GET STRONG! Body By Jake's Guide to Building Confidence, Muscles and a Great Future for Teenage Guys

Fitness motivator Jake Steinfeld, the man behind Body by Jake, wants to pump you up. In his superpositive guide, Jake supplies readers with the tools for success in life, asking them to provide the effort and the commitment. Before he even describes the first physical exercise, this relentlessly upbeat trainer urges his new trainees to do some serious mental workouts. Readers are asked to stand in front of a mirror and evaluate how they see themselves, physically and mentally. Throughout, Jake includes dozens of stories of guys--including himself--who sat around on their "buttisimos" until they started setting goals for themselves. Don't worry, it's not all "rapadoo" (motivational speak). The center chapter describes in detail the Get Strong Workout, complete with warmup stretches; power, stamina, and strength training; and daily exercises for abs, shoulders, triceps, back, etc.

For guys who can't abide the gentler Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul approach to self-help, Body by Jake provides a tough (but caring), masculine (dare we say macho?) alternative. There's good information about diet, steroid use, leadership, and mental health, in addition to the strength- and confidence-building rapadoo. (Ages 13 and older) --Emilie Coulter