I expected a different book and was looking forward to a lot of behind the scenes information about the movies Arnold played in. However, his movie work hardly gets any attention. Often it’s nothing more than: “and that year we shot this movie, and then that one”. Whereas the book spends a lot of time on the early stages of his career in bodybuilding, and on the later stages of his life when he got into politics. These times may be very interesting for himself, but I didn’t find much value in those chapters.

The book feels unbalanced and was maybe ghostwritten by someone who didn’t get much room to direct the conversation to the most visible aspect of Arnold’s public life, which is his movie work. I assume the book was written on the basis of a number of interviews, and those conversations were clearly heavily influenced by Arnold’s own interests. It often remains superficial and self-congratulatory and glosses over the most interesting parts of his life (the ones where he messes up). I guess Arnold doesn’t want to dwell upon those moments “because I’m an optimistic man”. But it’s in moments of conflict and failure that great lessons can be learned. Lessons that this book unfortunately lacks…

Extremely poorly written (he clearly wrote it himself) but fascinating none the less.

3.75 stars.
I was honestly a little disappointed that he didn't read his entire audiobook and just read the first and last hour of it. That being said, the narrator did have a very commanding voice. I would have given this book 4 stars if a good third of the book wasn't every single detail of his political career. It got a little boring for me. The most interesting parts of this book were... Everything else. Between how his bodybuilding career formed and getting into the movie business was very interesting. His move to America and trying to learn about the culture was fascinating because he clearly has the savvy and the smarts. He worked hard to get where he is and I am impressed with that. He doesn't shy away from talking about his family and even includes talking about his brief affair. It's a very detailed book that kept me mostly hooked. Personally had to wait over 5 months on Libby to get this book and I think it was definitely worth the wait!

“It's not what you get out of life that counts. Break your mirrors! In our society that is so self-absorbed, begin to look less at yourself and more at each other. you'll get more satisfaction from having improved your neighborhood, your town, your state, your country, and your fellow human beings than you'll ever get from your muscles, your figure, your automobile, your house, or your credit rating”

Although I am only passingly interested in Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bits I have heard about his life journey did sound interesting and unique. However, while his life story is undeniably interesting, the book itself failed to keep me engaged and this book does not do justice to his ambitious journey from a small town Austrian to a Hollywood A-lister and governor.

The narrative starts strong, with engaging anecdotes about his early years and his passion for bodybuilding. These sections are filled with drive and humor. However, as the book progresses into his movie career and political life, it loses its charm and becomes a tedious recounting of events.
The writing feels mechanical and uninspired, lacking the depth and insight that a life as extraordinary as Arnold's deserves. The book often reads like a list of achievements and name-dropping, making it difficult to connect with Schwarzenegger on a personal level. His personality, which is larger-than-life on screen, comes across as flat and unengaging in the book.

Moreover, the latter parts of the autobiography, particularly those detailing his time as the Governor of California, are bogged down with mundane details and political jargon. These sections drag on and detract from the overall narrative, making the book feel overly long and repetitive.
While Arnold's honesty about his mistakes and regrets is commendable, the book often feels self-serving and lacks the introspection that makes for a compelling autobiography. His explanations for his actions, particularly his infidelities, come off as superficial and fail to provide meaningful insight into his character.

In conclusion, while Total Recall offers a glimpse into the life of a truly remarkable individual, it is marred by uninspired writing and a lack of depth.If you're a fan of his, you might find some enjoyment in the anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories, but be prepared for a book that ultimately fails to endear or interest the reader.

I enjoyed the pacing of the memoir and the items included. Seemed like a pretty honest reflection of his life to that point. I enjoyed the behind the scenes of his movies more than the other portions.

Everything you would hope it would be. Outrageous, ridiculous and inspiring.

I enjoyed this read: it was well-written and engaging. I take memoirs with a grain of salt and don’t always take the autobiographer at their word. No exception here, and I was disappointed and the cavalier attitude of womanizing, but otherwise an enjoyable story.

Very interesting read for those who'd like to know more about Arnold Schwarzenegger. The book is full of facts and events that are not widely known about Arnold.

I liked it. A bit of self-praise (as one would expect from any autobiography) but otherwise a good read.