I read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck over the weekend and liked it enough that I'm writing this post about it. The title is, in many ways, misleading and unfortunate because it probably puts some people off as being too self-satisfied and smug or profane. But I'm sure it also served the author's intention to grab some people's attention.
The book is not about "not giving a f*ck" at all, because the writer recognizes that would make you a psychopath. Rather, it's about figuring out what you really give a f*ck about, and then only giving a f*ck about those things because there's only a limited amount of f*cks you have to give so the other stuff doesn't matter and is a waste of your time and energy.
The ideas espoused in the book are not new. Many of the key points in the book are just modern, Western re-statements of three out of the "four noble truths" of Buddhism, but stated in a way that is relatable to modern Gen X/millenials who have lived their entire lives in the first world:
1. Life is full of suffering
2. Suffering arises from our own desires
3. Suffering ceases when we achieve liberation from our desires
The fourth "noble truth" is that freedom from suffering is attainable through the eightfold path, also known simplistically as enlightenment, but this is where Manson's theory diverges.
He also throws in a bit of Nietzsche's will to power philosophy (the main driving force in humans is ambition and desire) and the feedback loop from hell (you feel sad, then you feel sad about feeling sad so now you're even sadder because you feel sad + sad about feeling sad). And then he gives you his own very practical views on how to be more content/satisfied in life, which I will summarize as below:
1. Pain and suffering is part of life, but that's not a bad thing.
2. Choose what you give a f*ck about and make sure it's worthy of your f*cks
3. Take responsibility for your life (especially how you feel/react/act) - don't feel entitled or victimized. You do you.
4. Stop giving a f*ck about the rest because it doesn't f*cking matter.
Manson's philosophy totally speaks to me, except that I would add: 5. Do your best, but if you fail, God's grace will cover you; 6. Be a kind human, because how you treat others matters.
The book is not about "not giving a f*ck" at all, because the writer recognizes that would make you a psychopath. Rather, it's about figuring out what you really give a f*ck about, and then only giving a f*ck about those things because there's only a limited amount of f*cks you have to give so the other stuff doesn't matter and is a waste of your time and energy.
The ideas espoused in the book are not new. Many of the key points in the book are just modern, Western re-statements of three out of the "four noble truths" of Buddhism, but stated in a way that is relatable to modern Gen X/millenials who have lived their entire lives in the first world:
1. Life is full of suffering
2. Suffering arises from our own desires
3. Suffering ceases when we achieve liberation from our desires
The fourth "noble truth" is that freedom from suffering is attainable through the eightfold path, also known simplistically as enlightenment, but this is where Manson's theory diverges.
He also throws in a bit of Nietzsche's will to power philosophy (the main driving force in humans is ambition and desire) and the feedback loop from hell (you feel sad, then you feel sad about feeling sad so now you're even sadder because you feel sad + sad about feeling sad). And then he gives you his own very practical views on how to be more content/satisfied in life, which I will summarize as below:
1. Pain and suffering is part of life, but that's not a bad thing.
2. Choose what you give a f*ck about and make sure it's worthy of your f*cks
3. Take responsibility for your life (especially how you feel/react/act) - don't feel entitled or victimized. You do you.
4. Stop giving a f*ck about the rest because it doesn't f*cking matter.
Manson's philosophy totally speaks to me, except that I would add: 5. Do your best, but if you fail, God's grace will cover you; 6. Be a kind human, because how you treat others matters.
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