Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life

Arnold Schwarzenegger opens the book by acknowledging his personal struggles during the 2000s and 2010s: dealing with the global financial crisis as California’s governor in 2008, setbacks in both his bodybuilding and film careers, and the scandal that ended his marriage in 2011. He goes on to describe his process of climbing back up by continuing his work in fitness, entertainment, and philanthropy. He also adds “self-help guy” to his list of job titles; people began circulating his motivational speeches and posts on social media, and Schwarzenegger leaned into his new role as a source of inspiration, wisdom, and positivity for others.

Schwarzenegger found it surprising that so many people were looking to him for wisdom, and he analyzes why this might have happened. He notes that many people were “really miserable”—despite the data that shows that there is less war, disease, poverty, and oppression than at any other time in human history, rates of mental health struggles are consistently rising, and people report feelings of hopelessness and low self-worth. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these negative feelings. Schwarzenegger cites specific data regarding mental health rates in the years since the pandemic began. Worldwide, rates of depression and anxiety have increased 25% since 2020.