About World’s Strongest Librarian
World’s Strongest Librarian is a blog for anyone looking to get stronger, healthier, smarter, and talk about books.
And: I have a memoir on the way! The World’s Strongest Librarian will be published by Gotham Books on May 2, 2013.
Here’s the trailer:
A Promise*
My main goal here is not to bore myself…or you.That’s the promise I’m making to you. I’ll even try to keep it.
*I might still bore us both
What You Will Find Here:
Lots of people wind up here because of the Tourette’s series. I haven’t had much to say about it for a while because it’s been a while since I’ve made much progress worth talking about.
I also write about strength training, libraries, and books.
I used to write about the strength stuff more than I do now, but at this point I’ve had my say. There’s only so much to say about it. I make the best progress when I’m lifting consistently, keeping it fun, and not worrying what anyone else is doing. I’m always happy to talk about it, though, if you’d like to send me an email.
I also answer questions that I receive on the reference desk here on the blog, so I never know exactly what I’ll be writing about, which keeps it interesting.
About Josh Hanagarne
The short answer: just some guy.
I’ve got a pretty simple philosophy of life.
- Take care of your mind and your health
- Protect your family and make sure they have what they need
- Help who you can help
- Laugh as often as possible
- Ask lots of questions
- Distrust the humorless
- Nobody understood human nature better than Mark Twain
- There’s always a way to be compassionate
- Every situation can be improved
Not too profound, but it works for me.
Contact me
Disclosure of earnings statement
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Josh—-
Just read your article over on Darren’s site and was very impressed…great piece of writing. I just signed up for my Wordpress blog last night, and am working on the first post and “About Me” page, and I will write in the same fashion…to enjoy it, hopefully offer some value, and write for “myself”. If the readers come great, if they don’t…I’ll still keep writing!
Thanks for today’s bit of inspiration.
Joe D., thank you very much. Let me know when the blog is up. I’ll watch with great interest. Good luck to you.
I just want to let you know that your philosophy “Don’t make anyone’s day worse” is fantastic. It’s so concise and to the point, I want to embroider it on a pillow, but first I’ll have to learn how to embroider.
I’ll add you to my reader and visit any time you post.
Rosie, thank you. When you learn to embroider, I want one of those pillows!
I found your guest post on problogger and was so inspired! I have been threatening to start blogging for a couple of years and have always stopped short. I will press on and look forward to your posts.
Lisa, thanks for the kind words. Enough with the threats. Start your blog and don’t listen to anyone who tells you that blogs are a matter of life and death.
“Refuse to deal with life. Make it deal with you.”
Josh, I don’t know where you got that quote, but it’s perfect, I repeat, perfect. I think I’ll start tossing it about in my own head until that kind of attitude sinks in for good!
Ron, I rarely say this, but that quote might be the only original thought I’ve ever had. I actually think it’s mine, but I usually find out that I’ve stolen things way after the fact. But until I’m called out, I’m claiming it! Glad you like it, thanks for the encouragement.
Hi Josh!
I found you because, well, you found me and posted a comment to my site.
So, I’ve been to your site three or four times today to read your posts, your about page, and other “stuff.” I love it!
Your blog is easy to navigate, funny, helpful, and most of all, I love your writing style and content. I’m glad we ‘found each other.’
Very simply – you had me at hello.
Keep up the great work! I know you’re going places – don’t forget us little people.
Lori, thanks. I’m not so sure I’m going anywhere. Not sure I want to, either, but I will take this compliment and add it to the collection. I take them out, print them, and when I’m feeling insecure I roll around in them and say “there there, everyone loves you.”
Hey Josh,
Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog, I hope I answered your question.. I didnt realise your such a funny guy, cant wait to see that dance youve promised everyone
Kind Regards
Beatrice (student at blogmastermind)
Love it, love it, love it. I follow Darren Rowse on Facebook and just happened to read “I came, I saw, I commented…” this morning. Funny. More importantly good. So I kept clicking links and ended up reading a couple more of your posts on Problogger, and then ended up here.
Now understand this, I’m a relatively new blogger, overwhelmed by the amount of blogging advice, tips and shenanigans out there. So much so, I don’t read much of it. So the fact that I propped myself up on my elbows long enough, early on a Saturday morning, to read three of them in a row, is a minor feat.
I love your writing style and love that you write about whatever the … you want to write about. I think that’s what makes you fun to read. Kudos. Really looking forward to the book.
Grace
Josh@
I take them out, print them, and when I’m feeling
insecure I roll around in them and say “there there,
everyone loves you.”
Try adding butter, it makes the compliments stick longer
Hi, nice to read your about page…I saw your guest post on Darren’s Poblogger.com (I came, I saw, I commented). It’s true that bloggers no matter how celebrated or skillful or experienced s/he is, s/he still needs comments, responses, badly…It’s fine to say we keep posting even nobody visits or comments on our blog but eventually comment is something that we always long for. I just started blogging not more than a couple of months ago and finding a visitor voluntarily commenting on my blog posts is rewarding..I feel like I was doing something worthwhile for others and the feeling of being appreciated and acknowledged is unbeatable (though I sometimes know that’s only what I imagine). I don’t even care about spams, insincere comment, or irrelevant comment, or anything..Comment propels my spirit to stay on the track.
