Best Bodyweight Exercises Book List

The following is a list of the best body weight exercise books that we recommend to add to your list of reading. We started this list back in 2013 and have been updating ever since.

Check out more information on these books along with reviews and more details on Best Body Weight Exercises Book List.

#25 Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy by Bret Contreras

Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy by Bret Contreras offers a comprehensive guide to improving strength, building muscle mass, burning fat, and sculpting muscles without the need for weights or expensive equipment. Packed with colorful anatomical illustrations and clear instructions, this book provides 156 effective bodyweight exercises targeting all major muscle groups.

With expert advice from Bret Contreras, renowned strength trainer, you’ll learn how to customize your workout routine to keep progressing and avoid plateaus. Each exercise is accompanied by detailed anatomical artwork, giving insight into the muscles involved. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned fitness enthusiast, this resource is invaluable for home, travel, or on-the-go workouts, providing a go-to reference for achieving your fitness goals.

Check availability and price at Amazon.com

#24 The Naked Warrior by Pavel Tsatsouline

The Naked Warrior is a master-class in minimalist strength training, written by former Spetsnaz instructor Pavel Tsatsouline. Rather than chasing high reps or bulky muscles, Pavel’s focus is on maximal strength using only two bodyweight exercises: the one-arm push-up and the pistol squat.

Pavel breaks down high-tension techniques—drawing from martial arts traditions—to teach you how to generate serious force through full-body tension and smart breathing. A core tenet of the book is the idea that “strength is a skill,” not just raw power. Pavel outlines his “Grease the Groove” (GTG) method, where you practice submaximal reps frequently throughout the day to build neural efficiency without burning out.

While the book is fairly narrow in exercise variety, many readers praise its clarity, depth, and long-term value. If you’re serious about getting strong without weights—just using your own body—The Naked Warrior offers a powerful and disciplined path.

Check availability for The Naked Warrior by Pavel Tsatsouline at Amazon.com

#24 Bodyweight Training and Calisthenics by James Atkinson

This book is a highly accessible and practical guide for anyone looking to get into calisthenics or bodyweight training. Whether you’re brand new to exercise, older, or want to workout on the go, Bodyweight Training & Calisthenics lays out a clear progression system. According to the author’s description, it helps you develop strong, functional movement without needing a gym — it works for total beginners, seasoned trainees, or anyone who wants to train without heavy equipment.

Atkinson doesn’t just dump exercises on you — he also gives you multiple pre-made routines, plus blank program cards so you can build and track your own workouts. He covers key concepts like isometric holds and negative (eccentric) training to help you safely increase strength.

The book is relatively concise (around 190 pages), but it’s packed with value: full‑body workouts, progressions for core work, and functional training plans designed for different ability levels.

Check availability for Bodyweight Training and Calisthenics by James Atkinson at Amazon.com

#23 Bodyweight Exercises For Extraordinary Strength by Brad Johnson

#22 The Power of Push-Ups by Rodney C. Womack III

#21 You Are Your Own Gym By Mark Lauren

#20 7 Weeks To 50 Pull-Ups by Brett Stewart

#19 Never Gymless by Ross Enamait

#18 Gymless by Alistair Ramsay (digital product)

#17 Dinosaur Bodyweight Training by Brooks Kubik

#16 Building The Gymnastic Body by Christopher Sommer

#15 7 Weeks to 100 Push-Ups by Steve Speirs

#14 No Gym Necessary by Virgil Aponte (digital product)

#13 The Weightless Workout by Health for Life

Hard Core Fitness: Training Developed in Some of America’s Toughest Prisons

#12 The Muscle Experiment by Mike Thiga (digital product)

#11 Solitary Fitness by Charles Bronson

#10 Pace: The 12-Minute Fitness Revolution (Exercise Workout Books)

#9 Bodyweight Exercise Revolution by Adam Steer (digital product)

#8 Bigger Leaner Stronger by Michael Matthews

Michael Matthews’ Bigger Leaner Stronger cuts through the noise of fitness hype with a straightforward, science-based blueprint for building muscle and burning fat. Matthews emphasizes progressive overload — consistently increasing weight or reps — as the core driver of strength and hypertrophy. He argues against long, exhausting workouts, recommending efficient training sessions of 45–60 minutes and using mostly compound lifts (squat, deadlift, bench, row) for maximum benefit.

