Book Review - Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope by Mark Manson

Rating: 5/5

Take away:

"Don't hope for better. Just be better"

"The pursuit of happiness is a toxic value that has long defined our culture. It is self-defeating and misleading. Living well does not mean avoiding suffering; it means suffering for the right reasons. Because if we're going to be forced to suffer by simply existing, we might as well learn how to suffer well"

TIP - I always take notes while reading a book, because a lot stick with you, and you don't want to forget it :)

As I mentioned in Manson’s Previous book review - Anything with curse words on the cover, picks my interest, yes this certainly did.

Manson has written a book that will stay with me for a while. Very well-researched exploration into human virtues (and hope in particular) - neither exactly warm and fuzzy Nor is it pessimistic. In fact, it is paradoxically optimistic for a book that genuinely and convincingly lays out that everything is indeed f*cked!!!

His trademark wit is still on display, but Manson strikes a slightly more academic tone than in his first book, which was a welcome change of pace. In fact, this book has inspired me to learn more about Manson’s (and the world’s) philosophical greats and read a few of his sources. I think that’s a good thing.

Something is very wrong with the world. It’s us. We have abandoned our quest for character in favor of one for happiness and we have created a world of diversions that give the illusion of freedom but in fact keep us docile and imprisoned.

This is a much more satisfying, mature, and deeper book than his last. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to view things with a different eye and is open to changing the way they are as a person. And while not everything in this book is breathtakingly amazing, it will still leave an impact on you for a long time. While in the last book we looked at things we shouldn't care about, this book more focuses on what to care about. Manson is insightful and hilarious. While reading I felt both hopeful and nihilistic. It challenges the reader in the best mind-expanding way. I imagine even those who disagree with the points of views presented here, would still come away having learned something and glad they did.

Some of the events he tells are amazing and eye opening and will definitely leave an impact on you.

"When we deny ourselves the ability to feel pain for a purpose, we deny ourselves the ability to feel any purpose in our life at all"

Yes, sometimes while reading this book it'll be difficult to get through some of the philosophical concepts. Yes, sometimes (or most times) you will get offended by what Mark says. And yes, you would want to put the book down.

But don't. Instead, read on, or better yet, reflect first as to why you feel the way you feel. Don't succumb to the dichotomy of "good" and "bad" feelings i.e., if you feel offended, don't automatically assume that it's because what Mark wrote was wrong and you're right. This book calls upon reflection of everything ugly in all of us, and if you can't keep your biases at bay, or on hold, you will not enjoy reading this book.

It will definitely leave you feeling different than when you started it. I especially liked his Consciousness Car metaphor in explaining the Thinking Brain vs Feeling Brain (would love to see an animated cartoon version 😋), and thoughts on anti-fragility and how we benefit by choosing to accept (and even seek out) discomfort in our lives.

If you've been feeling like the world is a mess (especially in terms of politics) lately, this book can help you make sense of what's going on. And, it includes some takeaways we as individuals can use to help make a positive difference for ourselves, and by extension, society.

Manson, once again, holds a mirror up to the reader, which can be confronting (in a good way), and makes demands on us to be better.
Not merely hope to be better. But BE better. And that’s a message I can get behind.

Give this book a go...!!!

Amazing read - push through the first few chapters and you’ll see how it all ties together in the end!

P.S. don’t blink it. READ IT!!!! ⚡

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Shi"tare" 📚

#thekataregirl