Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life

In Chapter 6, Arnold Schwarzenegger encourages the reader to maintain an open mind and a willingness to learn. His early mentor, Fredi Gerstl, instilled in him the importance of training one’s mind and having a hunger for knowledge. Schwarzenegger discusses the American education system that largely pushes young adults into four-year universities, even if they lack a true purpose and vision for their education and might be better suited to pursue another path. He argues against this system by asserting that the best classroom is real-world experience. He points out a lack of vocational skills in both the United States and Europe and says it is important for young people to value manual labor and trades. He points to a fixation on status as a reason why young people today are less inclined to forgo university education in favor of learning a trade.

To illustrate an alternative career path, he tells the story of Mary Shenouda, a private chef for top athletes, actors, entrepreneurs, and executives. She is entirely self-taught; she became an expert cook to deal with her own food intolerances before developing her talent into a business. As a high school dropout, Mary is an example of what is possible even without a college degree if one has the dedication to pursue learning of their own volition.