The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck - Mark Manson
Life Value 5/5
Entertainment Value 5/5
The Subtle Art really is written as the first and last self-help book you’ll ever need to read. Even if you’re a self-help addict always digging into the latest trend or opinion on whatever secret will change your life, you should give this book a read. I hated the title when I first saw this book and refused to read it for that reason. It was when Ryan Holiday had it at the top of his list of books to read if you could only read a limited number of books this year that I figured I would give it a shot and dive in.
Mark Manson is a great storyteller and while some of his stories get pretty silly, this book is so entertaining to read that you’ll be burning through the pages. The lessons in this book are so important for so many people to comprehend and take action on towards achieving greater happiness and life satisfaction that you really owe it to yourself to give it a chance.
I’ve heard mixed thoughts on the writing style and some people think that it’s too much “bro-speak” which I can defnintely see being an issue.
The main takeaways:
Only give a fuck about things that are true and are immediate and important.
Happiness requires struggle. We all must suffer from problems.
You are not special - even world-class performers struggle with things. They got to where they are by facing their failures.
Eliminate your shitty values and build your values upon states that are achieved internally.
Take extreme ownership of your life. Even if someone else is to blame for your unhappiness, only you are responsible for your state of unhappiness.
AIM - Action - Inspiration - Motivation. We wait around for inspiration to strike us to get motivated to take action towards a goal but if you reframe it and just start moving you can fire up your own inspiration and motivation feedback loop.
Choose yourself - say no to things that don’t matter to you and eliminate FOMO. Greater success and happiness comes through committing to things long-term.
Memento mori - in the face of the inevitability of death there is no reason to ever give in to one’s fear, or embarrassment, or shame, since it’s all a bunch of nothing.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Revenge is a dish best served cold. The count would handle revenge the same way as what he his friends in the book is the root of all human wisdom- "Wait and hope."
The Count of Monte Cristo is the 1800s version of a superhero story - you've probably heard of it before. Although in many ways it feels like the origin story of more of a villain in some ways. Just as Bane tells Batman that he was born in the darkness, so was Edmond Dantes and his unending journey to get revenge on those who wrongfully imprison him out of jealousy and greed.
Edmond spends 14 years wrongfully imprisoned, exacting his revenge on those who locked him away in a black cell. Upon escaping the prison he works to dismount the lives of his enemies.
I've heard the book described as being too long but it rarely loses the reader's interest even at over 1200 pages. There's a purpose with developing all the characters and the interweaving of stories in making this a long book, If you want to read a classic work of fiction that has a powerful lesson to be had from it, you can't go wrong with The Count.
Who is this book for: anyone who feels they are too hot-headed and could benefit from practicing stoicism and patience.
Who this is not for: Anyone without the patience for an extremely long book (but at the same time, this is exactly who needs it most).
"I have only two adversaries - I will not say two conquerors, for with perseverance I subdue even them, - they are time and distance... What men call the chances of fate- namely, ruin, change, circumstance- I have fully anticipated and if any of these should overtake me, yet it will not overwhelm me."