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 may already know about.
I am now proudly releasing the second strength book 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.
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 have 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 information is top notch.
Of particular importance is the focus on hard work and basic exercises,
especially the information about 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 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
built his incredible hand strength, calf specialization work from Maurice Jones, the upper-body
dip program that helped Sam Bartlot, Marvin's shoulder routine, Reg Park's training, 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! Just take a look at the list of articles on the right.
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 --
One of my very favorite training books and I can't recommend it high enough.
Train hard,
John Wood
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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
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