You know... that's not really a bad advice for someone who is skinny. I can relate. Went from 130 at 5'6" 1/2 (170cm) to 165 naturally, with only protein powder, multi and fish oil. From 150 to 160+ I also took creatine. I also managed to decrease body fat in the process.
In this case, genetics don't mean that much. Food does - and a good gym routine, of course. But it's primarily about food. Here are some tips. Buy the biggest jar of peanut butter you can find and every time you pass near it, take a small spoonful.
Next, replace 1 liter of water with 1 liter of milk. Go for whole milk and there's your extra liquid fat.
Eat as much protein as you can as real food. If you still can't get enough, drink two shakes made with whole milk. It goes down easy.
Take a small bag (ziploc) of tree nuts or peanuts everywhere you go, and snack on them.
About workouts: I learned this the hard way. When you are a beginner, your lifts are not strong, and you want to build mass - forget about split routines. Go full body with barbells, three times a week, based on ABA/BAB schedule. Something like:
A: Bench, Row, Squat, one isolation (say, triceps)
B: Shoulder Press, (weighted) Chinup, Deadlift, one isolation (say, biceps)
On the 4th day, you can do some light cardio, bodyweight exercises, abs (although you don't have to work them at all with heavy compounds you're doing), maybe some calves if you want to. Take other days off and do absolutely nothing.
I learned that in this situation, frequency trumps volume, and food > all. Once you have mastered all this, you can do a different workout, split push/pull/legs or whatever you like.
Best of luck!
