I have that book and others like it and they're useful, but they're more about plateau breaking than programs you can stick with for a length of time and continually grow. Magazines always want to give you some 4, 8, or 12 week program for two reasons. One is that it's exciting to think you could drastically improve in that amount of time and secondly, because they need have something else to publish next month, even though they're just remixing the same old routines.
A good routine is one that is built around complex lifts, allows for enough recovery, and has some variety to the rep ranges built into it's structure. If you do that and stick to it, you're golden. Now if you're playing a sport or interested in improving at a specific thing, it might be important to start tailoring your training towards that, but that's different than simply building muscle.
Ya I mostly got the book because it explained the proper forms and technique of each workout very well. I found this workout on the internet its based off the 5/3/1 workout routine. What do you think? I want to gain mainly strength with mass on the side.
Monday: Chest, Triceps
Bench Press- 3 sets of 5 reps
Incline DB Press- 4 sets of 8-12 reps
Weighted Chest Dips 4 sets 8-12
Overhead DB Extensions- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Tricep Xtension- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Wednesday: Back, Biceps
Deadlift- 3 sets of 5 reps
Lat Pulldown- 4 sets of 8-12 reps
One Arm DB Row- 4 sets of 8-12 reps
Alternate DB Curl- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Machine Preacher Curl- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Friday: Shoulders, Traps, Abs
Overhead Press- 3 sets of 5 reps
DB Lateral Raises- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Reverse Pec Deck- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
DB Shrugs- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Cable Rope Crunches- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Machine Crunch- 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Saturday: Quads, Hams, Calves
Squat- 3 sets of 5 reps
Leg Press- 3 sets of 10-12 reps
Leg Extensions- 3 sets of 10-12 reps
Leg Curls- 4 sets of 10-12 reps
Standing Calf Raise- 4 sets of 10-12 reps
but I'm also having trouble understanding this, what does it mean?
Wave 1. Warmup, 75% x 5, 80% x 5, 85% x 5
Wave 2. Warmup, 80% x 3, 85% x 3, 90% x 3
Wave 3. Warmup, 75% x 5, 85% x 3, 95% x 1
Wave 4. (deload) - 60% x 5, 65% x 5, 70% x 5