In his view, consistent effort, smart programming, and tracking your progress are way more important than chasing fancy trends or “muscle confusion.” On the nutrition side, Matthews gives practical, realistic advice — you don’t need to live on chicken breast and broccoli, but you do need to manage calories and protein intelligently.

He debunks common diet myths, lays out a flexible plan for calculating macros, and even covers refeed days to help manage metabolism. While many readers praise the straightforward, no-BS approach, some critics say the book is padded with a lot of motivational talk and that the actual training program occupies only a fraction of its pages.

Still, for men who want a clear, evidence-based roadmap to getting stronger and leaner — without gimmicks — Bigger Leaner Stronger delivers.

Check price and availability for Bigger Leaner Stronger by Michael Matthews at Amazon.com

#7 Mad Skill Exercises Encyclopedia by Ben Musholt

Ben Musholt’s Mad Skills Exercise Encyclopedia is a seriously deep and diverse resource, stuffed with over 1,000 illustrated exercises that span bodyweight calisthenics, kettlebell drills, barbell lifts, mobility flows, yoga postures, and even partner-based skills.

Whether you’re training at home, in a garage gym, or in a more formal setting, this book gives you options to scale up or regress most movements — making it accessible for beginners and advanced athletes alike.

The clean illustrations + terse descriptions let you quickly understand how to do each movement without fluff, so it’s easy to flip through and pull out exactly what you need for strength, mobility, or conditioning.

What makes Mad Skills especially valuable is how it elevates training quality without forcing a rigid program. Musholt doesn’t just list exercises — he gives you a philosophy: develop broad movement capacity, play with different patterns, and don’t get stuck doing the same old stuff.

The book also includes programming guidance, warm-up and cool-down suggestions, and sample workouts in the downloadable package. It’s a fantastic tool if you want to build well-rounded athleticism, avoid boredom in your routine, and create workouts that challenge more than just brute strength.

Check availability and price for Mad Skills Exercises at Amazon.com

#6 Complete Calisthenics by Ashley Kalym

Ashley Kalym’s Complete Calisthenics is a truly comprehensive guide to building strength, agility, and endurance using only your body. In its second edition, the book spans over 330 pages and lays out everything from basic push‑ups and pull‑ups to advanced gymnastic-style movements like the planche, front and back lever, muscle-ups, and handstand push-ups.

Kalym doesn’t just throw an exercise list at you — he offers progressions and regressions for nearly every skill, so whether you’re a complete beginner or already comfortable with pull-ups, there’s a clear path forward.

Beyond skills, he covers workout preparation, mobility, and even nutrition, offering simple props, rest and recovery guidelines, and his own sample diet. What really sets this book apart is its structure and accessibility. Kalym breaks down each movement with over 500 detailed photographs, making it easy to understand exactly how to perform each exercise safely and effectively. He also provides training templates and routines, helping you build a personalized calisthenics program.

In the newest edition, he expands on muscle-building exercises, shares recovery strategies, and even includes original recipes and entries from his food diary — a smart mix of performance and practicality. While some users note that beginners who are very out of shape might need more help building capacity, many highlight the book’s thorough progression system and real depth as a major strength.

Check availability and price for Complete Calisthenics at Amazon.com

#5 Bullet Proof Abs – Beyond Crunches by Pavel Tsatsouline

Pavel Tsatsouline’s Bullet‑Proof Abs cuts straight through the fluff and popular misconceptions around core training. Instead of prescribing endless crunches, Pavel argues that traditional ab work is inefficient—and even potentially harmful.

Drawing on his experience as a Soviet Special Forces conditioning coach, he presents a set of highly effective, low-rep exercises designed to build maximum abdominal strength in minimum time. Rather than chasing the burn, Pavel emphasizes high tension, smart breathing, and powerful movements that challenge your core without trashing your spine.

The second edition is concise — just about 128 pages — but packed with value. Pavel includes biomechanical principles, clear illustrations, and a progression plan that’s accessible even if you don’t have fancy equipment.

There’s also a controversial but useful discussion of the “Pavelizer,” a partner-based or device-assisted variant of the Janda sit-up. While some readers take issue with the product mentions, most agree the core methodology is solid, practical, and tailored for real strength, not just aesthetics.

