EXTREMELY bizarre ending. Spoiler alert

The book starts off great in some banter and stories, the word 'fuck' is thrown around making Mark Manson ultra relatable. The middle is the usual content of self reflection/ self help. -You are part of your problem. It's a refreshing reminder to reevaluate your own thoughts.
SPOILER ALERT
The last chapter is a confusing near suicide attempt? The book ends with him speaking of how he inched closer and closer the the edge of a cliff and sat on the edge asking himself "if this is really it, if this is all there is?"
His senses and body take over ultimately grounding him back in reality and leaves him feeling "alive" and hopeful. Not my idea of how to end a self help book. I understand the last words are hopeful but the last 10 minutes literally put you on the edge of cliff "taking microsteps" inching closer until your legs are dangling over the edge.... rather an inappropriate ending for people that had just invested hours and dollars into self help. I really liked the book up until the last chapter. The last chapter has completely distracted me from the over all message. I dont think I'd recommend although there were several spots I bookmarked and made notes. Wont be buying his other book.

181 people found this helpful

Its really directed at frustrated young men.

This book is very much directed at and written for angry/frustrated young males and that type of that demographic. It's deliberately not clear in the title or outer cover. So its a waste of money for the rest of us because its clearly written with the kinds of narrative and concepts that would be important to mostly young men or men who "want to feel young". Buddist concepts as well as thoughts on prioritizing or eliminating feelings, things, goals and people unless they truly matter are repeated over and over, The book has some concepts that were good in that they encourage emotional balance in cases where an individual may be overloading themselves. However, it seems like he's encouraging the reader to constrict in social/emotional growth and relationship maturity in many important ways by radical avoidance as oppose to thoughtful selection. I find the advise therein limited in a long term and practical use even for the selected demographic. So, it seems shallow and very casual in terms of encouraging truly life altering change.

123 people found this helpful

I can't finish this

This book just goes around and around in circles, If there's a point, I am halfway through and don't care if I ever find out what it is.

60 people found this helpful

Consider the source

A Millennial born into wealth understands the average person's hardships (his parents got divorced and he got caught with pot at school) and dispenses advice how to live while talking about his sexual exploits and travel adventures in 55 countries. Enjoy the substance! Great narrarator, though.

54 people found this helpful

Could have been a good book

While reading the title I was quite appealed by this book, unfortunately its substance did not follow up.
The introduction is really good and very eyes-opening which got me very hyped. However, after barely one hour read I gave up due to the flood of (very long) anecdotes which has totally drown my interest.
For a counter-intuitive approach, the book is processing in the most standard (if not over-utilized) way like any self-help book out there.
If you have plenty of time listening to over-detailed stories then it might be your book. On the other hand, if you are more pragmatic and a "straight-to-the-point" reader like me it will require much more courage to focus and find pleasure in your reading/listening.

46 people found this helpful

Not what I expected

Thought I was going to get something that would inspire me. Did not at all.

29 people found this helpful

Neo-Stoicism

Many people cannot look their dark side directly in the face. So, let them continue to suffer. There are Stoics who sound less dark in their presentatko. Still the concepts are in essence the same. Look into Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus for further examples of Stoicism

29 people found this helpful

Simply Awful Bro-Philosophy

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A (well) thought out argument would have been nice.

Would you ever listen to anything by Mark Manson again?

No

What does Roger Wayne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Seems to make an unreadable book somewhat listenable. He adds a sense of credibility where there isn't any.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck?

Anything but the first chapter. Everything else is absolutely worthless and cheap drivel.

Any additional comments?

This is essentially the most mindless book I have listened to. He takes a simple concept and explains countless ways while beating his already weak horse into a pulp. The preview of the book is literally all you need to understand the whole "concept" of Manson's garbage philosophy. He ridicules self help books despite the fact he has written a terrible yet, ''edgy" one. Save your time and money and skip this.

19 people found this helpful

Perspective-shifter!

This is an amazing book for those who are ready to listen to cold, hard truths that have the capacity to shift your perspective. Read this if you're ready to elevate! 🌻

17 people found this helpful

Good Story, Not Breaking New Territory Though.

The narrator is great but it seemed to me like the lessons and insight faded pretty quickly after Chapter Two. There are no practical lessons or action items here, just a long editorial on the meaning(lessness} of life. It was good but there are definitely better options for your money. Maybe start with "The Four Agreements", for example.

13 people found this helpful