Be Useful

August 1, 2023
The famous actor and former governor argues that vision, hard work, and resilience are the answers to social decay. Schwarzenegger, now 75, is a difficult figure to categorize. Many observers see him as a hypermasculine clich�. Others, after his period as governor of California, see him as a chameleon who spouted conservative rhetoric while implementing liberal policies. All these people will be surprised by this book, in which he distills his journey to success into a self-help manual. The book is not an autobiography; he has already written the story of his life in his 2012 book, Total Recall--although he often draws on personal experiences. The author is worried about the growing number of lost, lonely, and depressed people. He emphasizes that success is whatever each person wants it to be, but the common requirements are a clear vision, work ethic, resilience, a capacity for continual learning, and, ultimately, a willingness to use success as a way to help others. As governor, he increased funding for vocational training, and he believes that many people find their life purpose in making and building things. As for goals, he advises against having a Plan B because it often leads to the failure of Plan A. His references to his achievements can seem boastful (a problem that plagued his memoir), although he makes a point of thanking his mentors, Hollywood colleagues, friends, and even his ex-wife, and his accomplishments are hard to deny. Some readers, however, might argue with his view that success is a matter of positive thinking while ignoring structural impediments. In any case, the text is a solid read, and Schwarzenegger does not shy away from using colorful language to get his point across. It might not have all the answers for social recovery, but it is not a bad place to start. Schwarzenegger unpacks the tools for success with a wry sense of humor and broad view of the world.

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August 21, 2023
Schwarzenegger (Total Recall) shares in this pragmatic and plainspoken guide the life lessons that fueled his success as a bodybuilder, actor, and governor of California from 2003 to 2011. Growing up in the 1950s and ’60s in a remote Austrian village in a house without running water, Schwarzenegger was driven by crystal-clear visions of success (“I could see myself on the top step of the podium holding the winner’s trophy.... I could see the crowd going wild”) to train harder than his peers at the gym, and advises readers that they too must “have a clear picture of what you want your life to look like and a plan for how” to achieve it (“the people who feel most lost have neither.... They look in the mirror and they wonder, ‘How the hell did I get here?’ ”). Elsewhere, he emphasizes that nothing worthwhile is gained without effort, noting that he dutifully stuck to a regimen of dedicated “reps” in his bodybuilding training, as well as his gubernatorial speech prep. To that end, pain is useful because it “tells you whether you’ve begun to give enough of yourself in pursuit of your dreams.” While Schwarzenegger’s principles (and boundless enthusiasm for old-fashioned grit and hard work) aren’t revolutionary, readers will welcome his can-do approach and easily understood (if harder to implement) guidance. This gets the job done.

September 22, 2023

Schwarzenegger (Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story), a champion bodybuilder, movie star, philanthropist, and former governor of California (2003-11), gives his motivational recipe for a fulfilling life. Using his varied and multiple careers as examples, he first stresses the importance of taking the time to develop a clear, strategic, and expansive but focused vision. Once a goal has been established, the book emphasizes the importance of hard work, efficiency, self-promotion, and a reassessment of outdated thinking. This title shows the benefit of honestly accepting failures and using them as incentives to move forward. It also highlights the value of listening, learning, and incorporating the experiences of others and the advantage of action-oriented positive thinking. But some readers may find it surprising and unnecessary when Schwarzenegger dismisses the worth of a college education. There's also no mention of his affair with his housekeeper, his divorce, or his admission of decades of sexual misconduct. The book concludes with his emphasis on the critical significance of working with peers and giving back to the community. VERDICT Schwarzenegger provides a useful, logical, and sometimes humorous blueprint for general readers to achieve a successful and satisfying life, although he chooses to avoid talking about his own misconduct.--Dr. Dave Szatmary

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