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Be Useful cover art

Be Useful

Written by: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Narrated by: Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Publisher's Summary

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The seven rules to follow to realize your true purpose in life—distilled by Arnold Schwarzenegger from his own journey of ceaseless reinvention and extraordinary achievement, and available for absolutely anyone.

The world’s greatest bodybuilder. The world’s highest-paid movie star. The leader of the world’s sixth-largest economy. That these are the same person sounds like the setup to a joke, but this is no joke. This is Arnold Schwarzenegger. And this did not happen by accident.

Arnold’s stratospheric success happened as part of a process. As the result of clear vision, big thinking, hard work, direct communication, resilient problem-solving, open-minded curiosity, and a commitment to giving back. All of it guided by the one lesson Arnold’s father hammered into him above all: be useful. As Arnold conquered every realm he entered, he kept his father’s adage close to his heart.

Written with his uniquely earnest, blunt, powerful voice, Be Useful takes readers on an inspirational tour through Arnold’s tool kit for a meaningful life. He shows us how to put those tools to work, in service of whatever fulfilling future we can dream up for ourselves. He brings his insights to vivid life with compelling personal stories, life-changing successes and life-threatening failures alike—some of them famous; some told here for the first time ever.

Too many of us struggle to disconnect from our self-pity and connect to our purpose. At an early age, Arnold forged the mental tools to build the ladder out of the poverty and narrow-mindedness of his rural Austrian hometown, tools he used to add rung after rung from there. Now he shares that wisdom with all of us. As he puts it, no one is going to come rescue you—you only have yourself. The good news, it turns out, is that you are all you need.

©2023 Arnold Schwarzenegger (P)2023 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about Be Useful

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Excellent. Simply Excellent!

I have loved Arnold all my life but with this insightful book, I have new found/additional respect for him. I loved him as a body builder and an actor but the level of dedication he has to helping people and reaching back to bring others up is incredible. His dedication is relentless. What an amazing human being.

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Overall good with a few caveats

Arnold does well in expressing his thoughts and feelings. I may disagree at times but where I would give a 6/10 he deserves a nudge up for sincerity and often acknowledgement.

He recounts many events and influences that helped him and is humble enough to repeatedly stress how nobody at all is self-made.

Sometimes though, I think he DOES forget his humble beginnings or is somewhat oxymoronic. He praises the hard work of videogame developers but makes the crass statement that people who need free time for things other than productivity are "babies" or "it's for retirees". Well I'm sorry Arnold, what are you working for if not your ability to do things you love? As you say towards the end, you work hard for yourself, so you're able to do things (like give back) which you enjoy.

All around I think it's a good listen with life lessons that many self-help books give us. And much like those self-help books, this one often forgets that downtime, time away from the big narratives we write for ourselves, are just as important, even if they should be managed to reasonable time periods in every week.

I don't dislike this book, just take a few issues. I'm not really all that impressed that in 2023 he's pointing to the hard work of Elon Musk, who I don't believe anyone even credits for being more than a blood-money hype man these days. He also seems to adore his father (where the book title comes from) but was somewhat glossing over the drunken beatings. I'm actually sad to hear he didn't stop the violence personally, the way many I know have.

A few gaffes or not fully realized points aside, it's a good listen and seems to be sincere and heartfelt.

If you're an Arnold super fan, you probably didn't bother to read a review and are happy. If you're not a fan at all of his body of work or politics, you still would likely enjoy the conversation he tries to have with you.

Enjoy!

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Fantastic book

Arnold is the greatest. His personal stories are wonderful and thoughtful. He does an excellent job making it feel like he is talking to you - one on one. A terrific book full of really helpful advice and tips to create a better version of yourself. Highly recommended!

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GET TO THE CHOPPA! Listen to Arnold Schwarzenegger today!

Utterly motivated and inspired! I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in self development. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hardworking attitude is second to none. Came from a humble beginning, he described how he strived to excel in everything he did with sheer discipline and determination.

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Wow such a powerful story

This book was such an eye opener on his life. Highly recommended this book for anyone interested in seeing how a man can go from nothing to the world

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See it achieve it

Loved sincerity and honesty displayed a the way through. Would highly recommend to friends and family

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Great Book!!!

Terrific book. An inspiration to anyone in business and in life and hearing it in Arnold’s own voice makes it that much more enjoyable.

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Always the Best

Thank you Arnold for sharing again and again your life experience.
Always gives me encouragement and guidelines towards my goals, and the potential I want to reach as a person.

Thank you thank you for this amazing book, can't wait to see you in Fubar season 2!

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Break the Mirror

I have heard and read a lot about “Giving Back” and it’s effects on personal satisfaction aside from use for community, but the way Arnold described it, shook me. I think I have a new purpose and new path opened up for me.

Thanks Arnold for your insights.

Hasta la vista.

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Listening to the Terminator

Who would have thought about buying a book and listening to the Terminator?

Wow!

Just amazing.

So much knowledge and wisdom.

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