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

Mark Manson

Sep 2016 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

#1 New York Times Bestseller • More than 10 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*ck is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.

Ratings and reviews

Waste of 15 dollars or however much it cost. I cant believe this got 4.5 stars with 4000+ reviews, and new york times number 1 bestseller, please you've got to be kidding me it was laborous to even make it to page 40 and then i just couldnt take it anymore, so torturous to read. I think this ruined self help books for me once and for all. The topics are repetitive and drawn out, and it feels lazily written. Im highly dissapointed because i was really expecting something profound for 4.5 stars average reviews. I wouldn't recommend this book at all.

It is hard to get past the sheer white male bias that exists in this book. The author states that people getting offended by cultural appropriation is making something out of nothing, and talks about many women falsely accusing men of abuse as if its the norm. He doesn't substantiate any of his 'facts'. It is like he vomited the inner workings of his brain onto pages. Finally, spoiler alert, he starts by telling us that we are all losers and ends by telling us we are all great. I really don't recommend this to anyone with a ounce of critical thought or anyone outside of the white male priveleged bubble the author lives in.

I want to like this book. He makes cogent points at times, but he puts way too much of his attitude into the writing and it doesn't change. There's driving the point home, and then him reiterating everything 6 pages later. I think the spark notes of this book we be great. Gotta sift through all the extra

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.