So here's a question: you're a guy who's inundated with images of men whose rippling muscles are being used to sell everything from Abercrombie & Fitch shirts to Men's Health magazine. You'd like to have muscles like that, but you've never worked out and have no clue how to begin. Where do you turn?

Basic Training is as good a place as any. It explains the fitness nomenclature, tells you exactly how and where to begin, and offers a very realistic view of just how fast you should expect your progress to be. (Not very, but the book still enumerates the many reasons why you should begin the journey, including immune-system improvements and stronger bones.)

The descriptions of exercises are more conversational and detailed than any you'll find, and the photos by David Morgan offer very clear illustrations of the moves. One word of warning: those photos--including close-ups of bulging shorts and bare gluteals--will probably be as big a turn-off to some readers as they will be motivational to others. --Lou Schuler