REVIEW: The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne

What do books, weight lifting, and Tourette's Syndrome 

have in common?

I've been spending a lot of time at our local library lately, in part due to increased tutoring requests and the ease of meeting students there and in part due to a re-commitment to frugality and voluntary simplicity in an effort to pay down debt and increase savings. 

As I was wandering the stacks recently, I came across an intriguing title: The World's Strongest Librarian. 

I actually read the title on the spine, thought, "Huh, interesting...." and kept walking. I came back and looked at it two or three more times before finally taking the book off the shelf. 

I'm glad I went back. While I didn't LOVE every part of this book, I loved enough of it to recommend it. The subtitle pretty much sums up the book -- "A memoir of Tourette's, faith, strength, and the power of family." 

While the book is all of those things, and at times can feel a bit sappy, it is also quirky, fun, and enlightening. 

I'm slightly familiar with Tourette's and have known many Mormons, but this book gave good insight into both while also telling a charming, heart warming story of a young man coming to terms with having an, at times, debilitating condition, and the unique ways (they have to do with weight lifting!) he found to deal with it. 

The author, Josh Hanagarne, is also honest in a refreshing way about his struggles with his faith over the years -- something I think many people can relate to regardless of their religion. And, although I've known many Mormons, I realized in reading this memoir that I know very little about how Mormons practice their religion. It was interesting to read both Hanagarne's descriptions of his religion as well as how he began to stray from his faith and the unexpected way he seems to have reconnected with it.

Hanagarne is an actual librarian and what probably got me to bring this book home is his absolute love of books and reading. It is evident throughout the entire memoir and gave me an immediate connection to Hanagarne.

I love books about books or about people who love books. 

Hanagarne tells some sweet, interesting, and at times downright weird stories from his experiences with books and in particular from his experiences as a librarian. Having spent time in New York City libraries and also through working in emergency medicine, I frequently found myself not only smiling and/or sympathizing, but also nodding my head and thinking, "Oh, yes! I know exactly what you are talking about, Josh!"

I probably won't buy this memoir or reread it, but I did enjoy it and think you might too. 

You can find The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne
at Amazon.com.

Or, try your local library. 

Did you enjoy this post? You might also enjoy:

• My favorite memoirs
• Let's Be Enemies by Janice May Udry with illustrations by Maurice Sendak
• The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Please note, Amazon links may be affiliate links. Making a purchase through them may result 

in a small commission for me. However, any such commissions are greatly appreciated. 

All opinions expressed here and anywhere else on my blog are 100% my own.

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