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2.99 AVERAGE
2.99 AVERAGE
It was difficult to take this book seriously, because as Aaron James was analyzing what it means to be an "asshole," I got the impression that he himself was extremely pompous....which entirely defeated the purpose. It was what I expected, but still an enjoyable read.
Philosophical and fun discussion on what makes and asshole an asshole.
An accessible (mostly) approach to ethics and moral philosophy as applied to our (unfortunate) need to deal with the assholes we have to deal with in life.
As an asshole, I have never felt so understood.
It's funny at times but really it's more of a food for thought type of essay. I don't necessarily agree with every point made, but it's a good argument and a nice debate to have.
It's funny at times but really it's more of a food for thought type of essay. I don't necessarily agree with every point made, but it's a good argument and a nice debate to have.
There is an old saying which goes: “If you meet an asshole in the morning, the you just met an asshole. If you meet assholes all day, then you are probably an asshole.” This saying was ever present in my mind as I progressed through this book. I don’t feel like I encounter assholes that often. But this guy seems to run into them enough that he felt the need to write this (well written) screed. I think writing a book length philosophical treatise on assholes is an assholish thing to do.
Being a philosophical treatise it doesn’t really come to definitive conclusions or offer too much practical advice. However, there was one solid lesson I took from this book: surfing is perhaps the least relatable example i have ever encountered. The author constantly mentions the types of surfers who are assholes. This was so odd to me because I imagine less then 1% of the English speaking population surfs. Who was he trying to communicate with by using those examples? Maybe it was a little of that assholish entitlement showing through. Since he surfs and knows asshole surfers then every one should be able to empathize with these examples.
This may be a fun read for philosophy majors, but not being one I don’t know.
Being a philosophical treatise it doesn’t really come to definitive conclusions or offer too much practical advice. However, there was one solid lesson I took from this book: surfing is perhaps the least relatable example i have ever encountered. The author constantly mentions the types of surfers who are assholes. This was so odd to me because I imagine less then 1% of the English speaking population surfs. Who was he trying to communicate with by using those examples? Maybe it was a little of that assholish entitlement showing through. Since he surfs and knows asshole surfers then every one should be able to empathize with these examples.
This may be a fun read for philosophy majors, but not being one I don’t know.
technically, i still have the appendix to read but after reading his “letter to an asshole” at the end, and also due to the fact that it’s about game theory, i need a clear mind going into it:
1. great! a solid philosophical background about what makes an asshole an asshole, and why we don’t like them. very interesting, clear and accessible
2. aj...might just be an asshole himself...definitely has a picture of an asshole in his mind and seems to want to clear himself of moral responsibility for not dealing with them, while also clearing himself of being one and being a “fully cooperative person” who is...not real
3. might be wrong or splitting hairs in the nitty gritty of the definitions when i think an application of kant actually makes his theory both simple and interesting!!!!
4. in some places he is downright condescending!!!! in his writing and his view of people who aren’t like...philosophers, who want to try to change assholes, etc.
1. great! a solid philosophical background about what makes an asshole an asshole, and why we don’t like them. very interesting, clear and accessible
2. aj...might just be an asshole himself...definitely has a picture of an asshole in his mind and seems to want to clear himself of moral responsibility for not dealing with them, while also clearing himself of being one and being a “fully cooperative person” who is...not real
3. might be wrong or splitting hairs in the nitty gritty of the definitions when i think an application of kant actually makes his theory both simple and interesting!!!!
4. in some places he is downright condescending!!!! in his writing and his view of people who aren’t like...philosophers, who want to try to change assholes, etc.
Title is literal. Read it this year and felt it a little outdated and a little bland, but some parts peaked my interest and I do feel as though I learned some things. Some parts were rambled on and on and pretentious at times, but I did chuckle here and there.