One of these titles is Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier. It has sold approaching 450 000 copies, a figure which would make it one of the best sellers in any category of book. The reason? The book is simply unsurpassed it what it can give a reader.

If you want to know exactly how to make the most of any gym exercise, one that involves weights or resistance, then this book is 'the bible'. You can wander round any gym and see people making a complete and utter hash of something that should be simple. The illustrations in Strength Training Anatomy make things simple.

Forget 'gym lore' which is often as bad as tip based instruction in Golf magazines, advice which can never be as effective as it should be because its only a 'tweak', not pulling together basic methods. If you follow the methods in this book, you will make the most of a workout.

The 'new' (actually its about 10 years old) facet fo fitness is using an exercise, or Swiss, ball. Its perfect for making the most of what is widely known as 'core stability' - and end to bad backs is another way of describing how balancing helps anyone.

A book that helps show virtually all the ways that using an exercise ball needs to be illustrated throughout. (By the way, for those who have no idea what this is all about and need forewarning if they get one as a Christmas present, look out for a space hopper minus the ears - and don't laugh or cry if you get one because it will be good for you).

Strength Ball Training (by Goldenberg and Twist) is just that book, 69 exercises perfectly illustrated, pictures accompanied by simple but thorough descriptions of just what to do, plus advanced workouts as well. It will be a second book that anyone in sports training will smile about if they receive a copy as a Christmas Present. Buy it!

Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier

Human Kinetics

www.humankinetics.com0-7360-6368-4

Strength Ball Training by Lorne Goldenberg and Peter Twist

Human Kinetics

www.humankinetics.com0-7360-3828-0