Read this if you're confused

First, I want to say that I am a big fan/consumer of Mark's content; it helped me understand so many things about life, how to behave, how to react, etc. I consider his blog articles + 2 previous books like an experienced big brother talking to me about all the touchy subjects you can't talk about with your parents or that your parents never talked to you about. (Yes I'm still a college student, trying to figure things out).

This book honestly holds enormous value and touches on so many subjects from basic philosophy to marketing to psychology. It's kind of a quick "throwback" to human history and at the same time a hypothetical projection into the future of our human race. However:

1. I already mentioned that I'm a college student, a 23 years old looking for useful info, advice, help, hope... Mark was my go-to for this kind of info, and he never deceived, except this time! If you're looking for help or guidance for your life, I don't think you'll find it here; you might even feel a lot worse after reading this book. For more practical advice on how to perform better in your life, I recommend: "The subtle art of not giving a fuck" by the same author, you'll find all the help you need there.

2. I know that Mark intended to be misguiding in the book's title, but what for? I mean except the tiny part at the very end where he speaks about "hope" and how we should be better humans without it, the book is overall kind of dark. It claims to combat nihilism but, if you think about it, and you will, it somehow promotes it.

My advice here, for young and inexperienced people like me reading this, would be: Chill my friend, life doesn't need to be this complicated, and it certainly isn't except when you want it to be. You can be a better person, a better human being without processing all this info about the universe and history and Socrates and Plato and the f*****g never-ending longlist of things this book is trying to talk about (sorry Mark).

3. YES, we should always seek to get out of our comfort zones, go out there, and challenge our beliefs, test them, upgrade and improve them. Why not insist more on that instead of telling people to expect machines to become our gods and data our spirituality... Instead of disqualifying everything our human race has built its history upon (like Nietzche did, and btw lost his mind by the end of his life) let's work with what we already have, let's work on what we already are, and HOPEfully, become better without losing our minds or souls in the process. Again, for young and inexperienced people like me, my advice is: If you believe in something, don't give up on it, it's part of who you are! If you feel that being a Muslim/Christian/whatever makes you a better human being, the kind of human being you aspire to be, don't ever give up on that! If you feel that converting into something else is what will make you a better person, do that! And remember: you know nothing, Jon Snow! (A.K.A. Mark Manson, Kant, Nietzche, Freud, Bernays, etc.) They're all just trying to understand this weird world a little bit more, and so do you.

Side note: Emmanuel Kant also argues that raising questions about the legitimacy of the state, its law or its intellectual basis is tantamount to sedition, and could be punished by death – even if there was no violence or incitement to violence or rebellion. Sorry Mark, but if this book came out under Kant's ruling, you'd be dead by now, we don't want that, we need you!

Overall, I would advise this book for people who (relatively) think they have everything figured out and want a little uncertainty to grow. I would also recommend this book for people who believe our systems are perfect or infallible: Reading this will give you more perspective, it will question your beliefs, it will filter your convictions, It will either make you want to be sucked into a black hole and forget you ever existed, OR, make you realize you're already there and help you get out!

You've been warned!

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3 people found this helpful

Oh god the cringe.

I enjoyed the previous book, "the subtle art of not giving a fuck", because the author exposed an interesting personal life philosophy.

In this one, the author start talking about more general things, that he seems to really not understand. It's extremely cringe to hear him play the enlightened centrist, while arguing with a very confident tone his 6th grader political opinions, such as "all politicians are corrupt, amiright?"

The author also demonstrates huge holes and some common misconceptions in his knowledge of history, sociology and philosophy. No wonder halfway throught the book the only philosopher quoted is Nietszche.

This is disappointing.

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2 people found this helpful

A philosophical journey!

Very interesting approach and very philosophical, hence the note. Not to be mean or anything, but this book is a bit less approachable than the Subtle Art. Nevertheless, I will definitely let in sink for a bit, and listen to it again later.

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1 person found this helpful

A brilliant philosophical book

I have enjoyed this book enormously. It has given me a whole new way of looking at the world, and ties in well with my developing understanding of the human predicament and my personal experiences.

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not as good as the subtle art

bit lengthy in places. interesting. not a must read like the subtle art. excellent blog

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