Despite all the ribbing that Arnold takes for being a simpleminded, thick-skulled musclehead, he’s really quite a smart guy. This comes through in the sections of his bodybuilding writings that are associated with motivation, mindset, and discipline.
Education of a Bodybuilder is split into two parts, with the first ostensibly being an autobiography and the second about how to train. However, the first part of the book is really about Arnold’s ability to focus on something with such intensity and confidence that it almost inevitably comes to be. This is the meat of the book, in my opinion, and is incredibly inspiring. I’d recommend it to anyone who has a goal or two collecting dust somewhere and needs a swift kick in the turbine to get them on track.
There are some great pithy lines in there for you to throw at your friends — or in your Facebook quotes page, as you like it. (Sigh.)
Arnold on Austria:
There seemed never to be enough space. Even people’s ideas were small. There was too much contentment, too much acceptance of things as they’d always been. It was beautiful; it was a great place to be old in.
And on discipline:
Every day I hear someone say, “I’m too fat. I need to lose twenty-five pounds, but I can’t. I never seem to improve.” I’d hate myself if I had that kind of attitude, if I were that weak. I can lose ten to forty pounds rapidly, easily, painlessly, by simply setting my mind to it. By observing the principles of strict discipline that bodybuilding taught me, I can prepare myself for anything. I have developed such absolute control over my body that I can decide what body weight I want for any particular time and take myself up or down to meet it.
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