A clear, practical guide to how training really works.
"A rare book." - Dan John, author of Easy Strength and Never Let Go
Most training advice makes things more complicated than they need to be. The Little Black Book of Training Wisdom cuts through the noise and focuses on the few principles that actually drive long-term progress - consistency, intelligent stress, skilful practice, and thoughtful planning.
Drawing on years of coaching, teaching, and sports science, Dan Cleather explains training in a way that is both rigorous and completely accessible. You'll learn what actually improves performance, why athletes stall, and how to build a training process that works in the real world.
Inside, you'll discover:
- the cardinal rule of training - and why most people break it without noticing
- how improvement really happens through physiology and practice
- the difference between capacities and skills, and why both matter
- what progressive overload actually means in day-to-day training
- how to structure a training week so progress becomes predictable
- how psychology and intensity shape training outcomes
- clear guidance for coaches - from communication to planning to long-term development
Whether you're a beginner looking for clarity, an experienced athlete trying to break plateaus, or a coach who wants a grounded framework for decision-making, this book gives you the tools to understand and improve the training process.
Training isn't magic. It's simple principles applied with consistency.
"Dan cuts through the intellectual rubbish bin that has dominated our field for the last few decades and gives us clarity and insight." - Dan John
