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"Keys to Progress"

Back when Jimi Hendrix and the Doors were still doing concerts, John McCallum's "Keys to Progress" series helped pack more muscle on more people than all other articles combined, with a never equalled blend of information and entertainment...

I've mentioned before that there have been three books that I was lucky enough to read very early in my training career which shaped my entire philosophy about the best ways to build strength and power.

One of the books, Super Squats by Randall J. Strossen, you already know.

I am now proudly releasing the second strength books which had such a profound effect on my training: The Complete Keys to Progress by John McCallum.

During the 1960's John McCallum's articles ran in Strength and Health Magazine, and taught an entire generation the value of basic exercises, heavy leg work for big gains, and a sound muscle-building diet.

Ask anyone who was there and they will likely tell you that The Keys to Progress article was the very first thing they turned to whenever a new issue of Strength and Health appeared in the mailbox each month.

Now you can read all the incredible "Keys to Progress" articles in one place.

John McCallum, both literally and figuratively, shaped an entire generation of would-be muscle men: His original articles became classics and inspired many of today's top muscle writers.

To this day, many feel these articles established the highest standard in the field.

Visit (or Revisit) The Familiar Cast of Characters...

One of the most enduring qualities of these articles is that they are entertaining as well as informative and McCallum creates a memorable cast of characters to help illustrate his fine training info.

Who could ever forget the old gym owner (who bears a striking similarity to John McCallum) who is making the world stronger, one bodybuilder at a time?

Or Marvin, the typical 60s teenager looking to put on some size to impress the girls?

Or Ollie, JM's best friend and running buddy?

Or especially "Uncle Harry" who puts bodybuilders half his age to shame?

Yes, they are all there - and even though McCallum's stories are over four decades old, great training information never goes out of style. They are just as relevant (and effective) today as they were then -- you will never get tired of reading them.

order here

My Experience with Keys to Progress

I mentioned earlier how I view The Complete Keys to Progress as one of the most influential training books I had ever read, now let me tell you why...

This collection was published in 1993, my freshman year of high school. I was new to training, didn't know who John McCallum was, didn't know what Strength and and Health Magazine was and sure didn't know much about actual training.

What I did know was that I needed to know how to become bigger and stronger. I knew right out of the chute that I wouldn't find much information of value in the muscle magazines and, as luck would have it, I happened upon this book.

I took one look at the table of contents (seen at the right) and knew this book was exactly what I had been looking for. McCallum's style of writing is easy to get into and the training info is top notch.

Of particular importance is the focus on hard work and basic exercises, especially the information of the incredible benefits of the breathing squat. - I dove into the book and read it easily over the course of an afternoon.

A few days later I read it again, and caught many details that I had missed the first time.

That was fifteen years ago, and I have read it many times since then, and it just keeps getting better.

As far as a combination of top-notch training info that will also keep you entertained, you won't find any other training book that even comes close.

Many Workouts to Choose From

Speaking of workouts, there are many to choose from throughout this book -- almost every chapter outlines some kind of workout.

(In fact, many of my very first workouts were patterned around the routine listed on page 49.)

You'll learn how you should be squatting for big gains, how the great Strongman Mac Bachelor builds his incredible hand strength, calf specialization work from Maurice Jones, the upper-body Dip program that helped Sam Bartlot, Marvin's shoulder routine, running workouts for strength athletes, the details of the P.H.A. program for definition, chest building with pullovers and heavy leg work, hip belt squatting, gaining weight to build your arms

... and a whole lot more!

Keys to Progress Testimonials

"John McCallum was my monthly reminder to be all that weight training would allow me to be... Without any doubt, he was my earliest and strongest influence and one that has endured."
-- Dr. Ken Leistner
"Everything you need to know is in this book. McCallum was way ahead of his time. In addition to his very entertaining writing style, the reader will benefit greatly from John's wisdom. The trick is to read the book through several times and to read between the lines. What John doesn't write is every bit as important as what he does write.

Every time I read this book, I become more amazed at what I missed the last time I read it." -- David K. Studenick
"This is a great book; I loved it. It has so many different specific goals and routines, whether you want to have great forearms, get stronger, build bulk, or have supplement info - this book covers it all.

