Fantastic: The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger

by Laurence Leamer

The life of Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most remarkable success stories in the U.S. Here is a young man from an Austrian village who became the greatest bodybuilder in history, a behemoth who even today in retirement is the dominating figure in the sport. Here is an immigrant with a heavy accent and a four syllable last name, who marries a Kennedy princess and becomes the number one movie star in the world, an icon known and celebrated everywhere. Here is a political novice with no administrative experience who becomes governor of California in one of the most unusual and controversial elections in American history, and confounds his critics by proving an effective, popular leader. Leamer shows how and why this man of willful ambition and limitless drive achieved his unprecedented accomplishments. As the author of a celebrated trilogy on the Kennedy family, Leamer has access to a unique array of sources. Leamer traveled with candidate Schwarzenegger during the gubernatorial campaign. He has interviewed Governor Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver, and their closest friends and associates, most of whom had never talked to an author before. The result is a startlingly intimate book, the pages studded with news making revelations. This book of passionate intensity captures a Schwarzenegger unlike any other public figure of our time, a unique political/cultural figure, his time in Sacramento only a way station on a journey where no one has traveled before. The book captures the personal Schwarzenegger, too, and the story of his single days, marriage, and family life. No one who reads this book will ever see Schwarzenegger in the same way again.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography Memoir, Politics

421 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2005

About the author

Laurence Leamer is an award-winning journalist and historian who has written eighteen books including five New York Times bestsellers. He has worked in a factory in France, a coal mine in West Virginia and as a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village in Nepal two days from a road. He has written two novels and an off Broadway play but is primarily known for his nonfiction. His most recent book, Capote's Women, is being made into an eight-part series starring Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Calista Flockhart, and Demi Moore.

Reviews

[Ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can one say about the outsized, often outrageous Arnold Schwarzenegger--tank driver, bodybuilding champion, action-movie megastar, and now governor of California--that he has not already boasted about himself? Let me tell you (as Arnold--on a first-name basis with everyone--might say), he is one of the most successful acts in the history of promotion.

However, veteran celebrity biographer Leamer has a lot to say here that Arnold might not necessarily approve of, from his savvy in thriving in the movie industry to allegations about his boorish behavior with women. Although Schwarzenegger granted Leamer an interview, this is not an authorized work. Nor is it a wrecking ball of dishing. Coming after decades of books (Pumping Iron, 1974), muscle-magazine cover stories, and tabloid fodder about the superstar, it sorts through the pulp and the fiction on a search for the real Arnold and largely finds him. Part of his myth is that of the self-made man; while that is true of Arnold's later days, in his early years, he benefited from crucial patrons drawn to his sunny-skies ebullience, none more so than Joe Weider, publisher of bodybuilding magazines and the impetus behind Arnold's move to Los Angeles in 1968.

Covering Arnold's competitions, movies, marriage to Maria Shriver, and electoral victory in 2003, Leamer skillfully sails between the idolaters and the iconoclasts, heading toward the multitude of readers interested in Arnold's character and life.

[Andrew Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted to give this 3.5 stars and TOTAL RECALL (Arnold's autobiography) a solid 4 stars. This was a good book, very detailed, a little sloppy in transitions/clarity but all in all I really enjoyed it.

I read this side by side with the Autobiography, and the tone and tempo is just much more my style in TOTAL RECALL, so if I'd read this one first perhaps I'd go easier on it. But I finished the autobio first since it was way more entertaining.

I appreciate the way Leamer can be fully unbiased and critical of Arnold, as opposed to the Autobiography where things were definitely skewed in an attempt to keep Maria from divorcing him (IMO), also this book ends in 2005, versus the other goes thru 2012. So I missed that last chapter and seeing where Leamer would take it.

[Johhny Appleseed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arnold's story is of a man who is flawed, but has a drive that makes him capable of achieving everything. A winning attitude of from the over achiever of over achievers. Leamer makes the read really easy and chose the exact issues I wanted to focus on.

[Gregg Puluka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Great to hear the whole story. Well written and comprehensive. I am a big Arnold fan and have been following and enjoying all his work since I was a kid.an inspiring tale warts and all.

[Jesse Flood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great time reading this account of the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger. His years in America when he was training and trying to survive I found most captivating. But he knew that one day he would want to go on to politics. A great read.

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit long and tedious. Too detailed. Could be further edited.

[Ian Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good unbiased look at Arnold's career without glossing over his less savory characteristics. I really enjoyed learning about his early life pre-acting career.

[Shawn Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Includes some "fantastic" stories about Arnold that I'd never heard or read before.

[Jacob McElroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely an inspirational story of a man that not everyone likes, but everyone should admire. This is a well-written, fairly in-depth look at the life of a man who accomplished everything he imagined. It is not an entirely positive biography, as the author points out that the only way in which Arnold Schwarzenegger could be considered a self-made man is if you allow for the fact that he has used many helpful people to achieve his goals. However, the author does gloss over much of the man's more scandalous actions, preferring instead to focus on the more positive and amazing aspects of the star-governor's life.
As a writer, I've learned from this book that it is okay to be a fan of your subject (after all, how many Lincoln biographies have been written by people who hate Abraham Lincoln?), but I think that one should present the negative and positive aspects in a more honest ratio in order to establish and maintain credibility.

[Austinfromboston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Thought that "Fantastic The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger" was a well written book. It was vastly entertaining while remaining unbiased. As entertaining as the book was it is still a biography. This is not my type book to read on my free time but it was decent enough for even my liking considering I am not big on biographies. As I stated earlier, the book remained unbiased which was a big plus for me. The book focused on Arnolds many goals and accomplishments while still bringing out his dark side and some troubles he ran into along the way. I would recommend this book to people who are fans of biographies. But, if you aren't a fan like me, I don't think it will be worth your time. In conclusion, I gave the book a 3 star rating because it was well written and kept me entertained.

[Wellington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book hoping to gain some insight on someone who had realized so many goals and dreams. Arnold wanted to greatest bodybuilder in the world, Hollywood’s biggest star, and then governor. Through each pursuit, he was mocked and ridiculed but we all know how Arnold laughed at the end.

The book really gives us the reader a candid and personal look at Arnold’s upbringing and was refreshingly unbiased. This book awakened me to how much Arnold has risen from Mr. Olympia and Conan … an almost national joke … to overcome his detractors to become governor of California and who knows what else? Britney, Paris, pick up this book!

[Yakisobapancake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool biography. I must say Arnold is a truly inspiring person even if you don't like him as the Governator.
Arnold as a human being is not perfect (even if you think he's a cybernetic organism from the future) and he has his flaws too. This book descrives the real Ahnuld, the man who always wanted to achieve, to conquer, but also a man who sometimes has been too selfish or motivated by greed.
I must add:
GET TO DAH CHOPPAH!!!!

[Peter Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, like the Title is "Fantastic". Very well written and Arnold's story is a very motivating story. The book takes you from Arnold's teen years when he first started body building all the way to his time as the "Governator" of CA. The bottom line is that I would recommend this book and is a must read if you are a Arnold fan, political fan, or fan of body building and or weight lifting.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know that Arnold has done amazing things to get from where he came from to where he is, but he didn't do it as a gentleman concerned with others.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent biography on a very interesting media personality.

[Madeleine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for APUSH.

I learned a lot about Arnold and the seventies. And the Kennedy family.
I did enjoy it though.

[Tommi Mannila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se parempi.

[E. T. Brother · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting