The World's Strongest Librarian

Hanagarne, J. (2013). The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family. Los Angeles: Gotham.

Hardcover | $18.09 USD | ISBN-13: 978-1592407873 | 288 pages | Adult Memoir

 

Imagine growing up with a tic. This tic started when you were on stage dressed as a tree and participating in a school play in first grade. You didn’t seem to mind at the time. You didn’t really notice and you were a busy kid with all of your book reading and library visits (plus other important kid stuff). Your parents and siblings understood the tics, and you can be who you are at home, so it was not an issue. But then, the tics get worse and were compounded with verbal outbursts that you can’t seem to control. This happened in middle school. You were tall so you joined the basketball team. This would both help you fit in and stay under the radar. Still, kids can be cruel and you become a target in the classroom. You start to wonder what if something was wrong with you? This is what happened to Josh Hanagarne. He found out in 9^th grade that he has Tourette Syndrome. What he does next will not only inform you about this unknown disease but inspire you to see what a man can accomplish with it.  

The World’s Strongest Librarian is a memoir of Josh Hanagarne’s life from childhood to adulthood and how he dealt and deals with Tourette’s. Sometimes as Josh explains he would just like to be invisible.  Readers can all agree that sometimes we all find ourselves in situations where we would prefer to be invisible. But when you grow to be 6’7” tall that is just impossible.  It is even more impossible when you have Tourette’s. His tics and his outbursts became very difficult that he was endangering himself. He tried many things to make them stop from drugs to injections. Nothing seemed to work for Josh until he got involved in strength training. And even then that took a few tries, modifications, encouragement and patience in figuring out the regimen that would work best for him.

Josh is more than a 6’7” muscle man extraordinaire. Through weight lifting and training he learns to manage himself. Readers will appreciate his humor; this memoir has plenty of funny stories about his job at the Salt Lake City’s public library (A beautiful place to work he explains). His own memories on the events of his life are light hearted and enjoyable to read. He certainly meets some very interesting characters along his journey– some who challenge him, some who just yell at him, but despite those he encounters, Josh is able to find his place, his comfort, and use his skills within the library’s walls. Josh may have had more difficulties than we ever can personally know – he explains how he was able to get through much of this. It was because of his faith and because he has the greatest family ever. This was his foundation – he now is married and has a young son named Max (“Josh Hanagarne” n.d.). Watch Josh Hanagarne’s book trailer for The World’s Strongest Librarian or connect with Josh Hanagarne on his personal website.  This memoir is highly recommended for every library – readers can learn more about the struggles in living with Tourette’s, appreciate those who have it, and read a powerful story about one who has learned to fight it on a daily basis. Hanagarne’s journey can serve as a life lesson for all readers who have their own struggles, no matter what they are.