
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Audible Audiobook
– Unabridged
Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
Kindle Edition
"Please retry" | — | — |
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial |
- Kindle Edition
$0.00 This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited $12.99 to buy -
Audiobook
$0.00 Free with your Audible trial - Hardcover
$32.69 - Paperback
$14.44 - Audio CD
$38.74
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*ck positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f*cked, 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*ck is his antidote to the coddling, let's-all-feel-good mind-set that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
Manson makes the argument, backed by both 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*ck 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.
- Listening Length5 hours and 17 minutes
- Audible release dateSept. 13 2016
- LanguageEnglish
- ASINB06Y2H2CJY
- VersionUnabridged
- Program TypeAudiobook
Free with an Audible trial
$0.00$0.00
- 1 credit a month good for any title of your choice, yours to keep.
- The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
- Access to exclusive member-only sales, as well as 30% off your purchases of any additional titles.
- After 30 days Audible is $14.95/month + applicable taxes. Renews automatically.
Buy with 1-Click
$27.51$27.51
Most popular
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
People who bought this also bought
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!Audible Audiobook
- Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
Related to this topic
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
Product details
Listening Length | 5 hours and 17 minutes |
---|---|
Author | Mark Manson |
Narrator | Roger Wayne |
Audible.ca Release Date | September 13 2016 |
Publisher | HarperAudio |
Program Type | Audiobook |
Version | Unabridged |
Language | English |
ASIN | B06Y2H2CJY |
Best Sellers Rank | #11 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #1 in Happiness (Books) #3 in Practical & Motivational Self Help #4 in Guides to Success |
Customer reviews

-
Top reviews
Top reviews from Canada
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Very entertaining.
I was a little skeptical about this book because of some of the reviews but bought it anyways. I found the beginning of the book a tad slow but still kept my attention. I've learned if you want to grow, learn and really help yourself, this book is great. If your not at that mindset, this book isn't for you.
I am almost done the book and I can say it has already helped the way I am looking at past traumas I've experienced, current issues I have in relationships and my overall mindset has changed. I've been hung up on a trauma that occurred 10 freaking years ago. I didn't learn until I started reading this book that although what happened to me was not my fault at all. The way I coped with it and let it bother me so long was my responsibility. The way I hung onto those feelings of resentment, anger, and sadness was my fault. I didn't get the proper help I needed, when I knew I needed it.
This book will not solve all your problems, it takes you to do it but it can sure help to make you look at yourself and make some well needed improvements on how you deal with things in your life and the way you think about them.
Thank you Mark Manson.
I found the book insightful, funny, and refreshingly honest. Mark Manson wrote about stuff I agreed with and wrote about things that made me reflect back on my life and relationships with people and go, "Yeah I did that and what he is saying is true". This was particularly true in the section talking about blame and responsibility. I also liked how Mr. Manson included a few of his personal experiences in the book which helped drive the point home and made it so he was with the reader and not being condescending with us.
Mark Manson writes very realistically about life, relationships, and self development. His writing is also well researched and of high quality. In his book he emphasizes how it is okay to have negative feelings of sadness, anger, etc and how they are necessary feelings. Quite a few other bloggers and people I know outside of the Internet sanitize human experiences so we only see the positive or triumph from adversity which doesn't really help. We don't always get to know about the logistics involved from getting to point A to B in self development.
I see the honesty presented in this book as akin to having a friend dish out the necessary tough love you need to hear when you just broke up with someone. When you hear the positive reassurances from friends (or even your ex if the split was pretty amiable) that you are attractive and lovable, although those words do make you feel better, they don't really help you to improve. Our friends and exes don't really want to bother telling us the ways in which we can be pretty awful people, and what habits we have that are toxic and contributed to the demise of the relationship. Our friends and exes very well know and we deserve to hear the truth if we ask for it, especially if we want to improve and be better people. They either don't tell us because they don't care, think we can't handle it, or they are too blind by their affection for us (it could be all 3 or more).
In Mark Manson's book, he is the person who explicitly would tell us in what ways we probably messed up our relationships and how we ourselves are messed up in an incredibly methodical manner with evidence backing each point. Maybe spreadsheets, pie charts, infographics would be involved when he is telling us about our noxious habits and how we should probably change.
I highly recommend this book to people who want self help without the sugar coating and actually helps.
What I liked about the book is the simplicity of the language with which the author has explained some, maybe not complex but profound, concepts around the way we evaluate our life and the things that should matter to us. I loved the explanation around choosing your struggle, measurement of self-worth, dealing with failures, and building trust.
I also liked the real-life examples (not sure about his personal stories though) that he has picked up to explain it which makes them quite practical.
Making this book truly beneficial will, of course, require much more than just reading. However, it's still a good guide.
Top reviews from other countries

