Subtle art of not giving af * ck

For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. “F**k positivity,” says Mark Manson. “Let’s face it, the shit sucks and we have to live with it.” On his wildly popular internet blog, Manson pulls no punches. He tells it like it is—a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that’s often lacking these days. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is his antidote to the spoiled, make-everything-feel-good mentality that has infected American society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for being there.

Manson makes the argument, supported by both academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives depends not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to digest lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited—“not everyone can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some things aren’t fair or your fault.” Manson urges us to learn our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, flaws, and insecurities, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, accountability, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.

There are only a few things we can care about, so we need to figure out which things really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is fun, it is better to care about what you do with your life because real wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-your-shoulders-and-look-your-in-the-eyes moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, relentless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F ** k is a refreshing blow for a generation to help them live contented, grounded lives.