If you’re looking for some of the best books to read to improve your knowledge of powerlifting, you’ve come to the right place.
Some of my favorite books about training contain methods of improving performance for both barbell and non-barbell sports. While those books are great to read, and many of the principles apply to powerlifting, I wanted the list here to focus exclusively on powerlifting.
10 of the best powerlifting books are:
- Powerlifting: A Scientific Approach by Frederick C. Hatfield Ph.D. – Best for Beginners
- Powerlifting: The complete guide to technique, training, and competition by Dan Austin and Bryan Mann – Best for Intermediates
- 5/3/1 for Powerlifting: Simple and Effective Training for Maximum Strength by Jim Wendler – Best for Simplicity
- Jailhouse Strong: 8 x 8 Off-Season Powerlifting Program by Josh Bryant and Adam Benshea – Best Budget Pick
- Westside Barbell: Book of Methods by Louie Simmons – Best for Geared Powerlifting
- A Thoughtful Pursuit of Strength by Chad Wesley Smith – Best for Athletic Development
- The Reactive Training Manual: Developing Your Own Custom Program for Powerlifting by Mike Tuchscherer – Best for Autoregulated Training
- The Powerlifting Program Design Manual by Chad Wesley Smith – Best for Powerlifting Coaches
- Scientific Principles of Strength Training by Dr. Mike Israetel, Dr. James Hoffmann, and Chad Wesley Smith – Best Overall
- Coan The Man, The Myth, The Method: The Life, Times and Training of The Greatest Powerlifter of All-Time by Marty Gallagher – Best Biography
Over the years, I’ve rigorously studied powerlifting and have sought to find the best resources possible.
In this article, I will discuss the 10 best powerlifting books and give a brief synopsis and rating of each one. I will also explain how we chose each of these books, and what to look for when purchasing a book about powerlifting.
Table of Contents
Featured Powerlifting Books
- Scientific Principles of Strength Training by Dr. Mike Israetel, Dr. James Hoffmann, and Chad Wesley Smith – Best Overall
- Jailhouse Strong: 8 x 8 Off-Season Powerlifting Program by Josh Bryant and Adam Benshea – Best for Budget
- Coan The Man, The Myth, The Method: The Life, Times and Training of The Greatest Powerlifter of All-Time by Marty Gallagher – Best Biography
10 Best Powerlifting Books for 2024
1. Powerlifting: A Scientific Approach by Frederick C. Hatfield Ph.D. – Best for Beginners
Rating: 4.5/5
Pros
- Book starts with beginners in mind
- Written by one of the best powerlifters of all time
- Includes how to prepare on meet day
Cons
- Some may consider the book slightly dated. It was released in the 1980s.
Powerlifting: A Scientific Approach is among many great training resources from Frederick C. Hatfield. When someone is so good at powerlifting that they are nicknamed “Dr. Squat,” you should probably pay attention to what they say. Fred Hatfield is one of the best lifters and most respected people in the sport.
This book is great for everyone, particularly the beginner lifter, because it explains all the basic components of powerlifting. It begins with a basic explanation of what the sport actually is. From there, it goes into how to build a foundation to succeed in competitive powerlifting, a breakdown of each lift, diet, nutrition advice for powerlifting, and so on. Being an earlier resource compared to what many people recommend now, it can be a great place to start.
If you’re new to the sport, check out this article about how to start powerlifting.
2. Powerlifting: The Complete Guide to Technique, Training, and Competition by Dan Austin and Bryan Mann – Best for Intermediates
Rating: 4.5/5
Pros
- Includes competition and off-season programs
- Includes gender-specific program examples
- Includes nutrition recommendations
Cons
- Is a textbook, which for some may be difficult to read compared to the other books on the list.
Powerlifting: The Complete Guide to Technique, Training, and Competition by Dan Austin and Bryan Mann is a comprehensive resource on all things powerlifting. It goes into many of the same topics as the book by Fred Hatfield but is quite a bit longer. It goes into more detail, making it a great resource for an intermediate lifter.
