Built to rise:
BOOK REVIEW
Built to rise:
Lessons in focus and fire
Book: Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life Author: Arnold Schwarzenegger Review by: Elvira Wood
Arnold Schwarzenegger is not known for subtlety and in his book Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, he does not suddenly become modest. This is a man who has scaled the peaks of professional bodybuilding, Hollywood and American politics – and he is unapologetically proud of it. There is no shortage of anecdotes showcasing his accomplishments, from becoming Mr. Olympia seven times to leading California as governor. But beneath the bravado lies a surprisingly honest, insightful and often moving book.
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Don’ t just be smart. Be useful. If you’ re not giving back, you’ re taking up space.
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What sets Be Useful apart from many other motivational titles is Schwarzenegger’ s remarkable authenticity. While many self-help books suffer from either excessive humility or unrelatable perfection, Schwarzenegger strikes a rare balance: he owns his mistakes, admits his flaws and still manages to inspire.“ I’ ve made colossal mistakes,” he writes candidly,“ public ones, private ones and professional ones. What matters is what you do next.” This refusal to sugarcoat his past gives the book its weight.
The premise of Be Useful is simple and powerful: find a clear vision for your life, work relentlessly towards it and always find ways to contribute. Each of the seven“ tools” offers practical advice rooted in Schwarzenegger’ s lived experience – from staying hungry for growth to refusing to listen to naysayers.“ Don’ t be a liability to the world. Be useful,” he writes. It is a call to action that resonates beyond personal ambition – a reminder to add value in every area of life.
A key strength of the book is Schwarzenegger’ s focus on clarity of purpose. He urges,“ Create a vision, not a fantasy”, highlighting that a vision demands discipline, realism and daily effort. His clear goal, set as a teenager to become the best bodybuilder, drove all
his major achievements- not luck or talent, but unwavering direction.
Hard work is a cornerstone of the book, with Schwarzenegger’ s blunt advice:“ Work your ass off.” His stories of early training, acting lessons after long days, and tireless campaigning show that success requires effort. This message stands out in a world obsessed with shortcuts and hacks.
Schwarzenegger’ s direct communication style is refreshing, calling out entitlement and mediocrity with clear, experienced insight. While some critics see Be Useful as leaning on his fame, moments of vulnerability- like owning his marriage breakdown- add depth. The book combines bold stories and honesty, offering practical wisdom for anyone ready to drop excuses and get to work.
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