What is the best book for calisthenics?

For most people, Complete Calisthenics by Ashley Kalym is the best single book. It covers the basics and advanced skills like the planche and levers, with over 500 photos. Total beginners should start with Calisthenics for Beginners, and advanced trainees should read Overcoming Gravity by Steven Low.

Is there a book called Your Body Is Your Gym?

Yes, a few smaller books use that title, but most people searching for it mean You Are Your Own Gym by Mark Lauren. It's the better known and more complete book, with four levels and 125 exercises. Men's Health also published a similar title, Your Body Is Your Barbell.

Is You Are Your Own Gym good for beginners?

Yes. It's one of the best books for beginners who want to train at home without equipment. It offers four levels, from Basic to Chief Class, and workouts of about 30 minutes, four times a week. It's lighter on skills like handstands, so you'll need another book later.

Is Convict Conditioning still worth reading?

Yes, mainly for its progressions. Its six movements, each with 10 steps, give you a clear path from easy variations to one-arm and one-leg exercises. The programming is slow and somewhat dated, so use its progressions with a more modern weekly plan rather than following every rule.

Is Overcoming Gravity good for beginners?

It's usable, but it isn't the best starting point. At around 580 pages, it's dense and focused on programming. Most beginners do better starting with a simpler book like Calisthenics for Beginners. Overcoming Gravity becomes much more useful once you train consistently and want to write your own plans.

Can you learn calisthenics from a book?

Yes. A good book teaches you progressions, programming, and technique better than random online videos. The hard part is consistency, so pair your book with a way to track your sessions and progress. Filming your sets also helps you check your form against the photos.

The 9 Best Calisthenics Books, Beginner to Advanced

Published September 30, 2026 · 11 min read

Random YouTube workouts feel productive for a few weeks. Then you stall, because nobody told you when to progress, how many sets to do, or what comes after a push-up.

A good calisthenics book fixes that. It gives you a real program, clear progressions, and the reasoning behind them. Below are the 9 best, sorted by level, with honest notes on who each one is for.

Disclosure: I own Superhuman Strength, the free calisthenics app mentioned in this guide. Want a free program while you wait for your book to arrive? Get the free Superhuman Strength app and start training today.

Some links in this guide are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick Picks: The Best Calisthenics Books at a Glance

Book	Author	Level	Best for
You Are Your Own Gym	Mark Lauren	Beginner	No-equipment home workouts
Calisthenics for Beginners	Matt Schifferle	Beginner	Total beginners
Get Strong	Al and Danny Kavadlo	Beginner to intermediate	A fixed 16-week plan
Convict Conditioning	Paul Wade	Beginner to intermediate	Minimalist training
Complete Calisthenics	Ashley Kalym	All levels	One book that covers it all
Street Workout	Al and Danny Kavadlo	Intermediate	Bar and park skills
Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy	Bret Contreras	All levels	Building muscle
The Naked Warrior	Pavel Tsatsouline	Intermediate to advanced	Raw strength
Overcoming Gravity	Steven Low	Advanced	Planche, levers, programming

Best for total beginners: Calisthenics for Beginners. Best all-rounder: Complete Calisthenics. Best for advanced trainees: Overcoming Gravity.

How We Picked These Calisthenics Books

Plenty of calisthenics books are padded exercise lists. We looked for four things:

Programming quality. Does the book tell you what to do each session, not just which exercises exist?
Clear progressions. Can you see the next step before you reach it?
Level fit. Is it honest about who it's for?
Still relevant and in print. We dropped titles that are hard to find or lean on follow-up books that were never released.

Best Calisthenics Books for Beginners

If you're new, pick a book with a set plan. You want fewer choices, not more.

1. You Are Your Own Gym (Mark Lauren)

Author: Mark Lauren with Joshua Clark | Edition: Ballantine Books, 2011, 192 pages | Format: Paperback, Kindle | View on Amazon

Who it's for: Beginners who want to train at home with zero equipment and limited time. If you searched "your body is your gym", this is almost certainly the book you had in mind.

What's inside: Lauren trained Special Operations soldiers, and the book reflects that: short, hard sessions. The program asks for about 30 minutes, four times a week. You choose from four levels (Basic, 1st Class, Master Class, and Chief Class) and pick from 125 exercises with clear instructions.

Pros:

Four levels give you room to grow
Very little equipment needed
Short workouts that suit busy schedules

Cons:

Focused on general fitness, with little skill work like levers or handstands
The layout and photos feel dated next to newer books

Verdict: The easiest place to start if you want results without a gym or a pull-up bar. You'll outgrow it once you want skills.

2. Calisthenics for Beginners (Matt Schifferle)

Author: Matt Schifferle | Edition: Rockridge Press, 2020, 162 pages | Format: Paperback, Kindle | View on Amazon

Who it's for: Complete beginners, including people coming back to exercise after a long break. It's the most gentle calisthenics for beginners book on this list.