The book begins by thoroughly explaining the physiological changes that occur during strength training. It goes into some of the changes that occur to muscle fibers and changes in the nervous system with training. This is a great place to start if you don’t have a strong physiology background. After establishing a physiology understanding, the text provides in-depth instruction on each lift, training periodization, advanced training techniques, meet-day advice, etc.
Dan Austin has won many world and national championships for good reason. Bryan Mann continues to excel in strength and conditioning and has solidified himself as one of the foremost experts in velocity-based training. Anything that either of them has written is worth taking the time to study.
Check out this article to know what a good first meet looks like and if you’re wondering if you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced lifter.
3. 5/3/1 for Powerlifting: Simple and Effective Training for Maximum Strength by Jim Wendler – Best for Simplicity
Rating: 4.5/5
Pros
- One of the most popular training programs of all time
- Very straightforward how to progress throughout the program
- This version includes how to peak for a powerlifting meet
Cons
- May not produce great results for a more advanced lifter
5/3/1 for Powerlifting: Simple and Effective Training for Maximum Strength by Jim Wendler is one of the most popular training programs of all time. 5/3/1 was first released in 2009 and is still among the most widely used programs.
5/3/1 has remained so popular because it is a simple and straightforward program that brings results. The program is called 5/3/1 because you have a week focusing on sets of 5, a week focusing on sets of 3, and a week working up to a heavy single. The percentages are laid out in the program, but the last set is always a plus set where you try and go past the prescribed reps and perform as many reps as possible.
Over the years, Wendler has written many iterations of this program to keep it evolving and give more options to those that follow it. This particular version is written with powerlifting in mind and offers advice on which equipment to get, how to prepare for your first meet, and what items you need to have with you at a meet. At some point, everyone should familiarize themselves with the 5/3/1 program.
4. Jailhouse Strong: 8 x 8 Off-Season Powerlifting Program by Josh Bryant and Adam Benshea – Best for Budget
Rating: 4/5
Pros
- Very detailed high volume off-season program
- Program inspired by bodybuilding great Vince Gironda
- Written by Josh Bryant, who coaches many of the best powerlifters in the world
Cons
- Only discusses the off-season, does not include how to peak for a meet
Jailhouse Strong: 8 x 8 Off-Season Powerlifting Program by Josh Bryant and Adam Benshea provides great insight into having an effective off-season, putting on muscle, and building work capacity. The Jailhouse Strong mantra has offered many unique approaches to training.
Josh Bryant has spoken about how he only writes a book when he sees a need. This book came out when high-intensity programs were very popular. Everyone was training very heavy all year and never took the time to build muscle far from competition.
The program in this book is based on the training of renowned bodybuilder and trainer Vince Gironda. This training involves doing 8 sets of 8 reps of each exercise with about 40% of your max, with only 15-30 seconds rest between each set. This helps build muscle and work capacity, which in the long term, will lead to success on the platform.
Josh Bryant has used a similar approach with some of the best powerlifters ever, including Julius Maddox, the current world record holder in the bench press. This book is a quick read and is offered at a great price.
Check out this link for a program critique and many other great options, like the Buff Dudes program.
5. Westside Barbell: Book of Methods by Louie Simmons – Best for Geared Powerlifting
Rating: 4/5
Pros
- Teaches about the history of powerlifting
- Explains the history of Westside Barbell and their unique training methods
- Written by one of the most influential strength coaches of all time
Cons
- Many may consider Westside’s methods most beneficial for geared powerlifting and not raw powerlifting.
Westside Barbell: Book of Methods by Louie Simmons has changed how many people think about training. Louie introduced many new concepts to the training world, and many people sought to replicate his methods.
This manual introduces the Conjugate Method of training, a training program that seeks to improve all athletic qualities at once and focuses on weaknesses. The book talks in depth about the maximal, dynamic, and repeated effort methods. It also gives an in-depth breakdown of how to train for each of the three competitive lifts.
Another important teaching is using accommodating resistance in training. Louie was one of the first to use bands and chains in training to change the force-velocity curve. Louie had a tremendous impact on the strength world, even more evident with his recent passing. The concepts in this book are great for everyone to read, but it is important to point out that the training is ideally used with geared powerlifters.
