Fantastic: The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger - Biography Book | Inspirational True Story | Perfect for Fitness Enthusiasts & Motivational Readers

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a man who has striven to succeed in many different aspects of life: as a bodybuilder, an actor, a businessperson, and a politician. Even if you are not a fan of bodybuilding or his films, it is hard not to admire him a little for the ambition and adventures he has had in life.Schwarzenegger was born in Austria in 1947 and grew up in the small village of Thal. Even at a young age, he was quite ambitious in life. He became interested in bodybuilding. The book explains the reasons for this such as how he and he alone could take in the glory without having to share it with others. This led him to eventually leave his native Austria and travel to other European countries and eventually the United States to further his bodybuilding career. He competed for many titles and sought recognition in an otherwise very niche sport. This led him to eventually win the highest title in bodybuilding, Mr. Olympia, not once, but multiple times.Schwarzenegger also got involved in acting and the world of Hollywood. There were some early films, like Hercules in New York, but they barely made a splash. His first real hit was 1977's docudrama Pumping Iron. He transitioned full-time to acting away from bodybuilding in the early 1980s. Many of his films would become modern classics such as The Terminator and Total Recall. Everyone today knows him as the macho-man action star who wields large weapons, kills ruthlessly, and, of course, always gets the bad guy all while spurting one-liners. Like with any acting career, not all of his films would be successes. Last Action Hero bombed at the box office and Batman & Robin is usually considered one of the worst films of all time.During his Hollywood career, Schwarzenegger also developed a feud with the other action hero of the period, Sylvester Stallone. The book explores this, how it started and what caused it to proliferate.Schwarzenegger's ambition could not be stopped there. In acting, he made millions and realized his dream of becoming a global star. However, he had higher sights: politics. Schwarzenegger was a lifelong Republican since first moving to the United States. He set his sights on the governorship of California. Schwarzenegger was not at all happy with then governor Gray Davis and his shrinking popularity with Californians made it an excellent opportunity for Schwarzenegger. In 2003, a recall election was triggered and Schwarzenegger filed as a candidate. The special election saw Davis removed from office and Schwarzenegger being elected out of only a few serious candidates. In office, he became the action governor constantly campaigning for whatever reforms, initiatives, or legislation he was supporting seeking public support.Arnold Schwarzenegger has lived a life of unbridled ambition. Coming in second was never good enough for him whether that was in a bodybuilding competition or at the box office. Even if you are not a big Schwarzenegger fan, the book makes for an exciting read of the man's life.The book is a fair look at Schwarzenegger. While there is a lot to be admired in Schwarzenegger, the book is not shy about his shortcomings. He could be mean to people and in his younger years he had a history of a lax attitude toward sex and women.The book was originally published in 2005 and today is a little dated. Most of his governorship is not present and the recent revelation of a love child he fathered in 1997 is absent as well.In conclusion, I thought this was an excellent and interesting look at Arnold Schwarzenegger and the many adventures of his life. I would recommend this book to any fans of Schwarzenegger or those interested in reading a biography of an ambitious individual.