Josh Hanagarne

Honestly, I probably wouldn't have even picked this one up if it wasn't about a librarian. I'm not Mormon, and though Tourette's is an interesting disability, I didn't think it was interesting enough to warrant reading a book about it. Well, I was wrong. First of all, his struggles with faith resonated with me because I was raised Catholic, and while I eventually found what I was looking for outside of the faith I was born into, the run of emotions, thoughts, and questions Hanagarne show more experiences throughout the book were similar to my own. Secondly, I understood in an impersonal way what Tourette's is, but I never thought about how it could affect every area of a person's life. While it's a physical disability, it seems to have the same stigma attached to it as the majority of mental disabilities. Just as many people ask those dealing with Depression why can't they just be happy, I get the impression that the same people probably want to ask why can't you just stop doing [insert physical/vocal tick here].

To me, this book proves that having a support network of family and/or friends is one of the most important elements in determining how well someone handles just about anything that life can throw your way. It also proves that books and libraries are just as important because ultimately we each have to find our own way and what works for us. What better place than the library to find the resources to do that? If you need convincing, check out The World's Strongest Librarian. show less

I read a lot of memoirs, but this may be the first one I've read written by a librarian. And THE WORLD'S STRONGEST LIBRARIAN is a pretty interesting read; Hanagarne writes well, which is probably not surprising, given his life-long love affair with books. And his reading tastes seem pretty eclectic, judging from the writers and titles sprinkled throughout his story. There is much to be learned here about all the things mentioned in the subtitle: Tourette's (tics are NOT fun; they play havoc show more with your whole life), Mormonism (even Mormons have crises of faith), breathing, body building, weight lifting and Highland Games (all used to take Josh's mind off his affliction and/or to attempt to control the tics), and the importance of family, which is pretty self explanatory. And it's all arranged in chapters, by the Dewey Decimal system. Hey, he IS a librarian; and one who likes his work.

Hanagarne tells his story well. Although it started out maybe just a bit smarmy when he told about his parents, his own very young years and the bond between him and his mother, it picks up quickly as soon as he enters adolescence, about which he is pretty darned honest. Yes, there is some sex and pretty gamey language in here, but it all fits the context - puberty, first loves, and finally the real thing and marriage, as well as the strange dispossessed types that often haunt libraries. All things considered, Hanagarne's LIBRARIAN tales are informative, entertaining and, at times, quite moving. Well done, Mr. Librarian. show less

I could not have guessed that my favorite read this year would be about a Mormon Librarian Strongman with severe Tourette Syndrome. I was trying to describe the author and my love for his book to my family at dinner, and they said Wait. What? It's that kind of book, full of unlikely and fascinating juxtapositions, and among my very favorite memoirs. It's hard for me to separate out how much of my praise for this book is based on how much I like the author and his voice and his love of books, show more or how much his story and world view resonated with me as he struggles to find his way.

Josh writes in a forthright, honest, sparse manner, describing his childhood, his work and the characters he meets in the public library, his love of books and stories, his supportive family and his struggle to gain some control over his body, which rarely obeys his wishes. Finding strength training gives him moments of calm and a needed distraction from his daily struggles for normalcy.

I found Josh's story to be at times funny, thought provoking, shocking and heart warming, and was moved to tears several times, but in a good way. I highly recommend this memoir and hope it finds an eager audience. show less

Amazing and Inspiring! Josh is a natural storyteller with a quick wit that comes through in his writing. That he would choose to be a librarian (a place for quiet and stillness) when he struggles with one of the worst cases of Tourette's that one could have is a testament to his determination to master his disorder rather than have the disorder control him. He's 6 foot 7 inches tall but a self-professed bookworm. He's not at all what you would picture when you think of a librarian which show more makes him something of an enigma. His story is all the more fascinating for it.

He writes in a series of entries headed by Dewey decimal numbers designating the subject area. Very clever. Rather than a running narrative, the book switches back and forth through stories of library patrons (you may be surprised by the insanity with which librarians sometimes have to deal), growing up with Tourette's, and living out his Mormon faith. He also includes other interesting anecdotes about dating, becoming a father, strength training, etc. It was an unusual writing style, but it worked.

I stayed up until 2AM to finish this book. I was never bored. Josh has lived such a fascinating life and met some rather extraordinary people. He is also refreshingly and brutally honest. He does not make himself out to be a hero, and he gives his family most of the credit for where he is today. His battle with Tourette's rages on, but his strength training has helped him to cope. As a reader, I couldn't help but get caught up in his story. As a librarian, I related. As a bi-polar, I related. I've even taken some of the same medications that he has. But mostly, I felt a connection as a fellow human being trying to make sense of a sometimes nonsensical world. I think Josh says it well when he notes that not even libraries hold the answer to every question. Not every question has an answer.

Ideas to discuss:

Importance of Faith
Adoption
Dealing with Tourette's or other conditions

Words I liked:

Desiccated
Transcendent
Obelisk
Schism
Excoriate
Hoary Vassal
Disquisition

Conversations to strike up:

Hardships you've had to overcome
The value of libraries and literacy
The support of family

I highly recommend this book! It truly is an inspirational, educational, and humorous read.

In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received a free advance reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less