Check price and availability for Bulletproof Abs by Pavel Tsatsouline at Amazon.com

#4 8 Weeks to SEALFIT by Coach Mark Divine

Mark Divine’s 8 Weeks to SEALFIT is a powerful, no-excuses program that blends elite Navy SEAL training principles with mental toughness and self-mastery. Over the course of eight weeks, Divine guides you through a structured routine that builds work capacity, functional strength, and resilience – all while leaning on minimal equipment.

He distills SEAL character traits like discipline, honor, courage, and determination into everyday training, reinforcing them with philosophies drawn from his years as a SEAL Commander.

What makes this book especially valuable (read our review) is that it’s not just about raw physical training—it also trains the mind. Divine weaves in mental workouts, journaling exercises, meditation, and reflections to help you forge an “Unbeatable Mind.”

Along with the physical workouts, there’s a practical nutrition plan to support performance without overcomplicating things. By the end of the program, readers aren’t just stronger—they’ve built the mindset and habits to lead under pressure, embrace discomfort, and push beyond their perceived limits.

Check availability for 8 Weeks to SEALFIT at Amazon.com

#3 Herschel Walker’s Basic Training Workout Series

Herschel Walker’s Basic Training is a rare gem in the fitness world because it’s built on the raw, no‑gym, bodyweight‑only training philosophy that made Walker a football legend. Instead of lifting heavy weights, Walker’s program leans heavily on push‑ups, sit‑ups, pull‑ups, squats, lunges, dips, and sprinting.
His commitment to high-rep calisthenics is the core of his system. Walker’s daily routine once included thousands of push-ups and sit-ups—and he still emphasizes cardio, mobility, and functional strength.

Because the training is based on such basic movements, it’s surprisingly accessible—anyone can try it without expensive equipment, but it demands discipline.

What makes Basic Training really compelling is how it ties Walker’s workout philosophy to his life story of grit, consistency, and self discipline. He doesn’t just drop workouts; he backs them with the mindset that forged his legendary career: running hills, doing endless reps, and treating every workout as a way to test mental toughness.

That said, the book isn’t for the faint of heart. The volume of work is intense, and it’s not structured around rest days or beginner-friendly weights. If you’re looking for a hardcore, back-to-basics program that builds unshakeable work capacity—and you’re ready to commit to bodyweight volume—this book is a powerful blueprint.

Check price at Amazon.com

#2 Flowfit DVD by Scott Sonnon

FlowFit is a compact, no-equipment-needed workout DVD led by trainer Scott Sonnon, designed to burn fat and boost strength in short, effective routines. Over the course of roughly 50 minutes, you’re guided through a series of scientifically sound exercises that scale to all fitness levels—whether you’re just starting out or already lean and mobile.

One of its biggest strengths is accessibility: you don’t need any special tools, just your own bodyweight, making it ideal for home workouts or travel. Feedback is mixed—some users praise its effectiveness and simplicity, while others note that the production quality could be sharper and that a bit more variety would keep it from feeling repetitive.

Check availability for Flowfit by Scott Sonnon at Amazon.com

#1 CONVICT CONDITIONING BY PAUL WADE

Convict Conditioning is a no-frills, high-intensity bodyweight training manual built on the vision of survival strength. Author Paul Wade, drawing on alleged prison training methods, centers his system on six foundational exercises—push‑ups, pull‑ups, squats, leg raises, bridges, and handstand push‑ups—which he calls the “Big Six.”

Each exercise has a 10-step progression, starting from easy variations anyone can do (like wall push-ups) and advancing eventually toward highly demanding moves (such as one-arm push-ups and one-arm pull-ups).

Wade’s approach emphasizes tendon strength, joint resilience, and slow, controlled movement over the flashy or high-volume routines popular in modern gyms.

What makes the book particularly compelling is its minimalist, equipment-free philosophy: you don’t need a gym—just your body (and maybe a bar or a makeshift setup) to get strong.

Over time, by progressing through the steps with patience, you can build seriously functional strength that isn’t just about muscle, but power, stability, and structural integrity. Reviewers praise the long-term viability of the system, though some note that the narrative framing (the prison metaphors, etc.) can feel overdone at times. If you’re looking for a bodyweight training program built for grit, longevity, and raw strength, Convict Conditioning delivers.

