SELF-HELP. Encountering that section in a bookstore, you can’t help but think of “You can do it, anything is possible, Happiness is a choice…” and all the quintessential feel good sentences that don’t really mean much. It’s sort of cliché to say the least… until you encounter the already eye catching title, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck Book in a bright orange cover.
Unlike any self help book in the market, Manson delivers unflinching honest advice he’s gained through years of well… being a normal sometimes shitty human being. Mixed with occasional autobiographic stories and amusing friends, the book feels as if it’s speaking to you. I’ve read a good lot of self help books and this one is truly different because Manson’s writing style is by no means preachy, resembling a conversation between two people, skills which might have been picked up from his blog writing days. After all, writing a blog and a book are two different things.
His sound advice on living a healthy life in the 21st century also offers a modern approach, citing the effects of social media on our self esteem, confidence and society’s paradigm. Intertwined with a healthy dose of swear words, the book encompasses several stages in his life and the startling realizations that came with it. Real life compelling stories are also included, ones we don’t usually hear such as Buddha before enlightenment, Hiroo Onoda etc.
Here are some interesting snippets:
As one peels off the layers of an onion, we eventually get to the core after much sting induced tears. Manson notes that the first layer is understanding one’s emotion, something as simple as “This makes me sad”. The second layer is rationalizing why we feel that emotion, finding out the root cause. Lastly, it all boils down to our personal value which takes a lot of questioning to answer.
Manson places the most emphasis on this. It affects the quality of life we live, our emotions, and how we assess each situation. An excerpt from his book says,
Values underlie everything we are and do.
Which in turn determines the metrics or standards to measure ourselves and others.
It’s pretty obvious nowadays that someone is called entitled when they are given things without earning it or “special treatment”. But many people also fail to see that someone who sees himself inferior compared to everyone else unknowingly demands special treatment as well. But guess what honey, YOU’RE NOT SPECIAL, another valuable point. A bitter pill to swallow, fellow millennials.
And after bettering yourself, he answers in the last chapter the timeless existential question, “What’s next?” (You’ll just have to read to find out!)
If you’re feeling lost, incomplete, in need of a pick-me-up, or just down for a brilliant book with humor, grab a copy. Manson, in many ways, is just a regular REAL human being who does not shy away from his past. The tone of his writing is unfiltered, harsh, authentic, but not self righteous. And sometimes, it’s good to know that you’re not the only messed up person in a world filled with images of only the exceptional. Reading it not only enlightened me a little bit but also help put to perspective the other self help books I’ve read. I applaud Manson for writing this book, the first of it’s kind—counterintuitive.
Advertisements Share this:
