Arnold Schwarzenegger has a life story that is truly incredible. From growing up in Austria, to becoming an elite bodybuilder, dominating the box office as an action star and being elected as Governor of California, he’s packed a remarkable amount into his 76 years. With such a varied life, touching upon many different skill sets, it’s no surprise that at this stage in his life Arnie wants to share his wisdom with his millions of fans. ‘Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life’ finds the iconic star sharing stories from his life and explaining how his experiences have shaped who he is today. Not only that, but he points out the key lessons he’s learned in life that his fans could learn from.
Split into seven chapters, ‘Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life’ isn’t an autobiography; Schwarzenegger already did that back in 2013 with his book ‘Total Recall’. While there are stories from his life, Arnie uses those to illustrate key moments where he learned something that help him succeed and move to the next stage of his goals. The book starts with Arnie emphasising the importance of having a clear vision in life, in order to get the most out of it. He shares his own vision from his younger years, initially of moving to America and then refocusing on various other things, and talks of how he often meets people who have no clear idea of what they’re aiming for in life.
Throughout the book he talks about the work ethic and determination needed to succeed. At times he describes himself as a ‘sponge’, referring to his insatiable desire to learn and better himself. That’s a key element of the book as he reiterates that you should never stop learning in life. Whether it’s success or failure, you can learn important lessons from both, and Arnie advocates the need to listen more than you speak in order to get to where you want to be in life. He describes becoming friends with a bodybuilding rival who was beating him in competitions, to understand how he could get better. Another story finds him recounting his rocky time as Governor of California and how he almost didn’t get re-elected when his policy positions fell on deaf ears with voters.
Arnie’s story has always been one of resilience and that shines through in this book. As he has learned in his own life, and we all know from ours, life is never easy and once you get through one battle, another is waiting around the corner for you. Arnie encourages readers to shift gears if they need to, while keeping their eye on the ultimate prize. Stories from his acting career prove to be inspiring as he fought his way to leading man when all he was being offered were tough-guy bit parts. He credits his time from working in a store for his ability to sell, something that has served him well throughout this life.
‘Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life’ is a quick read and one that is engaging and entertaining. The wisdom contained within these pages may not be ground-breaking but when it’s coming from someone as successful and famous as Arnie, it’s hard not to take note of what he’s saying. This is a man who has walked the walk and talked the talk, and he has plenty to show for it. As one of cinema’s most-loved stars, Arnie will have a captive audience with this book and I think he has a very good chance of inspiring his fans.
Publisher: Ebury Edge Release date: 10th October 2023 Buy ‘Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life’ now
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