Check availability for Convict Conditioning by Coach Paul Wade at Amazon.com

RUNNER UPS:
The Ultimate Guide To Push-Ups by David Nordmark
Max Capacity Training by Samy Peyret
Body Sculpting Bodyweight Exercises for Women by Eddie Baran
Turbulence Training by Craig Ballantyne (multiple digital products)
Monkey Fit: 21 Functional Bodyweight Drills & Exercises by Tim Jones
Grinder Strength Pull-Ups by Brad McLeod (digital product)
Fitness On A Swing Set by Karen M. Goeller

Hand-Balancing for Muscular Development by Bill Hinbern
The Ultimate Guide To Handstand Push-Ups by Christopher Logan
Maximum Muscular Fitness by Dan Riley
The Gravity Advantage by Paul Zaichik
The Gravity Advantage Max by Paul Zaichik
The Power of One by Paul Zaichik
Ultimate Wrestling Power by Steve Preston (digital product)
Workout Without Weights by Eddie Lomax (digital product)
Parallettes One (P1) by Ryan Hurst & Gold Medal Bodies (digital product)
Rings One (R1) by Ryan Hurst & Gold Medal Bodies (digital product)

Travis Stoetzel bodyweight exercise books:
Bags, Bells and Bodyweight Ebook

Lean Hybrid Muscle- Bodyweight Edition by Elliot Hulse (digital product)
Final Phase Fat Loss- Bodyweight Edition by Adam Steer (digital product)
Primal Blueprint Fitness by Mark Sisson (digital product)
Combat Conditioning by Matt Furey
Working Out Without Weights by Chuck Gaylord
NHB Strength Training by Lloyd Irving
Wildman Training Manual & Course by John Grube
The Body Weight Solution by Tim Bell (digital product)
The Silverback Program by Tim Bell (digital product)
The Bodyweight Blueprint for Fat Loss by Adam Steer (digital product)
The Underground Guide To Warrior Fitness: High Performance Bodyweight Training
Ultimate Gymless Workout by Eddie Lomax (digital product)
Lightning Speed Fitness by Roger Haeske (digital product)
Death, Taxes, & Push-Ups by Ted Skup
Fit by Nature by John Colver
The Navy Seal Workout by Mark De Lisle
This is an old school SEAL workout book that is still a great one today.

The Backyard Workout by Rhadi Ferguson (digital product)
The Bodyweight Blitz by Brian & Shawn Fitzmaurice (digital product)
TBK Fitness Program Tamir Katz
Lose The Weights! by Erik Boudreau
Gym-Free and Ripped by Nathan Kendrick
Bodyweight Power by Bryce Lane
Fitness Secrets of the Road Ninja by Bryce Lane

Zen Martinoli’s 5 Minute Fitness by Zen Martinoli
Convict Conditioning 2 by Paul Wade
A Mighty River of Steel by Bryce Lane
Bodyweight Blast X by Ryan Cooper (digital product)
Overcoming Gravity by Steven Low
Felon Fitness by William Kroger & Trey Teufel
Free Machine Workout Push-Up Report by Stan Hersk (digital product)
7 Weeks To getting Ripped by Brett Stewart
Ross Enamait never gymless pdf download
Turbulence Training workout by Craig Ballentyne
More Ebooks @ TurbulenceTraining.com

If you know of additional recommended books to add to our list of the Best Body Weight Exercise Book List – please email brad@sealgrinderpt.com or add in comments below.

Questions from athletes in our gym and readers online.

Question: Do you have a list of never gymless exercises?
Yes; check here for Never Gymless : An Excuse-free System for Total Fitness.

Question: Is the book “Bodyweight Power” by Bryce Lane a good one? Yes; check out reviews of Bodyweight Power here.

Question: Do you have any reviews for dinosaur bodyweight training? Yes; Check out reviews for Dinosaur Bodyweight Training here.

Question: Where can I get the “Power of One” workout book? Check here for The Power of One: Functional Strength Through Unilateral Bodyweight Techniques.

Question: Where can I find the never gymless free pdf? Check it out here.

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Fearless – The Story of SEAL Team Six Operator Adam Brown
Navy SEAL Fitness by Stew Smith
Check out the Unbeatable Mind Academy Review
Convict Conditioning Paul Wade Interview
Best Fitness E-Book List