If you are a proponent of the big compound lifts; power cleans, deadlifts, bench press, and squats you probably know of Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore and their well-known book, Starting Strength, Basic Barbell Training. I can’t think of a better how-to book to learn these lifts.

Have you ever used Wikipedia, the user-editable online encyclopedia? Then you have an idea about the Starting Strength Wiki. There is some great information here in this wiki so I invite you to take a look.

Here are a couple of classic Mark Rippetoe quotes you’ll enjoy.

“There are few things graven in stone, except that you have to squat or you’re a pussy.”

“Pierre, if you are eating 5500 calories a day, then I am a female kangaroo with a Sonic Drive-In franchise and a heroin habit.” (I have no idea what that means).

On steroids:

“There are no shortcuts. The fact that a shortcut is important to you means that you are a pussy.”

“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general.”

Newb: Got any good ab exercises?

Rip: Got any better questions?

I could go on, but you’ll have to go to The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Rippetoe.