Kettlebell Simple & Sinister: Revised and Updated Edition (2nd Edition) Kindle Edition

I've been following this program as written since the book was released, and I've never felt better. Having been a fitness hobbyist for years, mostly for the feel-good factor, I've explored many programs: Couch to 5k, Stronglifts/Starting Strength, Crossfit, some bodyweight training and gym rock climbing, etc etc. None has ever had such a positive impact on my fitness and feeling of wellbeing as S&S has. I am no devotee of StrongFirst or Pavel's, my only involvement has been reading a few of Pavel's books (Naked Warrior, Enter the Kettlebell, Power to the People) and experimenting with those programs a bit. No one has asked me to write a review. That said, this book blows away the totality of fitness literature I've read up until now with regards to directness and completeness of the content.Here's what to expect from the book: a general physical preparedness program to follow every day with a single kettlebell (though ideally you'll want two sizes to start) in 20-30 minutes, including a warmup, two primary exercises to practice, and some stretches. Detailed explanations and progressions for every movement. Some material on the history and philosophy of kettlebell training, with deep insights drawn from martial arts, military, and powerlifting applications. Several chapters on cultivating tension/relaxation control, breathing exercises, tips on how to progress to higher weights, and when and how to challenge yourself or take it easy.This is a complete book, and a complete program. If a total beginner, with literally no experience in fitness training, were to ask me for a "magic bullet" one-stop solution to develop strength, explosiveness, balance, coordination, mobility, injury resistance, and maintain good general health for life without overworking themselves, this is the book I would hand them. And I truly believe they would be well taken care of if they did nothing but follow it to the letter.Doesn't that sound like generic hyperbole?How can I keep a straight face while affecting the same salesman mentality that's shilling so many silly books on the same topic?The reason is because this book is NOT, in fact, a "magic bullet" or a workaround in any way. The advice is frank: to be strong, you have to apply yourself honestly. You have to learn to listen to your body, to acknowledge the smallest sensations and gauge your energy levels. In my opinion, the greatest value of this book is not the specific exercises prescribed, though they are phenomenal and I have no inclination to change anything about the program as I continue to practice it. The greatest value of this program is the mentality that comes with it: fitness is an internal pursuit, not a game to be won or cheated, and fitness training done well exposes your personal weaknesses and vulnerabilities every day. You become stronger, in body and in mind, by that process.I can't speak to the usefulness of this book for athletes, law-enforcement/military, or fitness professionals, since I am none of them - other reviews here might be more helpful if you're looking for that perspective. I'm a musician, and fitness training is a hobby that helps me feel good, keep my energy levels up, maintain good health, and prevent injuries. That said, I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not taking away something deeply helpful. Pick it up, the price is right. It's a quick read, but I've already read it 5 or 6 times now. Enjoy.

Simple & Sinister, the book, is well written and presents the material in a clear, concise and lively manner. As a 20-year veteran of the marital arts, I am someone used to breaking down movements to their finest points and understand the true power in any movement is in the details and cues. I am often frustrated by the typical exercise books that show the start and end position and say, do this. By contrast, Pavel's teaching style refreshing. His text is both spartan and comprehensive, and goes into enough detail to allow the reader to really understand the techniques.Simple & Sinister, the workout, just plain works. The program is short and refreshing but is densely packed with hard work. I found I could squeeze it in different parts of the day and not miss a beat. Once you get into it, you can motor through it in less than 25 minutes, day-in, day-out. I also found that it did not spike my appetite like more aggressive programs often do, so my weight stayed where I wanted it to be without feeling hungry or having to worrying about my consumption.My personal experience: I am a 40-year-old desk jocky who has been doing various forms of resistance training for the past 10 years or so with limited results, and kettlebells for about a six months previous to Simple and Sinister. I did Simple & Sinister for 8 weeks. I started with a 20kg for all movements and met the standard of 5 min for the swings and 10 minute for the Get-ups, but could only perform a couple of sets with the 24kg. By the end of the 8 weeks, the 24kg seemed like a toy, and I was mixing in a healthy amount of Swings and Get-ups with the 32kg, well on my way to the "Simple" goal (all 32kg, 100 swings/min, 10 Get-up/10min). I put on some muscle, especially my back, and felt a lot more solid through the mid-section, especially when I started working with the 32kg. To me and others who like variety, it is a great training plan that helped my plug some gaps in my tension and strength and was a nice break from more aggressive training programs. One of the benefits of this plan for variety junkies is that you can not screw this up or mask lack of progress in variety, because there is none, the results just come. I plan to revisit this training program from time to time for 8-12 week training blocks to continue to make progressMy wife is 6 months in on the program. She started swinging the 8kg and is now is using the 16kg, get-ups went from 4kg to 12kg. She is a mom, career woman, runner, martial artist and this is the first strength program that she has been able to plug into, stick with in a very long time. The convenience of such and effective workout in your living room has got her hooked.