Akhlis, if it works for you, enjoy whatever you want and don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Keep it fun or you won’t keep it.
I thought I was the only librarian who weight trained! Open joke at Gold’s was that I was “world’s strongest librarian” as there, y’know, wasn’t much competition.
Keep up the good work.
Josh – I love your attitude! Reading your story gives me hope… & some ideas to try with my son. He’s also named Joshua (great name!!), & when he was *finally* diagnosed with Tourettes, we got a few others – hi-fuctioning Autism & ADHD. He is an AMAZING kid with talents out the wazoo – the challenge is to help him manage himself so life doesn’t manage him. Hmm… sounds familliar, eh? Great minds think alike!
I’ll be reading regularly! Thanks for sharing your struggles (not a strong enough word…) – you bless & encourage others to find what works for them. As a mom, I am so grateful.
I just saw this and thought of TS. Now this guy puts life in perspective:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciYk-UwqFKA&playnext=1&list=PLE625EA3A5BAFEF76
No arms, no legs, and no worries…
Just found your blog this morning. I’ve embraced my short attention span and hopped all over reading a bit of this and that. Nice writing! Loving it so far. Definitely subscribing!
Hi Josh,
I thought I’d stop over to see what the World’s Strongest Librarian was offering and I like what’s going on. In fact, I find your About page to sound more like a manifesto … and I really appreciate it.
Can’t wait read future updates.
Glad to hear it, Michael. If I can ever help you with anything, say the word.
I nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award. It seems to be the equivalent of a chain letter for blogging, but it seemed fun. You can see details here: http://emilyjanuary.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/the-versatile-blogger-award/
You probably don’t need this “award” but you deserve it. I’m so impressed with everything you’ve done.
Thanks Emily.
Just stumbled across your blog, seems like an interesting premise, I look forward to reading through the rest of it.
Hey Josh. My book is out on Amazon.com and doing well! The Unlikely Candidate: An Amazing Journey of a Heart Transplant Patient. I’m will be sending your copy out as we discussed a few weeks ago. Thanks so much for your blog.
Reply
Josh,I am 65,I have bi-polar,but doing well,on medication for life.
It is a terrible disease.
If any body out there has it,please get professional help.
Josh, hello – my journey to visit you started with Chris Guillebeau’s latest http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/end-of-year-giveaway/
Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2013
Thank you Andrew!
Hey Josh are you comming to Colville anytime soon
Hi Summer. I’m not sure. I’d love to, though.
Thanks for the site. I found it because a friend with Tourette’s posted some links to episodes 1-3 of the “How to have Tourette’s” series. Apparently you made her laugh so hard I think she almost spat on her work computer. Or something like that.
I am sitting at home recovering from a mastectomy. I really miss going to the gym and working out. Being very healthy (other than having cancer) has made this mostly a lot easier, but having major surgery is never fun and I was in pain today, waking up at 3:30 am unable to sleep anymore. So listening to your mellifluous voice on the podcasts was very pleasant. I was particularly moved by the one minute video. Right now I am having a really hard time doing nothing without being distracted, and yet that is my job right now. Resting. So thanks for the inspiration. Someday when I have the energy I will right a tell-all blog about breast cancer, maybe I will call it “how to have breast cancer,” because if I had known certain things ahead of time I would do them differently. I am not talking about major treatment decisions, I am talking about some little choices that would have improved my comfort. (not wanting to give away my stories quite yet.)
I just received an ARC of your book and was shocked to find you lived in Spring Creek, Nevada. I’m from Elko, Nevada and also a librarian. My older sister probably went to high school with you. Crazy! Congratulations on making it big!
Josh, I just finished the audiobook version and enjoyed it tremendously. I just wish someone had taught the reader how to say “Nephites” correctly. Your story is very inspiring and educational and I look forward to your book tour on the East Coast. I am in a book club with a group of LDS ladies and am debating whether to recommend your book–a couple of them would refuse to read it because of the profanity, but not the former schoolteacher, psychologist, or Federal government employee. Anyway, I hope that you are able to work through your spiritual issues and continue to progress in your war on the Tourette’s. Your son has several fantastic role models.
I was intrigued by the article I read about you in the Atlanta AJC. I have dystonia — a neurological movement disorder. Do you know if weight training has been successful with anyone with other movement disorders (dystonia, blephorspasm, parkinson’s?) Your experience with remission is giving me some hope…
Hi, Josh: I have just finished your book, and I must say it was a real eye opener. Since I knew you during your growing up years, I must confess that your ‘tics’ didn’t bother me much, if at all. I was just always impressed with your abilities in some many areas!
And now that I’ve finished the book and discovered that you used breathing to help your symptoms, I wanted to share with you a website I’ve followed for several years about breathing. http://www.breathing.com/articles/optimal-breathing.htm
Although there is nothing on the site specifically about Tourette’s, I suppose even he (Michael White) would be greatly interested in what you accomplished with breathing!
Good luck on the remainder of your book tour! It is so exciting to say that I know a published author. I can see why your parents are so proud.
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