A review by pumpkincore
How to Be Miserable in Your Twenties: 40 Strategies to Fail at Adulting by Randy J. Paterson
2.0
Based on the premise that "downhill is easier than uphill," Paterson suggests thinking of how to make everything the very worst it could possibly be, and then do the opposite.
It's a lot of tongue in cheek humor, and assumes some privilege and nuance, but the general gist is: identify the factors you have control over, and focus your energy on those instead of the factors you can't control (like other people's opinions and attitudes). If there's a way to control those uncontrolled factors, find a way to obtain that control.
It's not for everyone. But what I like is that he acknowledges repeatedly that we treat kids like kids until they're 18, and then expect them to have everything figured out. We either make them terrified of trying because they'll just mess it up, or we don't even tell them there are tools that can give them a fighting chance.
It was a fun read. I took what was useful or applicable to me, turned the page on the rest, as we should do with any generalized self help books.
It's a lot of tongue in cheek humor, and assumes some privilege and nuance, but the general gist is: identify the factors you have control over, and focus your energy on those instead of the factors you can't control (like other people's opinions and attitudes). If there's a way to control those uncontrolled factors, find a way to obtain that control.
It's not for everyone. But what I like is that he acknowledges repeatedly that we treat kids like kids until they're 18, and then expect them to have everything figured out. We either make them terrified of trying because they'll just mess it up, or we don't even tell them there are tools that can give them a fighting chance.
It was a fun read. I took what was useful or applicable to me, turned the page on the rest, as we should do with any generalized self help books.