The World's Strongest Librarian: A Book Lover's Adventures

Description

A funny and uplifting story of how a Mormon kid with Tourette's found salvation in books and weight lifting Josh Hanagarne couldn't be invisible if he tried. Although he wouldn't officially be diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome until his freshman year of high school, Josh was six years old when he first began exhibiting symptoms. When he was twenty and had reached his towering height of 6'7," his tics escalated to nightmarish levels. Determined to conquer his affliction, Josh tried countless remedies, with dismal results. At last, an eccentric, autistic strongman taught Josh how to "throttle" his tics into submission using increasingly elaborate feats of strength. What started as a hobby became an entire way of life--and an effective way of managing his disorder. Today, Josh is a librarian at Salt Lake City's public library and founder of a popular blog about books and weight lifting--and the proud father of five-year-old Max. Funny and offbeat, "The World's Strongest Librarian" traces this unlikely hero as he attempts to overcome his disability, find love, and create a life worth living.

Reviews

"The whole of this delightfully rich and unconventional gem of a book is even greater than the sum of its parts. Read it and laugh and learn." --"The Washington Post " "Fearless and funny." --NewYorker.com "An inspiring, often funny tale about the power of persistence." --"People" "Read this book and then go hug a librarian!" --Anne Holman, The King's English Bookshop "Joyfully celebrates books and reading." --"BookPage"

Author description

Josh Hanagarne is a librarian at the Salt Lake City Public Library. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Janette, and their son, Max.