The presentation is extra-ordinarily satisfying. And the fact that Delavier is both a body builder and an accomplished artist gives the book an unusual appeal. ( )

Overall a solid book, full of interesting and useful information. The book does a good job describing each exercise and what it is helpful for, and provides many illustrations to help readers visualize what needs to be done. Particularly noteworthy are the illustrations that show the anatomy associated with each stretch or exercise; they are clear, easy to understand, and have a nice gender balance (unlike some books where all the illustrations are male). There is a wide range of stretches, addressing parts of the body literally from head to toe, and interesting sidebar information (like an illustration showing different forms of femur shapes and how this anatomical feature affects an individual's ability to move their leg).

I have only three complaints about the book, two minor and one substantial. On the minor end: the range of models is very small; there are two men, two women, and all of them are young, white, and fit. Given that this a book directed at athletes, the last is understandable, but it would widen the audience of this book if it included a greater diversity of physical types. On a related note, because the book is directed at a presumed audience of athletic readers, there are fewer accommodations or modifications of the poses for less-flexible people. So those are the minor complaints. A greater one is that this book does not have an index. While the table of contents is reasonably detailed, it doesn't provide enough information to find out, for example, which stretches target the psoas, nor does it give any indication of the existence of information like the femur anatomy mentioned above. Users should expect a fair amount of hunting around if they're looking for help with something not specifically mentioned in the table of contents. ( )

This book provides a large number of stretching exercises to work on flexibility, agility, and toning. I thought it interesting that the book was translated from French and only first published in 2010 (in Italy), given how many there are on stretching already.

I got a a very strong first impression. Although in paper, it is on very good quality paper with a sewn binding. The images are of high quality, and the translation is done professionally, it is not readily apparent that the book is not originally done in English.

The book has three sections, an introduction to stretching that includes some basic anatomy, details of the stretches including anatomical drawings and varying difficulties, and last program suggestions.

The introduction talks about the value of stretching, how to breathe, risks, injuries, and such. It is the kind of stuff you find in a lot of exercise books.

Most of the book is in the stretch descriptions. Each stretch has a basic and advanced version. It starts with a basic description of the stretch and muscles. All of the stretches have a version that can be done alone, some include using a partner or some kind of equipment, such as a bench or ball. The stretches are described in good details so that it is clear what you are doing and what you are trying to accomplish. They are accompanied by anatomical drawings that show the targeted muscles and includes labels for the different muscles.

The last section describes exercise programs. There are three generic programs, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Then includes expert programs that are tailored for a variety of sports.

Overall, I was very impressed with the book. However, there is one glaring omission. That is anything about the authors and why they are qualified to write such a book. They are easy to find on the internet, though.

Interested in discussing this book?
http://books.randolphking.com/?p=758 ( )

Overall, this is a useful and attractive general guide to stretching. The core of the book is a guide to over 100 stretches, arranged according to the muscle group they target. Each exercise is illustrated with both color photos and diagrams indicating which muscles are stretched. Additional diagrams and general background and advice about stretching are included. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced stretching programs, as well as several aimed at specific sports, are also included.

I believe this book could meet the needs of almost any amateur athlete or bodybuilder. In particular, versions of stretches with different levels of difficulty are provided where appropriate, so even someone just beginning a workout program will find stretches they can execute safely. Unfortunately, using the book while stretching is not as easy as it ought to be. Had a spiral binding been used, the book could lay flat on the floor or exercise bench. Instead, you'll probably need a weight to hold it open. Also, because the stretches are grouped by purpose, executing any of the suggested stretching programs will require searching through the book for the next exercise. It would have been more useful to present a sequence of stretches for beginners up front so folks who are just starting out can proceed through the program in order while learning the exercises. ( )

Such great, easy-to-use stretched--for someone who sits at a desk all day this book is a godsend! ( )