What's inside: Three workout programs that build in difficulty (Level 1: Start Strong, Level 2: Go Deeper, Level 3: Power Up) and more than 35 exercises with progressions. You also get sections on goal setting, cool-down stretches, recovery, a workout log, and how to build your own routines later. Schifferle is a Dragon Door Progressive Calisthenics team leader, so the progressions are sound.

Pros:

Very clear, friendly explanations
Three ready-made programs
Teaches you to write your own workouts

Cons:

You'll need a pull-up bar for some exercises
Experienced trainees will find it too basic

Verdict: The best pure calisthenics for beginners book. Expect to move on after a few months.

3. Get Strong (Al and Danny Kavadlo)

Authors: Al Kavadlo and Danny Kavadlo | Edition: Dragon Door Publications, 220 pages | Format: Paperback, Kindle | View on Amazon

Who it's for: Beginners who want a calendar to follow, week by week, with no guesswork.

What's inside: A 16-week program split into four phases. Each phase ends with a test, and the book tells you what to do whether you pass or not. It also covers nutrition and training tips. Al Kavadlo leads Dragon Door's Progressive Calisthenics Certification, and both brothers are experienced personal trainers, so the progressions come from years of coaching real clients.

Pros:

Complete week-by-week structure
Built-in tests show your progress
Moves you from basics toward intermediate work

Cons:

A fixed 16-week timeline won't suit everyone's pace
Some phases assume access to a bar

Verdict: The best calisthenics workout book if you want to be told exactly what to do. Just give yourself extra weeks if you need them.

Before you start any of these, make sure you have a no-equipment beginner routine ready on day one.

Best Calisthenics Workout Books for Intermediate Trainees

Once you can do solid push-ups, squats, and a few pull-ups, you need books that go deeper.

4. Convict Conditioning (Paul Wade)

Author: Paul "Coach" Wade | Edition: Dragon Door Publications, 2018 edition, 328 pages | Format: Paperback, Kindle | View on Amazon

Who it's for: People who like simple, minimalist training and don't want to think about exercise selection.

What's inside: Six movements, often called the "Big Six": push-ups, pull-ups, squats, leg raises, bridges, and handstand push-ups. Each has 10 progressions, from easy wall work up to one-arm and one-leg versions. You earn each step before moving on.

Pros:

Dead simple structure
The 10-step progressions are easy to track
Takes you from beginner to seriously strong

Cons:

The programming is slow and somewhat dated compared to modern thinking
The prison backstory is heavy on marketing

Verdict: Still worth reading for its progressions. Pair it with a smarter weekly plan, and don't treat every rule as gospel.

5. Complete Calisthenics (Ashley Kalym)

Author: Ashley Kalym | Edition: Second edition, North Atlantic Books, 2019, 336 pages | Format: Paperback, Kindle | View on Amazon

Who it's for: Anyone who wants one book that runs from push-ups all the way to the planche. If you searched "complete calisthenics", this is the book.

What's inside: More than 500 instructional photos. It covers push-ups, pull-ups, core, and lower body, then moves into the planche, front and back lever, handstands, handstand push-ups, and muscle-ups. The second edition adds more muscle-building work, rest and recovery guidance, and recipes.

Pros:

Covers basics and skills in one place
Huge number of photos
Includes training routines and nutrition

Cons:

Some advanced exercises need more explanation than they get
The nutrition and recipe sections add length without adding training value

Verdict: Our top all-rounder. If you only buy one calisthenics book, make it this one.

6. Street Workout (Al and Danny Kavadlo)

Authors: Al Kavadlo and Danny Kavadlo | Edition: Dragon Door Publications, 2016 | Format: Paperback, Kindle | View on Amazon

Who it's for: Intermediate trainees who train at parks, playgrounds, and bars, and want to learn street workout skills.

What's inside: It's built around five foundations: push, pull, squat, flex, and bridge. Then it moves into a skills section with progressions such as the frog stand and planche variations. The photos show each move clearly, and there are programs to follow.

Pros:

Wide coverage of both strength and skills
Teaches you to use your surroundings as equipment
Motivating, readable style

Cons:

Long, and reads more like an anthology than a single program
The authors' strong personalities won't suit every reader

Verdict: The best book for bar and park training. Great once the basics feel easy.

7. Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy (Bret Contreras)

Author: Bret Contreras | Edition: Human Kinetics, 2014, 224 pages | Format: Paperback | View on Amazon

Who it's for: Anyone whose main goal is muscle, and anyone who wants to understand what each exercise actually works. It's the best body weight exercise book for learning the "why."

What's inside: 156 exercises with more than 170 full-color anatomical illustrations. Chapters are organized by body part (arms, shoulders, chest, core, back, thighs, glutes, calves), plus a final chapter on planning your program.

Pros:

Excellent illustrations of muscles in action
Strong lower-body and glute coverage, which many calisthenics books lack
Useful for building your own routines

Cons:

More reference than program
Light on skills like levers or handstands

Verdict: A great second book. Use it alongside a program, not instead of one.

Best Calisthenics Books for Advanced Athletes

These two assume you already train consistently. They'll change how you think about strength.

