Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

8 reviews

joshuamiller12089's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Death and Drug use

If you can’t tell from the title… there’s a lot of language. If that’s not your thing, the book isn’t either.

turtlekat23's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative medium-paced

2.0

Parts of this book were excellent and parts made me consider a DNF. This is a completely godless book and as such the futility of life is glaring and depressing. I did not like the gloominess of the first part of the book. However, that set the stage for the rest of the book. I didn’t actively dislike it though I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. I appreciate the author’s reverence for human life and the hope/inspiration he tries to give, though it rings empty to me. I do love the idea that we should and do get to choose what we care about passionately and his thoughts on our society’s privilege leading to our discontent so I wouldn’t discourage a read either. I don’t want to change my thoughts to mirror those in this book but it was an interesting perspective with value, even if I don’t agree with its foundation. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Drug use

While this book explores these topics, it’s not in bad ways. Well, the drug use is just part of the author’s story, but the discussion of life and death are significant to the author’s point. They aren’t gratuitous but the

description of his friend’s death and its aftermath

could be challenging to some, especially if they are in the midst of a similar situation. It could also be helpful as it ends up in a very positive place.

ashleycmms's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective fast-paced

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Suicide, and Infidelity

Minor: Cancer, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Child death

fullybookedlola's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

I'm actually glad to have finished this book and not dropped it halfway through. The reviews I read were not quite positive, but for me personally, it's a book that I will keep with me. It gave me insight on some subjects and I don't regret reading nor buying this.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: War, Cancer, and Drug use

shetland_pone's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

2023: Every time I reread this book I feel differently about it, to some extent. Parts of it are contradictory and I think the quality decreases as the book continues, but the first few chapters are useful. Choosing your pain, responsibility and fault being different things, accepting that being average is okay, etc. But once it gets past that point it seems like he just wants to brag about his previous sexual escapades. I guess he's trying to come across as honest, relatable, and vulnerable by writing about his past and where he felt he went wrong, but instead it just seems like he's screaming I'M FUCKABLE, I SWEAR at us all.

2022: Still an immensely useful book to me. I don't think Manson is always right, especially as it seems as if he's never experienced systemic discrimination, but I do think he has a lot of good points. Maybe one day I'll stop blocking out the bits I don't want to hear lol.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Drug use, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

mariamj's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Mark Manson really challenges the reader by bringing uncomfortable topics and various thoughts to the light. This book is brutally honest and jarring at times. However, it obvious how much thought was put into every word. Even if you dont agree, he is brilliant. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Death

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Drug use, Stalking, and Alcoholism

isabellejulianne's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

eleanorjmca's review against another edition

challenging funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

2.0

There are a few good insights buried in this book, once you get past the annoying writing style. But the message is often confused and sometimes outright contradicted - the central idea is that a good life is one lived in accordance with "good values", but exactly what makes a value good is unclear and seems to change chapter to chapter. Why did the Japanese soldier who lived life entirely according to his code of honour and loyalty have "shitty values"? Similarly, the chapter on mortality strongly criticises "immortality projects" but then says that your legacy is the single most important thing to consider in life. While the central concept - that choosing what you want to focus on in life and ignoring what's not important - holds, I'm not sure that's revolutionary advice in itself and was expecting more detail on how to judge what's important. Still, there are some thought experiments here that may be of use to some people, if you can get past the irony of a book that constantly disparages the "entitled" and selfish while espousing a strikingly self-centred philosophy; high individualism drips from every page. I found it challenging to finish.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Grief

Minor: Drug use and Sexual content