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Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson, Mark Manson
5 reviews
mattyvreads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
2.75
I’m don’t think I liked this book very much, although I understand that some of the points Manson makes are extremely astute and well-put.
I could not get over the fact that this book is so inextricably white, cis, het, and male centered. It is hard to argue keys to a better life when you are starting from a foundation of such extreme, concentrated privilege. He won the privilege lottery. So yeah, I understand how you’re living your best, happy life. Oh, and he mentions he grew up rich, too.
The advice isn’t ill intentioned, but there are some glaring blind spots in his worldview. He tries (and fails, in my humble opinion) to think outside of his perspective. Those sections feel pretty reductive and out of touch.
The advice is largely anecdotal, which some readers might expect. Occasionally, he’ll talk abouthis girlfriend cheating on him or how during a rough patch of his life he had indiscriminate sex with many partners and then tries to connect those points to other people’s lives or stories or trauma. There is a disconnect for me there.
Some of the references in this book are very dated. There are some pretty glaring ageist, misogynistic, conservative or otherwise Puritan values in this book. One story in particular mentions a character who he repeatedly refers to as “the Asian girl” and makes a strange, sexualized joke about her. He implicitly shames the sex positivity / body liberation movement. Almost every example he gives of relationship dynamics is heteronormative and perpetuates harmful gendered stereotypes. There’s a lot to unpack.
Also, he brings up school shooters like three times and it’s always so jarring and seemingly out of nowhere.
Despite all of that, surprisingly, there are some great things in this book. Truly.
Here are some great insights from the book that I actually think are worthwhile:
1) “Happiness is not a solvable equation”
2) “Whatever makes us feel good will also inevitably make us feel bad”
3) “Certainty is the enemy of growth.”
4) “Choosing better things to give a fuck about”
I don’t think I’ll read it again. But I’m glad I read it once.
I could not get over the fact that this book is so inextricably white, cis, het, and male centered. It is hard to argue keys to a better life when you are starting from a foundation of such extreme, concentrated privilege. He won the privilege lottery. So yeah, I understand how you’re living your best, happy life. Oh, and he mentions he grew up rich, too.
The advice isn’t ill intentioned, but there are some glaring blind spots in his worldview. He tries (and fails, in my humble opinion) to think outside of his perspective. Those sections feel pretty reductive and out of touch.
The advice is largely anecdotal, which some readers might expect. Occasionally, he’ll talk about
Some of the references in this book are very dated. There are some pretty glaring ageist, misogynistic, conservative or otherwise Puritan values in this book. One story in particular mentions a character who he repeatedly refers to as “the Asian girl” and makes a strange, sexualized joke about her. He implicitly shames the sex positivity / body liberation movement. Almost every example he gives of relationship dynamics is heteronormative and perpetuates harmful gendered stereotypes. There’s a lot to unpack.
Also, he brings up school shooters like three times and it’s always so jarring and seemingly out of nowhere.
Despite all of that, surprisingly, there are some great things in this book. Truly.
Here are some great insights from the book that I actually think are worthwhile:
2) “Whatever makes us feel good will also inevitably make us feel bad”
3) “Certainty is the enemy of growth.”
4) “Choosing better things to give a fuck about”
I don’t think I’ll read it again. But I’m glad I read it once.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, and War
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
It had some good lessons. There were many instances that I felt the author didn't know what he was talking about though. For instance, he mentioned a case about teenagers with OCD and how that all that is needed to seemingly fix it is to have willpower; which in fact takes way more than that. Often his examples were gratuitous and appeare to be showy, braggy. And, the author was blind to his privilege and didn't even give good enough advice to people with his privilege as a middle class white man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Death
Moderate: Misogyny and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual assault
duffnuf's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
1.0
(Audiobook in German translation)
TW: sexual assault
I really liked the first few chapters, however, towards the middle/end it just got verrrrry problematic. (for example the story of the woman who thought was sexually assaulted but then wasn't and that many men were wrongly accused of SA in the 80s and 90s) The language generally was sexist.
Another thing that bothered me was when he talked about starting his blog and "becoming his own boss" and that everyone can be financially well off if they really want to (as in 'if you're homeless just buy a house') *eye roll*
I wouldn't recommend this book.
TW: sexual assault
I really liked the first few chapters, however, towards the middle/end it just got verrrrry problematic. (for example the story of the woman who thought was sexually assaulted but then wasn't and that many men were wrongly accused of SA in the 80s and 90s) The language generally was sexist.
Another thing that bothered me was when he talked about starting his blog and "becoming his own boss" and that everyone can be financially well off if they really want to (as in 'if you're homeless just buy a house') *eye roll*
I wouldn't recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
bookbuzzard's review against another edition
This book is the embodiment of being stuck doing a group project in Psych 101 with the most annoying dudebro on the planet, mixed in with the experience of being near a middle schooler who just learned the word 'fuck'.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
rochellefh's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck is a self-help book with philosophical and psychological aspects, about finding yourself and what matters to you. Unfortunately, if I'm being honest (which I am), it just seemed like the author was bouncing between showing off his life and pitying himself the majority of the chapters.
The tone of the book was very arrogant and condescending in a holier-than-thou, "I know more than you" way. Also, many sections of the book are just low-level explanations or rephrasings of spiritual and self-help concepts that already exist and have for a while. The only good thing I can say about the book is that it is written well, and since it's so short it can be read in very few hours. Still, I don't recommend this book.
Ratings: Writing 4.5⭐️, Themes 3 ⭐️, Originality 0⭐️
Was it engaging? Yes, very.
Was it insightful? Not in the slightest.
How was the pacing? Fast
Would I reread it? Never
The tone of the book was very arrogant and condescending in a holier-than-thou, "I know more than you" way. Also, many sections of the book are just low-level explanations or rephrasings of spiritual and self-help concepts that already exist and have for a while. The only good thing I can say about the book is that it is written well, and since it's so short it can be read in very few hours. Still, I don't recommend this book.
Ratings: Writing 4.5⭐️, Themes 3 ⭐️, Originality 0⭐️
Was it engaging? Yes, very.
Was it insightful? Not in the slightest.
How was the pacing? Fast
Would I reread it? Never
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Death
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual assault
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