Starting Strength
Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoeby Mark Rippetoe
Ranked 2 of 5 health books by recommenders
People recommend it as a clear, technical guide to barbell lifting form and novice programming. Critics say some of its advice is outdated and that it produces strength rather than athletic ability.
People recommend it as a clear, technical guide to barbell lifting form and novice programming. Critics say some of its advice is outdated and that it produces strength rather than athletic ability.
8 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 6
- criticize it
- 2
- approval share
- 75%
Recommended in 5 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 6 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 3 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 5 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Good for novice lifting programs
“Unless you have elite genetics or are on juice you don't really need to go beyond those programs.”
Comment from 6 Feb 2026 in “How to carry more than your own bodyweight (2025)” “for beginners on a well designed program like “starting strength” it typically does”
Comment from 29 Dec 2025 in “Golfing Is Not Rowing” “Rippetoe gives good advice on lifting form and programming especially for novices”
Comment from 6 Feb 2026 in “How to carry more than your own bodyweight (2025)” Clear on lifting form
“Rippetoe gives good advice on lifting form and programming especially for novices”
Comment from 6 Feb 2026 in “How to carry more than your own bodyweight (2025)” “It's a great technical manual.”
Comment from 8 Mar 2026 in “Ask HN: How to Be Alone?” Foundational reference for barbell training
“I'm an adherent to the Starting Strength / Mark Rippetoe school of thought”
Comment from 12 Nov 2025 in “Ticker: Don't die of heart disease” “Your trainers clearly never read Starting Strength.”
Comment from 1 Jan 2026 in “Resistance training load does not determine hypertrophy”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Advice seen as outdated
“bunch of outdated and bad advice coming from that corner”
Comment from 1 Jan 2026 in “Resistance training load does not determine hypertrophy” Builds strength, not athletic ability
“He's great at making fat, out of shape, strongmen. He's not great at producing a fighter, tradesman, or operator.”
Comment from 6 Feb 2026 in “How to carry more than your own bodyweight (2025)”
Other health books people recommend
The four most recommended other health books, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outliveby Peter Attia | 7 | 3 | 70% | 6 | — | — |
| Starting Strengthby Mark RippetoeThis page | 6 | 2 | 75% | 5 | — | — |
| In Defense of Foodby Michael Pollan | 5 | 0 | 100% | 6 | — | — |
| Where There Is No Doctorby David Werner | 3 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Body By Scienceby McGuff and Little | 3 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
What people said
8 of the 9 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“It's a great technical manual.”
“Rippetoe gives good advice on lifting form and programming especially for novices”
“He's great at making fat, out of shape, strongmen. He's not great at producing a fighter, tradesman, or operator.”
“Unless you have elite genetics or are on juice you don't really need to go beyond those programs.”
“bunch of outdated and bad advice coming from that corner”
“Your trainers clearly never read Starting Strength.”
“for beginners on a well designed program like “starting strength” it typically does”
“I'm an adherent to the Starting Strength / Mark Rippetoe school of thought”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.