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Fantastic
The Life Of Arnold Schwarzenegger
by Laurence Leamer


8.0

based on 12 reviews
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based on 1 vote
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Leamer, who has written extensively on the Kennedys, turns his attention to Kennedy-by-marriage Arnold Schwarzenegger with this biography, which is based on first-hand access to both the California governor and his wife, Maria Shriver.

St. Martin's Press, 432 pages
06/07/2005
$24.95

ISBN: 0312333382

Nonfiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Current Events & Politics

All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...

The Economist

To his credit, Mr Leamer does not dodge the issues that Mr Schwarzenegger's PR people would like to airbrush out of the picture.

The New York Times Book Review Lou Cannon

[A] balanced and insightful biography.

USA Today Deirdre Donahue

Fantastic is not fantastic all the time.... There is simply too much information on bodybuilding, Sly Stallone, action flicks and California politics.

Wall Street Journal John H. Fund

[Leamer's] book is not hagiography.

The Spectator Frederic Raphael

Laurence Leamer’s low-down becomes a pedestal on which Arnie’s occasionally lovable hunkishness is jacked up even higher.

Washington Post Peter Schrag

One of the strengths of Leamer's book is his awareness of Schwarzenegger's arrogance, his dependency on adulation, his will to dominate.

Daily Telegraph Nigel Farndale

Although this biography is sympathetic, it is not sycophantic.

Publishers Weekly

His book is not fantastic, but it's well researched and moves along at a pleasantly robotic clip.

Daily Telegraph Robert Hanks

Leamer comes over as sycophantic.

The New Republic

Schwarzenegger's sexual peccadilloes... provide Leamer many opportunities to ply his craft as an excuse-maker.

Los Angeles Times Richard Schickel

These desperately humorless pages will send any reasonably sentient reader into the streets, barking like a dog. [17 July 2005, p. R3]

Kirkus Reviews

Leamer halfheartedly dresses this cocky suprahuman in an underdog's cloak of self-deprecation, shilling anecdotes about Schwarzenegger's crippling need to be admired.

The average user rating for this book is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 1 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Hunter G gave it an8:
A very "as is" depiction of Schwarzenegger where his faults are presented as objectively as his achievements. I had read many reviews of this book prior to reading and unfortunately, most of the critics have made the mistake of letting their personal feelings for Schwarzenegger influence their review (the negative ones especially). Due to the fact that Schwarzenegger's life has thus far spanned many careers, there will be portions in this book which will not interest some. However, this book is invaluable to those to whom the persona of Schwarzenegger is intriguing.

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Fantastic The Life Of Arnold Schwarzenegger by Laurence Leamer

Fantastic
The Life Of Arnold Schwarzenegger
by Laurence Leamer