The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

by Mark Manson
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck cover
Good Books rating 3.6
Self-Help and Personal Development
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Waterstones
Hardback • £18.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 270
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2026-01-27
  • ISBN: 9780062457738
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • Published: 2016-09-13
  • Formats: 36
  • Reviews: 4

In this generation-defining self-help guide, Mark Manson cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be 'positive' all the time. He argues that improving our lives hinges not on turning lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Manson's approach is backed by academic research and delivered with a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. He tells it like it is, making the argument that human beings are flawed and limited, and that we need to accept our limitations to find true happiness. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a much-needed slap for a generation, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor to help us lead contented, grounded lives. Manson's advice is to figure out which things really matter and to care about what you do with your life, because true wealth is about experience. The book is a refreshing 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's message is clear: we need to confront painful truths, embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, and find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.

Reviews
Amazon · 2026-01-24
transformative 4.40

The book is described as a life-altering masterpiece that has transformed the way the reviewer perceives and navigates life. It is highly praised for its impact and value.

This reviewer was deeply moved by 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck', describing it as a life-altering masterpiece. They believe the book has transformed their perspective and approach to life, highlighting its significant impact and value. The reviewer's enthusiasm suggests that the book had a profound effect on them, making it a highly recommended read.

Quick quotes

    The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson is nothing short of a life-altering masterpiece.

    This book has transformed the way I perceive and navigate life.

    Highly recommended for anyone seeking a new perspective on life.

books4people.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-11-17
refreshing 4.50

The book offers a refreshing perspective on life, encouraging readers to focus on what truly matters and let go of unnecessary worries. It's a practical guide to living a more fulfilling life by embracing discomfort and prioritizing values.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a no-nonsense guide to living a more meaningful life. It challenges conventional self-help advice by advocating for a more realistic and pragmatic approach. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on what truly matters and letting go of societal expectations and trivial concerns. By embracing discomfort and prioritizing personal values, readers are encouraged to live a more authentic and fulfilling life. The author's straightforward and humorous style makes the book an engaging and thought-provoking read. It's a refreshing take on self-improvement that resonates with those who feel overwhelmed by the constant pressure to be positive and productive.

Quick quotes

    The key to a good life is not giving a f*ck about what you don't want to give a f*ck about

    and instead giving a f*ck about what you do want to give a f*ck about.

    The desire for more positive experience is itself the source of all our negative experience.

    You and everyone you know are going to die. And in the short amount of time between here and there, it would be a shame if you were too busy being afraid of who you are or so busy living someone else's life that you don't get a chance to look out the window and smile.

quora.com · Unknown · 2025-11-17
mixed 3.00

The book starts strong with interesting points and a unique concept, but ultimately feels shallow and lacks depth. The author identifies problems but offers no practical solutions, making the book more about style than substance.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*Ck by Mark Manson initially presents itself as a revolutionary self-help book with a fresh perspective. The concept of 'Disappointment Panda' and the raw, honest truths it delivers are intriguing. However, the book quickly loses its momentum. While it identifies some issues affecting the millennial generation, it fails to provide meaningful solutions. The advice to change one's values is vague and impractical, as values are not something most people can easily alter. The book is entertaining and occasionally insightful, but it ultimately feels shallow and lacks depth. The author's writing style is engaging, but the content is thin and forgettable. For a more profound exploration of similar themes, readers might be better served by books from Buddhist authors like the Dalai Lama and Pema Chodron.

Quick quotes

    This book starts off so well and does have some interesting points, and the creation of Disappointment Panda, a superhero who tells people harsh truths about themselves that they don’t want to hear, is almost genius.

    This book feels incredible shallow. An addition of an extensive reading list at the end would, depending on the list, elevate this book from forgettable to acceptable.

    This is a definite example of style over content. He writes well but overall the work is thin and worthless.

linkedin.com · Unknown · 2025-11-17
disappointing 2.50

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson offers a counterintuitive approach to living a good life, challenging modern society's focus on materialism and positivity. While the book has some reasonable content, the author's bratty writing style and cavalier examples detract from its message, leading to a disappointing read.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson presents a counterintuitive approach to living a good life, critiquing the self-help industry and modern society's focus on materialism and positivity. The author's philosophy is somewhat reasonable, emphasizing non-superficial values and challenging entitlement. However, his bratty writing style and cavalier examples detract from the book's message. While there are valid points about values and personal growth, the book falls short in its execution. The author's criticism of the 'be happy' message and his discussion on social media's impact are agreeable, but his extreme examples and lack of consideration for others' feelings make the book less appealing. Overall, the book is interesting but disappointing compared to the reviewer's expectations.

Quick quotes

    The ticket to emotional health, like that to physical health, comes from eating your veggies — that is, accepting the bland and mundane truths of life...

    The subtle art of not giving a fuck is simple: You must give a fuck about something.

    If two people are close are not able to hash out their differences openly and vocally, then the relationship is based on manipulation and misrepresentation, and it will slowly become toxic.

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