and offers a more comprehensive program that integrates strength, speed, and flexibility.

Who Should Read This Book?

This book is ideal for:

Athletes: Those who want to enhance sports performance need strength and speed.
Coaches: People who require an effective program to employ during their training.
Fitness Lovers: People who want a well-structured and science-oriented plan for training.
Programs for Junior and High Schools: Institutions that are seeking to promote an active sports culture

Memorable Quotes or Excerpts

“If you’re bigger, faster, and stronger, you will win more often than not.”
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and achievement.”
“Train hard, train smart, and success will follow.”

These quotes encapsulate Shepard’s philosophy, motivating readers to strive for excellence.

Conclusion

Bigger Faster Stronger is an invaluable resource for athletes and coaches on the quest to recover their previous best. Well-integrated strength training exercises, speed drills, and flexibility exercises welcome an all-in-one package to develop an athlete.

Are you a high school athlete, a college coach, or maybe fond of working out? No worries. This book is all technical and inspirational enough to aid you in answering your questions and successfully achieving your goals.