Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life

Self-help or self-improvement is a popular genre of nonfiction that aims to guide the reader toward solving personal problems and/or improving areas of their life. People turn to self-help books for inspiration and guidance on a wide range of topics, and the industry has grown in recent years. In today’s era of increasing digitalization, self-help content often takes the form of blogs, social media posts, videos, and podcasts.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose diverse life experiences and accomplishments speak for themselves, situates himself as a credible voice in the realm of self-improvement. In this “fourth act” of his life, Schwarzenegger has transitioned into the advice and self-help world. He first gave motivational speeches that went viral online, then grew his social media channels and published Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life. In his guidebook for living a purposeful life and attaining success, Schwarzenegger directly addresses and attempts to avoid some of the pitfalls of self-improvement content.

Firstly, some self-help advice, in emphasizing personal responsibility and the value of hard work, can fall into the trap of overlooking or bypassing systemic causes of unhappiness or hardship. Though Schwarzenegger largely takes the approach of “[I]f I can do what I did, why can’t you?” (69), he maintains an empathetic tone and acknowledges how external factors can create barriers to success. However, his strategies for reframing negative situations encourage readers to focus on the factors they can control, think positively, and strive to do the best they can with their unique abilities and resources.

Secondly, as Schwarzenegger notes in Chapter 7, self-improvement books and content can “become permission slips for selfishness” (232), fostering the idea that the reader can or should “win” at the expense of others. Schwarzenegger is quick to emphasize that self-improvement is, ultimately, about uncovering one’s purpose and using that purpose to be of service to the world in some way. This is clear from the book’s title, Be Useful, which emphasizes what one can give back rather than what one can gain. He is careful not to condone selfish ambition for its own sake and encourages building a vision that includes giving back to others. Inherent in Be Useful is the idea that the betterment of others should be a central motivation in working toward one’s goals.