You know those moments when someone tells you something you kind of already knew, but somehow hearing it from them makes it click differently? That’s pretty much my experience with Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.”
The book starts with what feels like unnecessary shock value. Manson comes in hot with his blunt style, and initially, I found myself thinking, “Okay, we get it, you can swear.” But once you push past that initial bombardment, the book transforms into something more personal and meaningful.
Social personalities
One thing that resonated was Manson’s take on our social personalities. We carry these versions of ourselves – the person we think we are, the person we want others to see, and the person we’re afraid we might be. And we are doing our best to maintain these personalities. This can be problematic if these personalities do not align with who we want to be or become.
This protection of our self-image influences everything we do. How often have you avoided trying something new because it might challenge your view of yourself? We might not go on that spontaneous trip to Indonesia because we see ourselves as planners and well-thought-through decision-makers.
But if our self-image aligns with our goals, we can benefit greatly from it. For instance, when we see ourselves as sporty, we go to the gym three times a week.
Novelty
The beauty of this book isn’t in revolutionary new ideas but more in the personal writing style. I am currently re-reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey, and many of the same concepts are used. For instance, the first habit, being proactive, is central in both books. The ideas are the same, but Manson describes them more from the perspective of an honest friend. While Covey describes them more as a scientist.
Where to read the book:
The book can be read for free using one of the free trials found in this blog post.
Conclusion
Despite my initial scepticism, this book earned its place on my shelf. The book’s second part is well written with personal stories that grab the reader. The book offers a refreshingly direct framework for deciding what deserves your energy and what doesn’t. Just be prepared to wade through some intentionally provocative language to get to the good stuff.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this one. Have you read it? Did you find the style helpful or off-putting? Drop a comment below!
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