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Arnold Schwarzenegger is the definition of a modern-day success with a high-profile career in acting, business, politics, and bodybuilding. The former ‘Governator’ imparts valuable words of wisdom to the next generation on how to lead a successful life. He has now compiled these lessons in the form of a book, titledBe Useful: Seven Tools for Life.
Schwarzenegger discussed some aspects of his book during an interview with Morning Edition on NPR. In this conversation,The Terminatoractor opened up about his experiences of becoming a useful and successful person in life.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Father Played A Major Role In Teaching Him This Life Lesson
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s parents, Gustav and Aurelia Schwarzenegger, hailed from Austria, with Gustav having been a member of the Nazi party. TheTwinsactor has mentioned his strict father on multiple occasions, even disclosing the physical abuse he faced from his father. Despite this, his father, who was an athlete, influenced Schwarzenegger to venture into sports and ultimately pursue bodybuilding.
During the interview, theTrue Liesactor revealed how his father served as a source of inspiration, teaching him the importance of being useful in life. Schwarzenegger’s drive to perform consistently developed at a young age, due to his father. ThePredatoractor revealed that if he ever overslept past his usual wake-up time, his father’s voice would echo in his head, urging him to“Be useful”. Arnold Schwarzenegger toldNPR:
“Well, I think that ever since my father stressed when I was a kid to be useful. I think it had an impact on me, and it stayed with me as a method, so much so that I always wanted to perform and do more. It became such a big part of my life that even when I sleep in – sometimes past 6:00 in the morning – I feel guilty because I hear my father’s voice saying, ‘Arnold, that’s not how this country was built, by sleeping in. Be useful, do something. What are you doing today?’”
Whether the voice in his head stems from the trauma inflicted by his strict father or his need to adhere to a routine, theTotal Recallactor took advantage of it to build a successful life.
Also Read:“I should get my money back for that one”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Holds a Grudge Against “Speech Doctor” For Failing To Make Him Sound American
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Father Had A Shady Past As A Nazi
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s father ensured that his son understood what being useful meant. According to theCommandoactor, when he began bodybuilding at the age of 15, his father would say something like,
“Why are you lifting these dumbbells and barbells? Don’t you think it would be better to just go out and chop some wood and shovel some coals for some poor people that don’t have anyone?”(via NPR).
However, the undeniable fact remains that his father had been a Nazi and may have had involvement in the Holocaust atrocities, although no definite proof of this exists. Schwarzenegger often trivialized his father’s abusive nature as a cultural norm privy to that period. However, he chose not to attend his father’s funeral. An exclusive excerpt from his book, released by People, mentions Schwarzenegger’s complicated relationship with his father. TheEscape Planactor wrote in his book (via People):
“None of us has a choice about where we come from. I grew up in a small village in Austria at the beginning of the Cold War. My mother was very loving. My father was strict, and he could be physically abusive, but I loved him very much. It was complicated.”
Also Read:“He does not look like he weighs 215”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Trolls Donald Trump Over His Alleged Lies, Gives One Advice to Lose Weight at 77
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book,Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, is expected to hit the stores on October 24 and is currently available for pre-order.
Source:NPR,People
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3017
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