One of the many impressive things about Louie was how long he competed at a high level. Check out this article on Powerlifting For Over 40.
6. A Thoughtful Pursuit of Strength by Chad Wesley Smith – Best for Athletic Development
Rating: 4/5
Pros:
- Teaches concepts for long-term athletic development
- Introduces many conditioning options for strength athletes
- Includes a variety of programs to follow
Cons:
- Focuses some on other strength sports, as well as field/court athletes. If you’re only interested in powerlifting, you may not be interested in certain parts of the book.
A Thoughtful Pursuit of Strength by Chad Wesley Smith was a book that I read when it first came out, which is also right around the time I started powerlifting. I credit it with helping me avoid many mistakes in my training. This book is the best for athletic development because a key takeaway from the book is how to develop sustainable and long-term training programs.
An important concept in the book is the idea of the pyramid of strength. When the book was written, the most advanced lifter at the top of the pyramid, Andrey Milanichev, had to do the most specific training to get better. For people at the bottom or the middle of the pyramid, a greater variety of exercises and training means can be used to improve.
7. The Reactive Training Manual: Developing Your Own Custom Program for Powerlifting by Mike Tuchscherer – Best for Autoregulated Training
Rating: 4/5
Pros:
- Teaches how to autoregulate training
- Explains how to use RPE-based training
- Shorter than most of the other books on the list
Cons
- Programming examples are given, but there are no specific programs to follow since the book's goal is to help you program for yourself
The Reactive Training Manual: Developing Your Own Custom Program for Powerlifting by Mike Tuchscherer is a great resource for learning how to appropriately autoregulate your training program, meaning that you can adjust training based on how you feel.
Mike Tuchshcerer is the first person to start using RPE, rate of perceived exertion, with lifting. The RPE scale has long been used for cardiovascular exercise but has only recently adapted to lifting. Many lifters now train using this method.
The book gives a great explanation of what RPE is and how to use it in training. Tuchshcerer also advises what to track in your training and what to do with that information afterward. Studying this book and learning how to use RPE is one of the best ways to autoregulate your training.
8. The Powerlifting Program Design Manual by Chad Wesley Smith – Best for Powerlifting Coaches
Rating: 4.5/5
Pros:
- Teaches how to write unique programs for any lifter
- Teaches how to assess an athlete’s qualifications
- Explains how to lay out appropriate training phases into competition
Cons
- Book is most beneficial for coaches that program for a variety of lifters
The Powerlifting Program Design Manual by Chad Wesley Smith is truly a great resource to learn how to program for each athlete. The book goes into great detail to teach the reader how to individualize a lifter’s program based on height, weight, age, gender, and several other factors.
This book is the best option for powerlifting coaches. It will give you a better understanding of how to account for individual differences between lifters so that you can make a great program for a 5’2” 110 lb female new to lifting or a 6’3” 300 lb behemoth with years of training under his belt.
9. Scientific Principles of Strength Training by Dr. Mike Israetel, Dr. James Hoffmann, and Chad Wesley Smith – Best Overall
Rating: 4.5/5
Pros
- Explains important principles to base all training programs off of
- Explains appropriate training volumes for hypertrophy, strength, and peaking
- Debunks popular powerlifting myths
Cons
- There are no programs in the book, because the goal of the book is to teach you how to program for yourself
Scientific Principles of Strength Training by Dr. Mike Israetel, Dr. James Hoffmann, and Chad Wesley Smith is a book that I recommend to anyone interested in strength training. I’ve recommended it to both interns and athletes, and it’s great whether you’re only interested in powerlifting or if you’re interested in sports performance as well.
The book discusses 7 scientific principles: specificity, overload, fatigue management, stimulus recovery adaptation, variation, phase potentiation, and individual differences. The book explains these principles at length because having a solid understanding of these principles will allow you to write effective training programs.
This book is the best overall because it gives you the tools to be successful on your own. It also gives you a lens to use when critiquing all the programs you may encounter. It also explains what happens when you violate these principles and helps you avoid many popular training fads.
