I picked up a new book the other day, "The New Rules of Lifting" by Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove. I usually don't expect to find anything revolutionary in fitness books, but I always hope to learn something.
The book's main focus is to simplify weightlifting into essential movements. The authors note Schmidt's theory of human movement and focus on six core movements:
- Squat
- Bend (deadlift)
- Lunge
- Push
- Pull
- Twist
The idea is that all these moves are functional, and represented important actions for hunter-gatherers. They also advocate the use of free weights as compared to machines, as, of course, all hunter-gatherer movements were using something approximating "free weights."
I think focusing on these six movements is beneficial. My usual workout consists of three movements: bend, push, and pull. I've really never done much with lunging or twisting, but I will try to include these movements in future workouts.
Overall, the book was a pretty good read. The authors know that there's no real "secret" to lifting, and they don't make such claims. I felt this book did a good job of showing how simple weight workouts can really be.
