Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I struggled with how to rate this book after reading it twice. I am a newbie exerciser and was hoping to come up with a plan moving forward. I recently joined a gym and was looking for a book that would discuss weight training and how to begin this. I purchased this book because the author is a PhD like myself and I was hoping for science and a fitness approach. Many of the books and magazines have taken a consumer sales (i.e., supplements, clothing, fillers, surgery, cosmetics, lotions etc...) focus. 1. 4 stars: There were many references on how to "maintain" shape if you are an avid exerciser/ultrarunner/triathoner. The book clearly explains the importance of high intensity training and rest days (particularly after menopause). There were explanations on how to deal with the off season. Unfortunately, there were many exercises and acronyms I didn't know what they were. 2. Not a log of images of weight training or how to incorporate kettle balls which were stressed in the book. The training routines briefly outlined with details on interspersing activity with intense training days. 3. The chapter on adaptogens ("complementary alternative medications/supplements") gave me pause. I teach pharmacology and the information provided was largely sound (i.e., accurately dispelled myths and hype) but it only told part of the story. I was stunned at the cursory attention to drug-drug and drug-disorder interactions with the few supplements that were mentioned. Given this books focus toward perimenopausal/menopausal women who are more likely to be on medication (i.e., thyroid medication, hypertension, diabetes, anticoagulants) this glaring ommission was surprising. I will illustrate this point with one plants - Ashwagandha. The section contains a caution about impact on thyroid hormone and ends there. No mention of category C (probable) liver toxicity (reference: livertox.NIH.gov). It also lacks a warning about miscarriages. It's dangerous to assume your perimenopausal or even menopausal reader isn't pregnant. Ashwagandha may activate the immune system which may increase symptoms for many autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, SLE or RA (reference: Medline). If you are going to the operating room beware that Ashwagandha may impact the anesthesia - lowers blood sugar and blood pressure (reference: Medline). 4. I was expecting a textbook style. I found the writing a curious mix of styles - part scientific journal and part fitness magazine. The style of writing was friendly like a blog or to a friend and not serious (which is I guess what I was looking for). When I re-read the description - I see the word "maintain" your fitness and this message is key in this book. The 5 star reviewers mention this authors blog and this is clearly the intended audience for this book. End assessment: This is a great book with excellent information for the avid exerciser or elite athlete. I don't think I was the correct audience for this book. I would caution the reader to follow the recommendations in the supplement section with extreme caution. For all of the body positivity (aging) in this book it would have been nice to show the entire face of a menopausal woman on the cover without part of the face cropped out.