Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope

Mark Manson

May 2019 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

New York Times Bestseller

“Just because everything appears to be a mess doesn’t mean you have to be one. Mark Manson’s book is a call to arms for a better life and better world and could not be more needed right now.” — Ryan Holiday, bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy

From the author of the international mega-bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck comes a counterintuitive guide to the problems of hope.

We live in an interesting time. Materially, everything is the best it’s ever been—we are freer, healthier and wealthier than any people in human history. Yet, somehow everything seems to be irreparably and horribly f*cked—the planet is warming, governments are failing, economies are collapsing, and everyone is perpetually offended on Twitter. At this moment in history, when we have access to technology, education and communication our ancestors couldn’t even dream of, so many of us come back to an overriding feeling of hopelessness.

What’s going on? If anyone can put a name to our current malaise and help fix it, it’s Mark Manson. In 2016, Manson published The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, a book that brilliantly gave shape to the ever-present, low-level hum of anxiety that permeates modern living. He showed us that technology had made it too easy to care about the wrong things, that our culture had convinced us that the world owed us something when it didn’t—and worst of all, that our modern and maddening urge to always find happiness only served to make us unhappier. Instead, the “subtle art” of that title turned out to be a bold challenge: to choose your struggle; to narrow and focus and find the pain you want to sustain. The result was a book that became an international phenomenon, selling millions of copies worldwide while becoming the #1 bestseller in 13 different countries.

In Everthing Is F*cked, Manson turns his gaze from the inevitable flaws within each individual self to the endless calamities taking place in the world around us. Drawing from the pool of psychological research on these topics, as well as the timeless wisdom of philosophers such as Plato, Nietzsche, and Tom Waits, he dissects religion and politics and the uncomfortable ways they have come to resemble one another. He looks at our relationships with money, entertainment and the internet, and how too much of a good thing can psychologically eat us alive. He openly defies our definitions of faith, happiness, freedom—and even of hope itself.

With his usual mix of erudition and where-the-f*ck-did-that-come-from humor, Manson takes us by the collar and challenges us to be more honest with ourselves and connected with the world in ways we probably haven’t considered before. It’s another counterintuitive romp through the pain in our hearts and the stress of our soul. One of the great modern writers has produced another book that will set the agenda for years to come.

Ratings and reviews

I didn't enjoy this book as much as his first. I found there are problems with cohesiveness, yet there are lots of great ideas which make it worth reading. Concepts such as means vs. ends, actual vs. falsely inflated problems, and real freedom (as opposed to perceived freedom) are some of the major topics he covers. In the end he recommends not simply hoping for better, rather being something better. More compassionate, more resilient, more humble, more disciplined. Good words to live by

A lot of interesting ideas and really well-known thought out. Not as funny as his other book. This book takes itself more seriously than The Subtle Art, it delivers some interesting ideas, but isn't as entertaining. Still, it breaks down complex philosophical concepts in a way that is easy to read. Overall, a great book.

Not as great as the first, but still very good nonetheless in its own way. This one continues in the same premise and is still definitely worth the read. Highly recommended

About the author

Mark Manson is the three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, as well as other titles. His books have sold over 20 million total copies, been translated into more than 65 languages, and reached number one in more than a dozen countries. He's appeared in New York Magazine, Men's Health, and The Times of London among others. A feature film about his life and ideas was released worldwide by Universal Pictures in 2023.