Reading Group Questions and Topics for Discussion Arnold and Me: In the Shadow of the Austrian Oak Barbara Outland Baker
Marriage as an institution has always undergone transformations as societal concerns change. Can young women of today relate to Barbara’s yearning for marriage or can young men relate to Arnold’s dedication to his career?
Define how Barbara lacked self-confidence, despite outward appearances. Why would her insecurities have made her apt to choose a muscular foreigner as a boyfriend?
Why and how do some insecure children like Arnold overcome all odds and find a way to believe in themselves when no one else does? Without the benefit of negative motivation, would Arnold have become the person he has become?
To enjoy a lasting partnership, what prescription for intimacy would you write for culturally diverse, temperamentally different, and morally opposed partners? Is it wiser to replicate your values and morals in a partner?
Just as marriage has undergone a societal transformation, so have the sexual mores of today. How do you think both partner’s sexual history affects a couple’s intimacy? Why is Barbara’s virginity so appealing to Arnold?
How does travel enhance one’s quality of life? Would most youthful relationships survive a summer separation, especially one like theirs?
Young adults can frequently make poor decisions, especially those who believe they are more mature than they actually are. How do the following issues hurt Barbara: defying society’s norms for her self- interest, lying to save her reputation, and blaming others for her unhappiness?
As Arnold faces his father’s death, what would you have wanted to say to him? What would you have said to Barbara as she faces her thoughts of life’s futility?
With Arnold’s expanding media coverage, how do both partners handle their disparate dreams: marriage versus career? Can you imagine what qualities or different behaviors might have better served their relationship?
When the Mr. Olympia announcer proclaims that Barbara is “the future Mrs. Schwarzenegger,” what are your feelings? Are you rooting for their partnership or their separation? Why?
Why do you think Arnold has been able to make the unusual vehicle of bodybuilding his foundational path to success? How has the sport affected his character and operating style?
How does Arnold’s choice to buy an apartment building and Barbara’s employment as a teacher alter the couple’s dynamics?
Why does Barbara choose to believe Arnold when she learns that her relationship has not lived up to its promise? What do you predict happens after her transformational seminar experience?
How does Arnold’s role in Stay Hungry reflect his philosophy? How does this new industry affect Barbara’s motivation to discover herself? What struck you the most about their ultimate breakup? Would you prefer that she had totally severed their bond?
How do you determine when love no longer exits? How does Barbara’s six-year history with Arnold affect her new relationship? Who is to blame for what?
Describe what happens to Barbara when she becomes a community college professor. How do you feel when she shuts Arnold out with assertion, thus taking better control of her quality of life?
Why is it that people sometimes choose partners so opposite from the last? Does Arnold’s biographical summary of their relationship compensate for or explain her failed dream?
Explore Barbara’s preference for optimism in the midst of emotional difficulties. How does choosing to see the positive serve an individual? What are her emerging strengths?
How do Barbara’s intellectual and spiritual pursuits serve her – or do they?
Do you sense the shift in Barbara’s psyche at age forty-three that she has described? Compare and contrast the Arnold of ’69 to the Arnold of ’91. Describe John’s qualities in comparison to the past men in Barbara’s life. Why do you think it took her so long to find him?
What are your thoughts as she ponders writing her life story with Arnold? In 2003, did you believe that the Terminator could become the leading candidate for governor?
What in life can prepare someone for handling a barrage of media coverage? Do you find it odd that Barbara supported Arnold’s candidacy?
Have you experienced past reunions with old periods of your life? Do you welcome that or believe in shutting doors?
“Patience is a virtue out of which kindness grows.” How does Barbara’s life script serve her during her wait for the external world to validate her writing project?
What does the Austrian room represent in terms of closure for these two old lovers? What have you learned about Arnold Schwarzenegger? What are your lasting impressions of Barbara Outland Baker as she climbs the Malibu Canyon mountaintop?