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"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson


Let me set this up for you. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck does not mean you don’t give a f*ck about anything (what would be the point of that?), it means you have to choose what to give a f*ck about.

“The point,” says author Mark Manson, isn’t to get away from all the sh*t. The point is to find the sh*t that you enjoy dealing with.”

Think of Manson as that foul-mouthed friend who tells you to get your sh*t together, by telling you to get your sh*t together. Literally. The logic behind this "counterintuitive approach to living a good life"  is an endless series of decisions as to “which problem is better.” Choosing well, based on your values, is a kind of trading up of problems, where deciding what to care about, and taking action, high-grades your situation for the better. Problems in life are inevitable, but your quality of life, says Manson, “is defined by what you’re willing to struggle for.”

That means losing the sense of entitlement, and taking responsibility for yourself in any situation, regardless of who started it. “Action,” says Manson, “is always within reach.”

Expect that at any given time, you’re surrounded by situations that may not be of your choosing and people making choices of their own, some of which are going to land seriously smack in the middle of your own precious plans. Hence more choices, more check-ins with your values, and so it goes—a subtle art form to practise over a lifetime.

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