(... continued)

With respect to intensity, Rob introduces a model which differentiates
between effort intensity (how close you are to your maximum exertion),
relative intensity (how your performance changes over time relative to a
set standard) and anabolic intensity (how the hormonal impact of effort and
progression against a standard maximize muscle growth, fat burning and
metabolic health).

Another thing Rob has done which is very innovative is to publish his book
and then engage in an active dialogue about his ideas on his
www.extique.com site.  The Ask Rob pages of the Extique site are like a
personal tutorial from the author; you can watch the second edition of NHE
emerge by the day.  Although Rob appears dogmatic and passionate almost to
the point of being obsessive at some places on his site, this is, in fact,
far from the case.  He has already accepted from a reader an amendment to
his book and it is clear that his commitment to open scientific discussion
is even greater than his commitment to NHE.  This openness is reminiscent
of Bruce Lee.  Rob in the book is more measured and conventional than Rob
on his web site.

My main disappointment in the book is that he explains the hormonal effect
of exercise and of macronutrient cycling, but he does not go on to discuss
the _combined_ effect of exercise and diet.  Although Rob attempts to deal
with this linkage on his web site, personally, I do not think he succeeds.
But he does not duck the issue.

NHE is not available through normal booksellers.  Rob has apparently done
this to give NHE Counsellors a source of income and credibility.  They are
the agents for his book.  (I bought my copy of NHE and also his video from
www.dragondoor.com; their service has always been excellent.)

My other disappointment is that the book has a focus on male readers.  For
most of the exercise and diet suggestions, this is irrelevant, but Rob does
refer to studies showing a direct correlation between testosterone levels
and insulin levels in women, and an inverse correlation between
testosterone levels and insulin levels in men.  There is clearly more work
to be done in this area.

The video Rob has produced, disappointingly for this reviewer, focuses on
biomechanics and correct form for the basic exercises; it does not deal
with NHE.

At the level of detail, I was delighted to find that the 1700 references
did not interfere with the flow of the book.  The book has a few more proof
reading lapses than it might have had with a mainstream publisher.
Throughout the book there are frequent helpful cross references (a model
for other writers) and the index is excellent.  The graph on page 265 of
NHE is one of the highlights of the book.  Titled Acute Hormonal Response
to Exercise, it tracks testosterone, cortisol and growth hormone over the
48 or so hours after a workout.  If you were ever under the misapprehension
that you get fit while exercising rather than during recovery, this graph
will put you right!  The graph is an expository model rather than tracking
actual hormonal measures (so the vertical axis does not have a scale) and
succeeds brilliantly at its purpose.

I thoroughly recommend NHE; it will increase your understanding of hormones
and yourself and, in maybe a small or even a large way, change your life.

Keith, Canberra, Australia

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