8. The Naked Warrior (Pavel Tsatsouline)

Author: Pavel Tsatsouline | Edition: Dragon Door Publications, 218 pages | Format: Paperback, Kindle | View on Amazon

Who it's for: Intermediate and advanced trainees chasing pure strength rather than muscle or conditioning.

What's inside: Just two exercises: the one-arm push-up and the pistol squat. The real value is in how Pavel teaches strength as a skill, including tension techniques and the "greasing the groove" approach of frequent, submaximal practice.

Pros:

Teaches strength principles you'll use in every exercise
Short and focused
Minimal time needed per session

Cons:

Only two exercises and no pulling work
Not a balanced program on its own

Verdict: A small book with big ideas. Read it for the principles, then apply them to everything else you train.

9. Overcoming Gravity (Steven Low)

Author: Steven Low | Edition: Second edition, Battle Ground Creative, 2016, about 580 pages | Format: Paperback, Kindle | View on Amazon

Who it's for: Serious trainees aiming for the planche, front lever, and other gymnastics strength skills, and anyone who wants to write their own programs.

What's inside: A large 8.5 x 11 inch manual covering the physiology of strength, program design, injury management, and progression charts for a huge range of exercises. The second edition gives next steps for beginner, intermediate, and advanced trainees. It doesn't cover tumbling skills like cartwheels or swings.

Pros:

The most complete programming guide on this list
Progression charts for nearly every major skill
Covers injury prevention and management

Cons:

Dense, and overwhelming if you're new
Many exercises assume you have rings and bars

Verdict: The book advanced trainees keep coming back to. Buy it when you're ready to program for yourself.

Want to see where these skills sit on the difficulty scale? Check our 15 hardest calisthenics moves, ranked, and keep a calisthenics progression chart handy.

Which Calisthenics Book Should You Buy?

Match the book to your goal:

Total beginner: Calisthenics for Beginners, or Get Strong if you want a set 16-week plan.
Short on time: You Are Your Own Gym. Four short sessions a week is enough. Or try our quick morning workout.
Build muscle: Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy, paired with Complete Calisthenics.
Learn skills like the planche and front lever: Complete Calisthenics first, then Overcoming Gravity.
Train at parks and bars: Street Workout.
Older lifters: Calisthenics for Beginners. It starts easy and progresses slowly, which suits joints that need time to adapt.

Not sure what gear these books expect? You only need a few items to start: a pull-up bar, a set of parallettes or rings, and a resistance band.

Books vs Apps vs YouTube: What Actually Gets You Stronger

Each one does a different job.

YouTube is great for seeing a movement once. It's poor at telling you what to do next week, so most people end up jumping between random workouts. If you do use it, stick to a few coaches who teach real progressions.

A book gives you the theory and a real program. You learn why progressions work, how to structure a week, and when to move up.

An app helps you actually follow that plan day to day. It shows you what's next and tracks your progress, so you don't lose your place on page 214.

The best setup uses both: a book to learn, and an app to train. Read Complete Calisthenics or Overcoming Gravity to understand the method, then track your progress as you work through each step.

Once you've finished a beginner book, our intermediate workout plan is a good next step.

Final Verdict

If you're a beginner, start with Calisthenics for Beginners, or Get Strong if you want a fixed plan. If you want one book that grows with you, get Complete Calisthenics. When you're ready for the planche and front lever, Overcoming Gravity is the book to own.

Then put it into practice. Get the app free and follow your progressions from day one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best book for calisthenics?: For most people, Complete Calisthenics by Ashley Kalym is the best single book. It covers the basics and advanced skills like the planche and levers, with over 500 photos. Total beginners should start with Calisthenics for Beginners, and advanced trainees should read Overcoming Gravity by Steven Low.
Is there a book called Your Body Is Your Gym?: Yes, a few smaller books use that title, but most people searching for it mean You Are Your Own Gym by Mark Lauren. It's the better known and more complete book, with four levels and 125 exercises. Men's Health also published a similar title, Your Body Is Your Barbell.
Is You Are Your Own Gym good for beginners?: Yes. It's one of the best books for beginners who want to train at home without equipment. It offers four levels, from Basic to Chief Class, and workouts of about 30 minutes, four times a week. It's lighter on skills like handstands, so you'll need another book later.
Is Convict Conditioning still worth reading?: Yes, mainly for its progressions. Its six movements, each with 10 steps, give you a clear path from easy variations to one-arm and one-leg exercises. The programming is slow and somewhat dated, so use its progressions with a more modern weekly plan rather than following every rule.
Is Overcoming Gravity good for beginners?: It's usable, but it isn't the best starting point. At around 580 pages, it's dense and focused on programming. Most beginners do better starting with a simpler book like Calisthenics for Beginners. Overcoming Gravity becomes much more useful once you train consistently and want to write your own plans.
Can you learn calisthenics from a book?: Yes. A good book teaches you progressions, programming, and technique better than random online videos. The hard part is consistency, so pair your book with a way to track your sessions and progress. Filming your sets also helps you check your form against the photos.