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

its honestly so good, interesting and talking about reality rather than other books who just teaches you wrong things. this book is so funny I laughed like literally the whole time I was reading it!! I'm definitely going to buy this one and It's soo much better than Atomic Habits. There's not even a comparison between these 2 books. this book is just my favourite and I'll buy hundred copies of it if I could. keep up the good work and publish more books using the humor you used while writing this book. I will efinitely buy them.

I do not like self help books and don't think much of them. however this one I found very good. I wouldn't call it a self-help book but it's close-ish?! I found it funny and also it sheds a light on a lot of stuff I didn't understand about social behaviours and it made sense (to me at least). The would call this book a shrink appointment without the shrink. you get to ask yourself a few questions that really digs deep into your mind and answer a few questions you never knew you were asking.

Favourite Quote : We all love to take responsibility for success and happiness. Hell, we often fight over who gets to be responsible for success and happiness. But taking responsibility for our problems is far more important, because that’s where the real learning comes from. That’s where the real-life improvement comes from. To simply blame others is only to hurt yourself. (Chapter 5) Favourite Chapter : The author shares about how his friend's death leads him to a successful life. He came to a realisation that if there is no reason to do anything, then there is really no reason not to do anything, and in the inevitability of death, there is no reason to give in one’s fear or shame since it is a bunch of nothing anyway and that by spending the majority of our short life avoiding what was painful and uncomfortable, we had essentially avoid being alive. Death scares us but death is actually the light by which all of life meanings is being measured. Without death, everything would be inconsequential and all metrics and values become zero. The author further added that the most important lesson from his friends death is that there is nothing to be afraid of ever. (Chapter 9) Personal thoughts on the book : The book is very well written in how it started off being casual like how you talk in the streets with insights added in subtly. As the book progresses, it brings you deeper, challenge your thoughts and touch on topics that are real but seldom discussed such as death.

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.