The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson

Reviewer's note:

Only an artist is a true connoisseur of art- be it any form of art, even the subtle art of not giving a fuck. I consider myself to be an artist, and this piece of art which teaches us the way of living life to its fullest, has helped me in my highs, and most importantly, in my lows. I was fortunate enough to find this book when I was going through a very rough patch and needed a different and fresh perspective towards life.

Although the first non-fiction read of my life, no wonder, this book has had a permanent impact on me and has changed my outlook towards many things, which I definitely will be passing on to those in need. The most important thing that it has taught me is that happiness is not materialistic, but it comes from within - with the choices we make, with the merits we choose and with the values we believe in.

Anyone, for those who insist that people's opinions matter more to them than their own, this book is going to leave you spellbound.

I am sure this book will make you emotionally enlightened and ready for the real world, with its dynamic challenges helping you incorporate a practical approach.

Happy reading!

Book Review/Summary:

"Constant positivity is a form of avoidance, not a valid solution to life's problems-"

This unpopular opinion might not feel like an appealing quality when we are in search of a way to happy living. But this is what the author, being a realist, has to say in this self-help book, which is not a typical one. It is a pretty refreshing piece of reading one can get, amidst the usual self-help books.

Despite being Non-fiction, this one manages to hold your interest throughout, with the help of intriguing stories of various characters- with whom, people from all walks of life could relate. Each story conveys a strong message based on true incidents that took place in the character's life. The author manages to keep the story message centric, without getting lost into it, which is a commendable art of explaining a point.

While reading, you will come across some very unusual concepts of facing life. This may make it questionable for the people who are always "staying on the sunny side of life." But the truth is, according to Mark, that sometimes life sucks, and the healthiest thing you can do is admit it, and negative emotions are an essential component of emotional health.

Every chapter is named in a satiric manner. And what we read inside is complete amazement. It makes us question the values by which we have been living to date, which we thought of being the ultimate merits of happiness. But it also makes us realize that choosing the merits varies from person to person. We are the ones who make our own choices, which makes us responsible for our contentment. This sense of responsibility is accepting that we are choosing our problems, because of which we feel empowered and thus, less helpless.

This read requires an open mind and a broadly accepting attitude, also because of the bizarre ideologies, and a bit of profane, ruthless humor. This is a book, which is a step towards leading more contented and grounded lives, and will surely make us redefine our old definitions.