And not in a broad, generalized view, but rather specifically for guys that have a definite decision on why they are weightlifting. It is also very easy to read and understand and will last you for years.

You must get this one!" -- Bill Jackson
"This is the first book that any strength athlete or bodybuilder should buy..." -- Chad Eyanson

The Complete Keys to Progress by John McCallum
The Complete Keys to Progress
by John McCallum

List of Articles and Topics Covered:

  • The Time Factor

  • Concentration-Part I

  • Concentration-Part II

  • Concentration-Part III

  • Squat!

  • The Get Big Drink

  • Training for Gaining

  • For Size and Strength

  • Sleep

  • Public Relations

  • Power Training

  • Nerves-Your Training Barometer

  • Bulking the Upper Body

  • The High Protein Diet

  • Specialization

  • The Home Gym

  • Neck Specialization

  • Grip and Forearm Development

  • Building the Grip and Forearm

  • Specialization of the Calves

  • Building Your Calves

  • The High Protein-High Set Program

  • Desire-The Secret of Success

  • Results from High Protein-High Set Program

  • Parallel Bar Dips

  • Hard Work

  • The Basic Exercises-Part I

  • Shoulder Specialization

  • Health, Endurance, and Definition

  • Pros and Cons of Definition

  • The Case for Running

  • Running

  • Trimming Down

  • The Definition Diet

  • P.H.A. for Definition

  • More on P.H.A

  • Definition

  • The Impressive Areas

  • Supplements

  • Arm Specialization

  • The Fountain of Youth-Part I

  • Bulking Up

  • The Fountain of Youth-Part II

  • The Right Way

  • The Fountain of Youth-Part III

  • Back Work for Bulk

  • The Fountain of Youth-Part IV

  • For a Big Chest-Part I

  • For a Big Chest-Part II

  • For a Big Chest-Part III

  • Questions & Answers

  • Questions & Answers-Part II

  • Smoking Fact and Fancy

  • Smoking-It's Time You Quit

  • Softening Up for Big Gains-Part I

  • Softening Up for Big Gains-Part II

  • Softening Up for Big Gains-Part III

  • Hip Belt Squats

  • The Hip Belt Squat Routine

  • More Questions & Answers-Part II

  • More Questions & Answers-Part III

  • Energy

  • Get Your Money's Worth

  • Build Health to Build Muscle

  • The Essential Ingredients

  • Vitamin A

  • Gain Weight to Build Your Arms-Part I

  • Gain Weight to Build Your Arms-Part II

  • Gain Weight to Build Your Arms-Part III

  • Gain Weight to Build Your Arms-Part IV

  • The B Vitamins

  • The B Vitamins: Muscle Muffins-Part II

  • The B Vitamins: Vitamin B Bread-Part III

  • Maximum Effort-Part I

  • Maximum Effort-Part II

  • Maximum Effort-Part III

  • Vitamin C-Part I

  • Vitamin C-Part II

  • Vitamin C-Part III

  • The Causes of Failure-Part I

  • The Causes of Failure-Part II

  • The Causes of Failure-Part III

  • The Causes of Failure-Part IV

  • The Super Bulk and Power Thing-Part I

  • The Super Bulk and Power Thing-Part II

  • The Super Bulk and Power Thing-Part III

  • The Super Bulk and Power Thing-Part IV

  • Vitamin D

  • Weight Training for the Scuba Diver

  • Leg Specialization for That Polished Look

  • Weight Training and the Miracle

  • The Power Look

  • Your Measurements

  • The Protein Pump

  • The Case for the Breathing Squat

    • There you have it -- mountains of solid training information and plenty of solid reviews -- The Complete Keys to Progress is a book that you need to have in your strength library. There's only one thing left to do and that's to order a copy!

    -- The Complete Keys to Progress by John McCallum -- 9" x 6" glossy cover, paperback, 263 pages, no pictures

    Train hard,
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    John Wood

    The Complete Keys to Progress by John McCallum - $19.99 + $7 S/H

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