Wii Fitness for Dummies (Book Review)
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 5:17 pm
Long before receiving my copy of Wii Fitness for Dummies I was already asking myself what you are probably asking yourself: "Who on earth needs this book?" Nintendo is so known for producing family-friendly and easy-to-use products that that the idea of needing a Dummies book for any Nintendo product seemed redundant.
As it turns out, Wii Fitness for Dummies is a worthwhile investment for those planning on incorporating the Wii Fit into their daily exercise routine. The book was written by Christina and Bill Loguidice, both of whom are American Fitness Training of Athletics (AFTA) Certified Personal Trainers. Christina has a degree in English and a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Bill is the Managing Director of Armchair Arcade, a popular video game-related site, and a degree in Communication. If any two people on the planet were qualified to write this book, it's these two.
Wii Fitness for Dummies primarily focuses on three Wii titles: Wii Fit Plus, EA Sports Active Personal Trainer, and Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010. The book is broken down into four sections, with one dedicated to each of these titles and a fourth containing some additional follow up information. Each of the three aforementioned exercise titles are covered in great detail. Each section begins with a chapter titled "Getting Started" that introduces each program, walks readers through basic configuration, and explains the different parts of the program. The chapters that follow explain every exercise offered, explaining the correct way to perform each one and ways to get additional benefits from your efforts.
This book will likely appeal to two separate demographics: Nintendo Wii owners who want to start exercising, and people who exercise looking to add a Nintendo Wii to their routine. Fortunately, Wii Fitness for Dummies has something to offer to both groups. While those who already own and are familiar with the Nintendo Wii may find the parts about getting Wii Fit up and running a little dry, there are a lot of exercise related tips contained within that will help those people get the most out of their workouts. Likewise, those who already exercise regularly but are looking to add a Wii Fit into their daily routine may find the descriptions of the exercises redundant, but will surely appreciate the great detail that the Loguidices put in to walking people through each individual program. If you fall into other of those two demographics, reading this book can help you decide whether or not Wii Fit is a good "fit" for you -- and if it is, it may also help you determine which specific exercise-related title may best meet your needs.
Wii Fitness for Dummies contains many black and white screenshots from each of the three games, along with several pictures of (I assume) Bill and Christine exercising their hearts out. Almost every two-page spread contains at least one screenshot, table, or photograph, so there's plenty to look at other than the text. The book follows the conventions and lay-out of all books from the Dummies series; it's organized logically and neatly, making the book easy to read and follow.
The last part of the book contains two "lists of ten": the Ten Best Wii Fitness Accessories and the Ten Other Wii Fitness Workout Programs. I thought both of these were appropriate in include in the book. Additionally, I enjoyed the writing style of these last two chapters, which was slightly less formal than the rest of the book.
While it's true that anyone can start exercising by simply picking up a Wii Fit and one of the games listed in this book, Wii Fitness for Dummies goes above and beyond by comparing the different titles, demonstrating the exercises, helping you set your fitness goals, and explaining how to assemble a workout that works best for you. For anyone considering the purchase of a Wii Fit or wanting to get the most out of one they already own, Wii Fitness for Dummies is not a dummy purchase at all.
(Reposted from review-o-matic.com)
As it turns out, Wii Fitness for Dummies is a worthwhile investment for those planning on incorporating the Wii Fit into their daily exercise routine. The book was written by Christina and Bill Loguidice, both of whom are American Fitness Training of Athletics (AFTA) Certified Personal Trainers. Christina has a degree in English and a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Bill is the Managing Director of Armchair Arcade, a popular video game-related site, and a degree in Communication. If any two people on the planet were qualified to write this book, it's these two.
Wii Fitness for Dummies primarily focuses on three Wii titles: Wii Fit Plus, EA Sports Active Personal Trainer, and Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010. The book is broken down into four sections, with one dedicated to each of these titles and a fourth containing some additional follow up information. Each of the three aforementioned exercise titles are covered in great detail. Each section begins with a chapter titled "Getting Started" that introduces each program, walks readers through basic configuration, and explains the different parts of the program. The chapters that follow explain every exercise offered, explaining the correct way to perform each one and ways to get additional benefits from your efforts.
This book will likely appeal to two separate demographics: Nintendo Wii owners who want to start exercising, and people who exercise looking to add a Nintendo Wii to their routine. Fortunately, Wii Fitness for Dummies has something to offer to both groups. While those who already own and are familiar with the Nintendo Wii may find the parts about getting Wii Fit up and running a little dry, there are a lot of exercise related tips contained within that will help those people get the most out of their workouts. Likewise, those who already exercise regularly but are looking to add a Wii Fit into their daily routine may find the descriptions of the exercises redundant, but will surely appreciate the great detail that the Loguidices put in to walking people through each individual program. If you fall into other of those two demographics, reading this book can help you decide whether or not Wii Fit is a good "fit" for you -- and if it is, it may also help you determine which specific exercise-related title may best meet your needs.
Wii Fitness for Dummies contains many black and white screenshots from each of the three games, along with several pictures of (I assume) Bill and Christine exercising their hearts out. Almost every two-page spread contains at least one screenshot, table, or photograph, so there's plenty to look at other than the text. The book follows the conventions and lay-out of all books from the Dummies series; it's organized logically and neatly, making the book easy to read and follow.
The last part of the book contains two "lists of ten": the Ten Best Wii Fitness Accessories and the Ten Other Wii Fitness Workout Programs. I thought both of these were appropriate in include in the book. Additionally, I enjoyed the writing style of these last two chapters, which was slightly less formal than the rest of the book.
While it's true that anyone can start exercising by simply picking up a Wii Fit and one of the games listed in this book, Wii Fitness for Dummies goes above and beyond by comparing the different titles, demonstrating the exercises, helping you set your fitness goals, and explaining how to assemble a workout that works best for you. For anyone considering the purchase of a Wii Fit or wanting to get the most out of one they already own, Wii Fitness for Dummies is not a dummy purchase at all.
(Reposted from review-o-matic.com)