Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story

Arnold's Bio~ This starts with his life as a boy in Austria with a less than close relationship with his father. His drive to get ahead by body building which takes him by storm as a teenager. While other boys had girl pin ups Arnold has american body builds in his room leading his mother to worry about his sexuality. His "goal" was to become a body builder and win the biggest titles using this to gain wealth and move to the USA and become a movie star. His very intelligent approach to business and his amazing ability to FOCUS. As his body becomes huge he wins several World Titles and he ends up in LA at the Gold Gym he read about in his teens. He sets up a mail order business selling body building phamplets His first efforts in the movies was PUMPING IRON which caught the attention of the Hollywood crowd. He becomes a millionaire and invested in buildings and land. He gets an education taking business courses. He became an American Citizen. At a fund raiser he comes in contact with the lovely Maria Shriver. He evenutally marries. His movie career takes off to make him the highest paid and biggest box office star. Arnold makes his own decisions even after he is married. He decided not to tell Maria he needed open heart surgery. He was planning on running on the republican ticket for Governor of California and told Maria only *days* before his David Letterman annoucement. Arnold is at best brilliant but perhaps is the worlds great salesman. He can sell himself in bodybuilding, acting, and republican governor in a very democratic state. He finally confessed a life changing "secret" the day after was no longer governor. He has a 14 year old son with his housekeeper. He stated he only suspected the boy was his after the boy was 7. Arnold has a trick he uses throughout his book. His ablity to ignore anything that would cause him trouble. He puts in a "compartment" in his mind and trys his best to keep it "under raps". Arnold comes across as a very intelligent and interesting man. His EGO is as big as he is. We see the flaws in this bigger than life man and his secrets that help destroy his marriage. Arnold at best is a survivor. This is an excellent audiobook. It is very well written and the story flows along. The Reader Stephen Lang is very good and Arnold reads parts himself. I give this 5 STARS over all for a better than I ever expected Bio.

I must have picked this audible book up on sale. The life of Arnold never was an inspiration to me. When I started listening my plan was to skip over the bodybuilding part. Who knew that this would be fascinating and the entire autobiography would be such a pleasant inspiring read.

Schwarzenegger has accomplished a lot in life and his formula for success in the three diverse fields of bodybuilding, acting and politics is worth hearing about. Although there are probably some distortions in his account, enough of the measure of the man comes through that demands your respect.

I am not a Republican by nature but would be happy with Arnold as a leader because he knows the value of compromise and he thinks independently and does not blindly follow an entire ideology.

Whatever your political inclination is - you have to admire this man who always got results.

This is a wonderful telling of Arnold Schwarzenegger's life. I say telling because while the audio book is advertised as 'read by the author', in fact, Stephen Lang reads all but two chapters. I would have preferred to hear the story in the author's words. The details are very well presented and the listener gets a real insight into the life of Mr Schwarzenegger.

Agree with him or not, it is a very interesting story about a very eventful life. I enjoyed the story greatly.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a prime example of someone whose focus and determination set him apart from other people. Athlete, businessman, actor, public servant, philanthropist...the list goes on and on. He embodies so many qualities that I find admirable. I grew up watching his celebrity rise through movies and then peak as governor of California. I always wondered what kind of man could go to a foreign country without speaking the language and become so successful. The book provided insight into his motivations, ambition and intelligence. I found his life story fascinating, although I think there were times he did not give us the whole story. Some may fault him for his foibles and peccadilloes, but who among us is perfect in thought and deed? In fact, I believe his weaknesses make him easier to relate to. I highly recommend this autobiography from a truly exceptional modern renaissance man.

The title "My Unbelievably True Life Story" needs to accent the 'unbelievably" part more - his story, success and adventures were an amazing listen. Yes we knew the end result of his recent marital issues, but little did i know about his path and efforts to success. I have told so many people about this book as i progressed and encouraged many to listen as well. His centrist political views are, in my opinion, a majority of the nation and he would be successful again in politics if he tried. Grew to respect the Governator more.

this is certainly one of my favorite audiobooks.

Steve Jobs biography, both great achievers and fascinating people with an uncommon vision

Arnold

it is a long book, so I wouldn't even try, which is what I like so it can be listened to while doing cardio or some other task and can last with its enjoyment

it's rare to find a book that inspires and entertains in a positive light. He is very honest in his faults, but remains a great man Whose passion in life and especially politics was fascinating to listen to.

Although this book follows the life of this amazing person, it's much more, it explains why Arnold made all of the major decisions in his life. He is extremely fair pointing out all of the both his bad points as well as the good. Here is a man who came to the United States with next to nothing and became a successful business person, the world's best bodybuilder, one of the world's top grossing actor, led the nation in a push for physical fitness and became the governor of California. He has mingled with Presidents, business giants and celebrities and yet in his mind he is still a regular guy who just worked extremely hard and did well. It's truely the best example of the American dream. You can't listen to this book and not be motivated. Arnold did more than say that the United States of America was the greatest country in the world he proved it.

The book is read by both Arnold and Steven Lang. It's a great mixture. It's great to hear Arnold tell his story and Lang jumps in for the bulk of the book.

I was so impressed with a young Arnold buying an apartment building when most everyone else would have waited until they were better suited. He did plenty of research and began his empire when the rest of us would have still been dreaming. He is a man of action and this more than all of his other accomplishments demonstates this fact.

As Arnold indicates, don't copy all of his actions, learn from his example and improve your life and the lives of those around you. He gave up countless millions to be governor of California so he can give back to the country that allowed him to be such a success, we can all learn from his example.

Yes, probably, but not for a while since it was pretty long. Arnold's story is really fascinating. This is definitely a guy who worked very very very hard to be a success. Planning every step of the way and striving to meet every goal he set for himself. You would never walk away from this story and think, "What a lazy ungrateful guy." The forsight and drive he had from the time he was 14 is just amazing. Did you know he made millions on real estate before he ever became an actor? I also thought it really showed a great balance of his conservative and liberal views. He himself describes himself as a series of contradictions-- an environmentalist who drives a hummer, a fitness freak who smokes cigars-- and it was really refreshing hearing somebody who was open to a multitiude of ideas, even if they contradict his own. It also made clear what Maria Shriver saw in him. He tells his life story with such enthusiasm and humor, you are never left thinking "yeah yeah, shut up" or "I've heard it all before."

His humor and reasoning behind each of his views. It makes sense that he's a republican when you hear this story. How could he not be?

It's about Arnold, so of course he's my favorite character.

The death of his family members was sad. Also, this is a great immigrant story, which is always moving.

Some slightly annoying things are that Arnold only reads the first and last chapter. I found the main narrator's voice to be fine, but the switch from Arnold to this other guy was distracting (which is why I gave performance just 4 stars). Also, this book doesn't explain why he cheats on Maria or anything like that. He definitely brushes past the personal/emotional bits dealing with that, although throughout his book he talks about how detached he is from emotions and how he has had to learn how to connect with that part of himself throughout his life. Really interesting.

I really am a fan of autobiographies..especially on audio books. I love the journey from nothing to everything. I am NOT an Arnold fan. I really am not into body building or body builders...nor am I am action flick person or a republican. I think I have only seen Kindergarten Cop and Twins of his movies. But, I just thought he would have an interesting story...and I was right. Its his journey from post war Austria,...to body building..and how he translated that into a successful movie career. His marriage to Maria, a Kennedy..to his political career. He really is a fabulous business man...very savvy. He was a millionaire by 22 and he made that from real estate. Its a nice long book....I listen while I am walking and driving. Great book.