-----------------------------------
I have to admit, I wasn't convinced (ignorant, you could say) of all these self-help books people lavish over, I honestly thought it was a load of hippy crap as a means to make a quick buck... Although after a bout of depression last year (yea the "D" word get's thrown around alot these days), I myself was seeking out therapy. I was recommended this author and discovered this book. After asking myself "If this doesn't work, I'll just try something else" I figured I had nothing to lose.
And WOW. This book really changed my perspective on things and ultimately I feel much better and improved! Not 100%, but I'm getting there slowly.
As you could tell from the title, the author isn't shy of using profanity, and I like this. I've read other self-help books and while they're good and all, Mark Manson really engages you on a personal level. Imagine going to the doctor, and he's been all professional... but a tad boring and nearly sends you to sleep. Now imagine the same doctor taking you to the bar, having a pint and a laugh, but telling you the same advice. Who would you connect with better? Yea, I thought so.
Controversial title aside, the book isn't about just not giving a damn, but about focusing WHAT to not give a damn about. Stop getting stressed about by what the media (and others) want us to be, not getting worked up by social media, stuff like that. Instead, focus the damns on the important stuff: family, friends, your well being.
The book does take a while to pick up, with the early chapters focusing on examples of people who you may or may not relate to, or even care about. It can start to drag on, but eventually, Mr. Manson really dives into the meat of the book, and asks yourself to challenge your beliefs. Knowing that you're not always right all the time. Not denying your own flaws by redirecting the blame onto other people when challenged (many people are guilty of this). Acknowledging you're not perfect and rolling with it. Realising your emotions and problems aren't exclusive: nearly everyone in the world will have experienced what you felt at some point in their lives.
Real stuff that actually helps you come to terms with yourself and not inflating your ego, or doing some tantric yoga exercises to unlock your inner chi circles. Real stuff.
I consider this book my bible: I read certain parts every now and then to maintain my self improvement, it gives me solace during times where I'm feeling down, and I harrass my Instagram followers by posting snippets of the pages. I've even brought several copies for friends who were going through a rough time.
-----------------------------------
TLDR: this book helped me out, connects with you on an unconventional level, and ultimately offers brilliant advice that helps improve yourself and hopefully others around you. Highly recommended!
PS. It's a MASSIVE shame that certain individuals refuse to fully read the book due to liberal use of the F word. I'd say that's the whole point: letting go of your "I'm entitled so I'm offended" beliefs and challenging yourself to overcome this personal stigma to improve your outlook on life.


Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 17, 2019
-----------------------------------
I have to admit, I wasn't convinced (ignorant, you could say) of all these self-help books people lavish over, I honestly thought it was a load of hippy crap as a means to make a quick buck... Although after a bout of depression last year (yea the "D" word get's thrown around alot these days), I myself was seeking out therapy. I was recommended this author and discovered this book. After asking myself "If this doesn't work, I'll just try something else" I figured I had nothing to lose.
And WOW. This book really changed my perspective on things and ultimately I feel much better and improved! Not 100%, but I'm getting there slowly.
As you could tell from the title, the author isn't shy of using profanity, and I like this. I've read other self-help books and while they're good and all, Mark Manson really engages you on a personal level. Imagine going to the doctor, and he's been all professional... but a tad boring and nearly sends you to sleep. Now imagine the same doctor taking you to the bar, having a pint and a laugh, but telling you the same advice. Who would you connect with better? Yea, I thought so.
Controversial title aside, the book isn't about just not giving a damn, but about focusing WHAT to not give a damn about. Stop getting stressed about by what the media (and others) want us to be, not getting worked up by social media, stuff like that. Instead, focus the damns on the important stuff: family, friends, your well being.
The book does take a while to pick up, with the early chapters focusing on examples of people who you may or may not relate to, or even care about. It can start to drag on, but eventually, Mr. Manson really dives into the meat of the book, and asks yourself to challenge your beliefs. Knowing that you're not always right all the time. Not denying your own flaws by redirecting the blame onto other people when challenged (many people are guilty of this). Acknowledging you're not perfect and rolling with it. Realising your emotions and problems aren't exclusive: nearly everyone in the world will have experienced what you felt at some point in their lives.
Real stuff that actually helps you come to terms with yourself and not inflating your ego, or doing some tantric yoga exercises to unlock your inner chi circles. Real stuff.
I consider this book my bible: I read certain parts every now and then to maintain my self improvement, it gives me solace during times where I'm feeling down, and I harrass my Instagram followers by posting snippets of the pages. I've even brought several copies for friends who were going through a rough time.
-----------------------------------
TLDR: this book helped me out, connects with you on an unconventional level, and ultimately offers brilliant advice that helps improve yourself and hopefully others around you. Highly recommended!
PS. It's a MASSIVE shame that certain individuals refuse to fully read the book due to liberal use of the F word. I'd say that's the whole point: letting go of your "I'm entitled so I'm offended" beliefs and challenging yourself to overcome this personal stigma to improve your outlook on life.







P.S: If you are looking to feel good, this might not be your cup of tea.
