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The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

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'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' by Mark Manson is a motivational self-help book that encourages readers to prioritize what truly matters in life. The author presents a counterintuitive approach to living a good life by advocating for carefully choosing what to care about and focusing on important values and goals. With a potty-mouthed writing style, the book challenges readers to reevaluate their perspectives on self-worth, relationships, and life priorities. Through practical advice and personal anecdotes, the book aims to guide readers towards a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is informal and engaging, using humor and profanity to convey its message effectively.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around the concept of prioritizing what truly matters in life and accepting struggles, moving against typical self-help advice.

Setting:

The setting is abstract, focusing more on modern societal contexts and personal experiences than on a physical location.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally quick and engaging, though some repetitiveness may affect the flow for some readers.
Charles Bukowski was an alcoholic, a womanizer, a chronic gambler, a lout, a cheapskate, a deadbeat, and on his worst days, a poet. He’s probably the last person on earth you would ever look to for li...

Notes:

The book encourages readers to carefully choose what they care about and what they don't, as we have limited energy to 'give a f*ck'.
Mark Manson emphasizes that happiness comes from solving problems, not from avoiding them.
The book critiques the culture of entitlement and unrealistic expectations perpetuated by social media and consumerism.
Manson's writing style is blunt and incorporates humor, making complex ideas more relatable for readers.
Key lessons in the book include the importance of accepting negative experiences and choosing personal values that align with one’s life goals.
Manson states that life's struggles give it meaning, challenging the conventional view that avoidance of suffering leads to happiness.
A recurring theme is that being open about insecurities can paradoxically enhance one's confidence and likeability.
The book has been described as a blend of Buddhist philosophy and modern self-help, making age-old concepts more accessible to contemporary readers.
Manson uses personal anecdotes, including his own failures and shortcomings, to illustrate his points and connect with the audience.
The final chapter emphasizes being comfortable with the idea of death, helping readers to prioritize what truly matters in life.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book touches on themes of mental health, individual struggles, and societal issues; these themes may be triggering for some readers.

From The Publisher:

#1 New York Times Bestseller

Over 6 million copies sold

In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.

For decades, we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F**k positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn't sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is-a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is his antidote to the coddling, let's-all-feel-good mindset that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.

Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited-"not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault." Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.

There are only so many things we can give a f**k about so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.

Ratings (73)

Incredible (12)
Loved It (24)
Liked It (16)
It Was OK (10)
Did Not Like (8)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (146):

Read It (80)
Currently Reading (5)
Want To Read (41)
Did Not Finish (5)
Not Interested (15)

1 comment(s)

Did Not Like
6 months

It's a long shot at getting through to those of us with the topically harmful hold ups of a people pleasing personality. This book's humor and sarcasm does a disservice to those who crave guidance but need to qualify their thoughts through abstract themes. The message is important, but delivering it tongue in cheek makes it difficult to hear.

 
 
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