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tspice24's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Grief
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
lovesbug787's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
It is somewhat repetitive but gets the point across. Gives a lot of good information
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and War
Talks about a lot of uncomfortable or unfortunate situations as examples for ways to change life. They are brief for the most part but are covered and may be unsuitable for some peoplesabinehunter's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Alcohol
silvercr0w's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
This book is what happens when you combine basic Buddhist philosophy with 21st century edginess.
Some parts are on the nose and inspirational, but you need to get through the sea of parables and cliches to get there.
After the basic groundwork, we get to the nitty gritty when Manson talks about himself and shares his vulnerabilities from the past. It’s not like a singular event can transform a person and we get to see his journey and how the reader can relate.
Some parts are on the nose and inspirational, but you need to get through the sea of parables and cliches to get there.
After the basic groundwork, we get to the nitty gritty when Manson talks about himself and shares his vulnerabilities from the past. It’s not like a singular event can transform a person and we get to see his journey and how the reader can relate.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
saoreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
As if your comfortable fitted box was ripped and stretched way too far and a stranger suddenly appears to say, "Get out of there," this was the general feeling I got out of the book. First and foremost, it helped me get out of a draggy kind of reading slump. Secondly, it spoke of history, life experiences, and reflections in an interesting way, written like an antithesis that springs about paradoxes and with straightforward intention. Thirdly, I knew I had succinctly absorbed the book, but for the most part, the cliché phrase "Just do it" made some certain changes to a person (me). Lastly, I want to read it again with a much clearer mind. It's a great conversation starter with its bluntness and uncensored dealings. This book has been popular for a reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, and Grief
ashleycmms's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
motter's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
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.
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: Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, 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