Frank Zane Mind, Body, Spirit: The Personal Training Diaries

by Frank Zane and Tom Smith

A new, ground-breaking guide, based on the training diaries of the world's top bodybuilding champion, Mr. Olympia, this work incorporates spiritual elements, re-imagining the gym as both a workout... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560251123
• ISBN13: 9781560251125
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 1.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.0" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Inside The Mind and Training Of Frank Zane

Frank Zane to me exemplifies what Bodybuilding should be. He had the most incredibly symmetrical physique of his era and redefined the whole concept of what a refined physique should look like. He led the way for other great bodybuilders to come like Labrada, Paris and Benfatto. Unfortunately the tides turned and freakish mass replaced physiques with classical proportion. He even influenced Arnold (no last name necessary) when he beat Arnold in the Mr. Universe. After that Arnold started focusing more on shape and definition rather than pure mass. Arnold speaks to this himself in his autobiography "Education Of A Bodybuilder". This book is very interesting because you get to see the type of training Zane did. It's interesting the way he changes his training throughout the year so that he's not always doing the same level of intensity. While I know that most bodybuilders change their cycles of training, the dramatic difference in Zane's training was striking, and quite surprising to me. He obviously really knows how to get the most out of whatever weight he used, because often the poundages aren't very high (in some of the training cycles, though he goes considerably heavier in others) but obviously his intensity and mind-muscle connection is very refined. Scattered throughout the book is some of Zane's poetry. While it's clear that it's a very individual, personal style of writing and perhaps not everyone's idea of what poetry is (or even whether it belongs in a book like this), I respect that he was willing to share that side of himself. Frank Zane apparently has always been cut from a different cloth than what most people think of when they hear the word bodybuilder. He definitely was (and is) definitely not a musclehead and but rather a highly educated and intellectual human being. I've also never heard anyone in any interview or article say anything other than what a gentleman Frank Zane is and has always been. Frank also has a very spiritual approach to life (and bodybuilding) which is expressed throughout the book, no doubt from his practice of Yoga. He reminds me of Yogi/Bodybuilder (one time Mr. America) Walt Baptiste (Father of famous Yoga Teacher Baron Baptiste). I would have liked some more autobiographical information about Frank, his background, what made him get into bodybuilding etc. But that isn't the purpose of this book. If you're a fan of Frank Zane and would like to get insights into his approach to training then this book can really be an eye opener. I wish that the IFBB would start to promote physiques like Zanes rather than the freaks that are now reigning bodybuilding.

Great for Holistic- Long Term Bodybuilders

If you're the type of bodybuilder who wears clown pants and pirate hats in the gym, then perhaps this book isn't for you. But as a fellow builder for over 20 years and still going strong and an orthopedic physical therapist, I believe this book is both unique and helpful. I think this book blends nicely with the detailed workout diaries and meals FZ used throughout his career. I also thought it was cool to get insight through poetries and writings on what a leading professional bodybuilder experiences both on and off season. For those (drug free) bodybuilders who want good guidance, I suggest FZ's quarterly publication. It has great info on training, specific nutrition for specific body weight, and other great material.

A road map for taking a trip through the seasons.

"Mind, Body, Spirit" is a book that can be many things; depends on the reader. As a minimum it is a blue print for a seasonal approach to weight training to acheive peak physical condition. This is a book for the near novice, intermediate, advanced body builder or anyone with an inquisitive mind about the world of body building and the art of body transformation. To actually take what this book gives will vault one physically far above the gym mainstream. This accomplishment will likely come in a very solitary way for that is the nature of the discipline; there will be time during the journey to conduct self interviews which is the bonus maybe intended by this book as you dwell upon Zane's philosophic offerings.... . Regardless, a champion reflects on these pages what works if you let it.

An amazing insight to the master himself.

This book is "one of a kind". No where else have I found a book that goes into the day to day routine of a professional body builder. You can see his workout day by day. Furthermore, I found it to be very motivating and energizing. I highly suggest that any one how works out, buy this book!

For those who understand bodybuilding is about the mind.

In this book we delve into Frank Zane's past and present routines, thoughts, and impressions. This can be used as a motivatonal tool, a training outline, or both. Excellent choice for all skill levels. To understand the reading, though, you must have made the connection that bodybuilding is more about the mind than the body.