Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life

As early as the Introduction, Arnold Schwarzenegger posits that a lack of vision is the root cause of most people’s unhappiness and aimlessness. This idea of vision is the first tool the author presents, and it is a guiding principle in the rest of the book. His tools for life involve developing that vision, executing it, communicating it to others, and ultimately using it for the betterment of one’s environment. As Be Useful demonstrates, having a specific goal or vision in mind is key to leading a purposeful life.

Schwarzenegger describes vision as “purpose and meaning” and “a picture of what you want your life to look like and a plan for how to get there” (4). His personal narrative is a testament to the power of a clear vision, as it was Schwarzenegger’s initial desire to make a life for himself in America that led him to bodybuilding and set in motion every other “act” of his life. Through these experiences and anecdotes about successful friends, he encourages readers to recall their own childhood interests for inspiration on how to craft their visions, just as he and other public figures went on to build their lives around their early passions.