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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Fascinating life he’s lived. Little light on the negative aspects of his life, but entertaining nonetheless.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Arnold comes off as so genuine and his story is really fascinating. He did such a wide range of work throughout his life and is a total student of life. Really great read - page turner pretty much throughout.
slow-paced
How did a gangly Austrian farm boy from one of the poorest houses in the village come to be the multimillionaire Governor of California? This is a fascinating autobiography which I enjoyed way more than I thought I would. I loved how throughout Arnie admits what he now feels were mistakes. He talks about why he made those decisions and how he came to the realising that he was wrong. It was really refreshing to see someone own their mistakes rather than working to excuse them. There’s so much in here that I didn’t realise about Arnie and for the most part it’s made me love and respect him even more.
In reviewing an autobiography, is it inevitable that one must pass judgement on the author as well as the book? According to the reviews I read, the answer is, "yes, oh yes, my cup of vitriol runneth over." These weren't book reviews so much as a highly anticipated opportunity to heap scorn on Arnold Schwarzenegger. What is it about him and his autobiography that engendered such disgust?
Reviews variously describe Schwarzenegger as "the embodiment of the values of the Third Reich" (really) and self-obsessed to a fault. Isn't a degree of self-obsession required for an autobiography? It is remarkable how few of the reviews I read focus on the text, and are preoccupied instead with their personal disdain for the author. Autobiographies are, by definition, subjective. The reader is invited not just to learn about the author's life but to observe what the author considers noteworthy and what they leave out. It is an unusual medium because the manner in which the story is told tells you as much about the subject as the content of that story. For example, Schwarzenegger's infidelity is interesting, but more interesting is his decision in how he recounts it.
On this basis, Total Recall is a fantastic read. Schwarzenegger's story is an unusual one, punctuated by experiences that most people never achieve, let alone so many varied achievements in a single lifetime. The early chapters describe his formative years in Austria, and how his family life and youth contributed to what was to come later. However, it is clear in this section that Schwarzenegger's determination was something innate in him, that the clearest division between him and other people was that his purpose in life was defined very early. It is striking how clear-sighted he is about his path and his absolute commitment to it.
There is balance of humour and emotion; Schwarzenegger describes hilarious early business ventures in bricklaying with fellow body builder Franco Columbu and taking tips in 'roasting' from comedian Milton Berle, as well as more sombre moments reflecting on his relationships with his brother and father, and his limitations in this sphere.
The chapters focusing on his body-building career are probably more entertaining if you've ever spent time in the weight room, and I could only admire Schwarzenegger's force of will and the positivity with which he embraced the gruelling journey towards his goal.
Other reviews have been critical of the fact that there is so little discussion of Schwarzenegger's sexual exploits, and that he should be reviled for not including these stories. I find it far more interesting that he left them out; is he ashamed of them? Does he simply not feel they are important, alongside the other milestones in his life? Did he find such relationships to be perfunctory, and not noteworthy? He answers these questions himself, not directly, but by describing throughout his disposition towards women, personal priorities, privacy and his emotional limitations.
Jordan Belfort's The Wolf of Wall Street is shorter than Total Recall but it felt 3x times longer. It was bloated and repetitive and made me resent my 'rule' that I always finish a book that I start. Unlike Belfort, Schwarzenegger is a fascinating personality, gifted and driven, and still a stranger to his limitations. These two books are the difference between self-obsession made compelling.
Reviews variously describe Schwarzenegger as "the embodiment of the values of the Third Reich" (really) and self-obsessed to a fault. Isn't a degree of self-obsession required for an autobiography? It is remarkable how few of the reviews I read focus on the text, and are preoccupied instead with their personal disdain for the author. Autobiographies are, by definition, subjective. The reader is invited not just to learn about the author's life but to observe what the author considers noteworthy and what they leave out. It is an unusual medium because the manner in which the story is told tells you as much about the subject as the content of that story. For example, Schwarzenegger's infidelity is interesting, but more interesting is his decision in how he recounts it.
On this basis, Total Recall is a fantastic read. Schwarzenegger's story is an unusual one, punctuated by experiences that most people never achieve, let alone so many varied achievements in a single lifetime. The early chapters describe his formative years in Austria, and how his family life and youth contributed to what was to come later. However, it is clear in this section that Schwarzenegger's determination was something innate in him, that the clearest division between him and other people was that his purpose in life was defined very early. It is striking how clear-sighted he is about his path and his absolute commitment to it.
There is balance of humour and emotion; Schwarzenegger describes hilarious early business ventures in bricklaying with fellow body builder Franco Columbu and taking tips in 'roasting' from comedian Milton Berle, as well as more sombre moments reflecting on his relationships with his brother and father, and his limitations in this sphere.
The chapters focusing on his body-building career are probably more entertaining if you've ever spent time in the weight room, and I could only admire Schwarzenegger's force of will and the positivity with which he embraced the gruelling journey towards his goal.
Other reviews have been critical of the fact that there is so little discussion of Schwarzenegger's sexual exploits, and that he should be reviled for not including these stories. I find it far more interesting that he left them out; is he ashamed of them? Does he simply not feel they are important, alongside the other milestones in his life? Did he find such relationships to be perfunctory, and not noteworthy? He answers these questions himself, not directly, but by describing throughout his disposition towards women, personal priorities, privacy and his emotional limitations.
Jordan Belfort's The Wolf of Wall Street is shorter than Total Recall but it felt 3x times longer. It was bloated and repetitive and made me resent my 'rule' that I always finish a book that I start. Unlike Belfort, Schwarzenegger is a fascinating personality, gifted and driven, and still a stranger to his limitations. These two books are the difference between self-obsession made compelling.
The American Dream embodied, and he knows it. Likes talking about money.