The Worlds Strongest Librarian, Josh Hanagarne
The Worlds Strongest Librarian, Josh Hanagarne
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The World's Strongest Librarian
A Memoir of Tourette’s, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family

Author: Josh Hanagarne

Narrator: Stephen R. Thorne

Unabridged: 8 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/02/2013

Synopsis

At first glance, Josh Hanagarne seems an improbable librarian. He stands 6’7”, competes in strongman contests, and was diagnosed in high school with Tourette’s syndrome. But books are his first love—Josh’s earliest memories involve fantastic adventures between the pages of Gulliver’s Travels and a passionate infatuation with Fern from Charlotte’s Web. Everything in Josh’s life—from his Mormon upbringing, to finally finding love, to learning to control his tics through lifting—circles back to a close connection with books. Today, Josh is a librarian at the Salt Lake City Public Library, founder of a popular blog about books and weight lifting—and the proud father of four-year-old Max, who has already started to show his own symptoms of Tourette’s.The World’s Strongest Librarian illuminates the mysteries of this little-understood disorder as well as the very different worlds of strongman training and modern libraries. With humor and candor, this unlikely hero traces his journey to overcome his disability, navigate his wavering Mormon faith, spread the word about the wonder of books, and ultimately, find love and create a life worth living.

About Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne believes in curiosity, questions, and strength, and that things are never so bad that they can’t improve. He is a librarian at the Salt Lake City Public Library and lives with his wife, Janette, and their son, Max, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

About Stephen R. Thorne

Stephen R. Thorne, winner of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration, is a professional actor and member of the resident acting company at Providence’s esteemed Trinity Repertory Company, where he has played Hamlet, Henry V, and Tom Joad.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sharon on March 29, 2023

I listened to The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family on audiobook. It's written by Josh Hanagarne and is narrated by Stephen R. Thorne. The writing and narration are terrific, humorous, and insightful. Hanagarne has Tourette's and shares how......more

Goodreads review by Matthew on December 03, 2020

3.5 to 4 stars I thought this book had many great moments. I thought this book had some unusual and unconventional moments. But, since Josh Hanagarne has lived a great but also unusual/unconventional life, this should come as no surprise. I love finding memoirs to listen to from people who might be you......more

Goodreads review by Carmen on March 28, 2016

I asked my friend-in-real-life what he thought of this book. He said, "It was boring." Good thing I ignored him and read this anyway! I loved it. Josh has Tourette's. He is Mormon and growing up in Utah. He loves books. This book is a good place to learn about the Mormon faith, Tourette Syndrome, and......more

Goodreads review by David on July 24, 2016

From childhood, Josh Hanagarne always had a deep love for books and libraries. He reveres books, and reads incessantly. His favorite author is Mark Twain, which does not put him in good favor with the Mormons, in whose church he was raised. Most importantly in this book, Josh suffers incredibly from......more

Goodreads review by Miriam on April 29, 2013

Read my full review here: [URL not allowed] I can see it now. The librarian is doing her best to hand sell the book, The World's Strongest Librarian.: "Well, it's a memoir by a 6'7" Mormon librarian who lifts weights and has Tourette Syndrome." Uh-huh! That's going to sell it!......more

Quotes

“A sumptuous read, as funny, erudite, and energizing as a chat with a conversational intellectual, as engrossing and moving as a medical detective drama…The book leaves all of us who’ve read it feeling a little stronger and brighter ourselves.” Martha Beck, New York Times bestselling author of Expecting Adam

“A truly interesting, engaging, and fascinating memoir.” Joe Lansdale, World Fantasy Award–winning author of Edge of Dark Water

“Wildly quirky memoir of facing down his ferocious Tourette’s tics…Hanagarne’s account manages to be very gag-full and tongue-in-cheek…highly engaging…Reconciled with Tourette’s, Hanagarne never let the disease get the upper hand.” Publishers Weekly

“Throughout, Thorne reflects Hanagarne’s droll wit—a coping mechanism for his Tourette’s syndrome and life in general. With his optimistic and irreverent attitude, Hanagarne’s experiences may be interesting to Tourette’s sufferers and to others dealing with difficult personal problems.” AudioFile

“Josh Hanagarne is a remarkable man…In this moving memoir, Hanagarne shows his readers what it is like to live with a severe form of Tourette’s and how, with patience, love, and support from his family, he was able to build a rich, full life. Throughout, his optimism and amusing, self-deprecating sense of humor shine through. An excellent and uplifting story on accepting and coping with lifelong disabilities.” Booklist

“Forthright, affecting, and sometimes surprisingly funny.” Library Journal

“Josh Hanagarne has an astonishing story to tell, and he does so with insight, humor, grace, and wonder.  All human beings suffer and struggle. Through the lens of his own miraculous experiences, Mr. Hanagarne illuminates the path to joy and the infinite possibilities of transcendence.” Melanie Rae Thon, award-winning author of Sweet Hearts

“As a gym rat myself, I can attest to the power of hurling one’s sinews against heavy stuff that keeps wanting to slam you back into the floor. The difference with Josh Hanagarne is he has lifted much weightier impediments—Tourette’s, loneliness, geekitude, and the calling to be a writer. That he is, and a talent to savor, to emulate, and to be inspired by.” Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of The War of Art

“Just like the library has every funny, beautiful, moving, wise story you’d ever need in it, so too does this book. This is not just your ordinary memoir: it is a soaring, inspiring elegy to the small and big miracles of parenthood and friendship and marriage and how they triumph over the not so small challenges of life. It is a perfect, perfect gem of a read, unputdownable, unforgettable, unmatchable.” Pam Allyn, author of What to Read When

“Josh Hanagarne inspires in his pursuit to break the shackles of Tourette Syndrome and live his life to the fullest, as a husband, a father, and a librarian. Insightful, heart-wrenching, and delightfully humorous, The World’s Strongest Librarian is a triumph!” Cory MacLauchlin, author of Butterfly in the Typewriter

Awards

  • Indie Next List
  • Barnes & Noble Discover Award
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