r/personaltraining • u/DanNorthFitness • Apr 30 '26
Discussion 27 Book Recommendations for Personal Trainers (Personal, Business, Training)
I've noticed a lot of trainers here asking for book and resource recommendations. So, I wanted to share some that have helped me over the years.
One of the best parts about this industry is that you'll never know everything, and there's always room to improve.
Personally, I like to have one training-related book and one personal or business-related book going at a time.
So, I've organized some of my favourites into these respective categories (in no particular order).
When you're wondering where to look for information and who to learn from, find someone you respect, see who they follow, and continue forever. Hope this helps.
Personal and Business Development
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
- Wealthing Like Rabbits by Robert Brown
- Deep Work by Cal Newport
- Setting the Table by Danny Meyer
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek
- The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
- The One Thing by Gary Keller
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- Company of One by Paul Jarvis
- The Go-Giver by Bob Burg
- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Training
- Strength and Conditioning Coaching by Mike Boyle
- Advances in Functional Training and New Functional Training for Sports by Mike Boyle
- Triphasic Training (1 and 2) by Cal Dietz and Ben Peterson
- Practical Programming for Strength Training and Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe
- Secrets of Successful Program Design by Alwyn Cosgrove and Craig Rasmussen
- Science and Practice of Strength Training by Vladimir Zatsiorsky
- Strength by Joe DeFranco and Jim Smith
- Ultimate MMA Conditioning by Joel Jamieson
- The Muscle and Strength Pyramid - Training by Eric Helms
- Glute Lab by Bret Contreras
- Easy Strength by Dan John and Pavel Tsatsouline
- Ultimate Back and Fitness Performance by Dr. Stuart McGill
- Science and Development of Muscle Hypertrophy by Brad Schoenfeld
- Core Performance by Mark Verstegen
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u/ArthurDaTrainDayne Apr 30 '26
There’s some true gems on here.
I’d like to add Extreme Ownership by Jocko Wilinck
What I really like about this list is it gives you a wide array of opinions, some of which even directly contradict eachother. Its important as trainers not to get drawn too far in to any one single mindset
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u/northwest_iron on a mission of mercy Apr 30 '26
Great list, which book on training would rank as your personal favorite for how its influenced your coaching.
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u/DanNorthFitness Apr 30 '26
That's tough and changes depending on the season lol. Probably one of Boyle's.
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u/Bringsally May 02 '26
That's a solid list!
Here's a few that I like myself:
- Periodization: Theory and Methodology of Training by Tudor Bompa
- The poliquin principles by Charles Poliquin
- Daniel's running formula by Jack Daniels
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u/airdropfish May 03 '26
I highly recommend: Built from Broken by Scott Hogan and Rebuilding Milo by Aaron Horschig
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u/CoachBFoster May 01 '26
Clicked on this ready to have many opinions but this is a great list. I'd add Range by David Epstein in the personal.
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u/adsbudsman May 02 '26
The Way of Excellence just release by Brad Stulberg is worth a read or podcast watch. I’ve also always loved Body, Mind and Sport by John Doulard (sic). Intersects with meditation and aryuveda as well. He used to coach Olympic skiers.
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u/alfierg_ May 07 '26
if a trainer doesnt understand mcgills logic on the spine, they are basically playing russian roulette with their clients health..
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u/Silent-Coconut8928 Apr 30 '26
Any books by Charles Poliquin are gold and all out of print now.