William Morrow

From his childhood in Austria to his rise as a star of American conservative politics, the story of Arnold Schwarzenegger's life reads like the script of a Hollywood B movie penned by Horatio Alger. In this chatty and engaging biography, scoop hunter Ian Halperin sifts through the myths and rumors to discover the real Arnold behind the icon, a man defined by unbridled ambition and an unending quest for power. Based on intensive research and candid interviews with many who know the man best, Halperin paints a candid, true-life portrait of this remarkable man. Going undercover in Austria, he takes a soul-searching journey through Schwarzenegger's past to explore his relationship with his abusive father and his feelings toward the Nazi Party. Halperin also infiltrates the exclusive world of bodybuilding and Schwarzenegger's early steroid use. He also addresses Arnold's reputation as a womaniser, including his alleged affairs and public accusations of sexual harassment, behaviour that earned the star the nickname 'the Groper'. Here, too, is an in-depth look at his marriage and family - including his wife, Maria Shriver's extremely secret and very serious illness - and his uncertain future. Halperin offers a serious analysis of Schwarzenegger's political career, revealing him to be an extraordinarily effective governor whose accomplishments, especially in environmental initiatives, have been overshadowed by a devastating fiscal crisis that threatens to tarnish his legacy. And he probes the depth of Schwarzenegger's commitment to the Republic brand vis-a-vis his attachment to the most famous Democratic family in America, the Kennedys. Filled with judicious research and a wealth of shocking headline-making revelations, "The Governator" is sure to be this bestselling investigative journalist's biggest hit yet.