10. Coan The Man, The Myth, The Method: The Life, Times and Training of The Greatest Powerlifter of All-Time by Marty Gallagher – Best Biography
Rating: 4/5
Pros
- Teaches the training approach of the powerlifting GOAT
- Explains the mindset of a champion
- More personal than other powerlifting books
Cons
- Trying to replicate the training of the best athletes isn’t what most people need
Coan The Man, The Myth, The Method: The Life, Times and Training of The Greatest Powerlifter of All-Time by Marty Gallagher provides insight on how to train like the best. Ed Coan still does seminars and provides insight into the training that got him to the top.
This book provides insight into Coan’s life, upbringing, and competitive history. Through trial and error, Coan learned many innovative training methods that allowed him to break many world records in multiple weight classes.
This book is a great biographical read. A lot can be taken and applied from studying the best in the world.
Why You Should Trust PowerliftingTechnique
Our team comprises powerlifting coaches who have competed and worked with athletes at the highest levels. We understand the importance of bettering your education on training, and our recommendations are based on our experience with what works.
In my journey as a strength coach, I’ve read everything I could get my hands on to understand training better. Not only have I read the books on the list, but I’ve applied what they teach to my athletes. I’ve found myself referencing and rereading these books often to get new pieces of information that I may have missed.
How We Chose the Best Powerlifting Books
Many of these books are books that have stood the test of time. By now, many people have read these books and used them to be successful in powerlifting and be successful as coaches.
Many of the authors of these books were high-level powerlifters in their own right and coached many lifters that went on to break world records. They are highly educated and can simply explain detailed training concepts.
Buying Guide: What To Look For in a Powerlifting Book
Knowing how to find the best books on powerlifting can be difficult. One of the most important things to consider is the source of information. There are several important factors to consider when evaluating a book’s author (it just so happens that these are important factors to consider in a coach as well):
- What is their educational background?
- What is their own competitive success?
- Who have they coached?
What Is the Author’s Educational Background?
An author must be educated on the topic that they are writing about. Many of the authors of the books on our list have Ph.D.s in exercise science-related fields.
Formal education is certainly not the only way to obtain a solid education or prove that you are an expert in your field. It is important, however, that the author can show the reader that they are a credible source. Many authors may have had unique experiences in their upbringing or competitive career that allowed them to obtain their knowledge differently.
What Is Their Own Competitive Success?
Considering what the author achieved in their powerlifting career is important. It certainly is not necessary that someone reach an elite level or be a world record holder to be an authority on powerlifting. However, it is helpful if they have competed and achieved some level of success so that they can understand what other athletes are experiencing.
Many of the author’s on our list competed internationally, and some even set world records. Pushing your body to achieve a physical goal adds another layer of credibility.
Who Have They Coached?
A credible author should have coached many athletes that have reached a high level. Being able to do that shows that their methods are effective.
Some people can excel in powerlifting on their own because of great genetics, but they aren’t able to apply their knowledge to help someone else succeed in the sport. The author’s on our list were great competitors themselves but also coached athletes to reach an equal or even higher level of success.
These 3 factors can help decide if a powerlifting book is worth reading. The author should be able to check all three boxes. As more people read their books, more people should have success if their methods are sound.
Final Verdict
Thoroughly studying the best powerlifting books is essential in your powerlifting journey. My personal favorite powerlifting book is Scientific Principles of Strength Training by Dr. Mike Israetel, Dr. James Hoffmann, and Chad Wesley Smith because it teaches the principles of creating an individualized program for yourself. It can help you create a program based on your experience level that is catered to your weaknesses.
All of these books can help you in your powerlifting training. Consider exactly what you need help with, and start with the book that most closely matches. Eventually, you’ll want to read them all, so get started right now!
Check also: The Best Weightlifting Books
About The Author
Derek Reasch is a strength and conditioning coach with experience coaching at the Division I, Division II, and NAIA levels. Previously, he worked as a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. He holds a Master’s in Kinesiology and a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science. As a competitive powerlifter, he has achieved an elite total in several weight classes. He currently is focused on his online coaching and apparel business, Reaschmode Athletics.
