Get Your Free Audiobook
-
Everything Is F*cked
- A Book About Hope
- Narrated by: Mark Manson
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Humour & Satire
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for $33.37
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
People who bought this also bought...
-
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
- A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
- By: Mark Manson
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For decades we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F*ck positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f*cked, and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn't sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is - a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is his antidote to the coddling, let's-all-feel-good mind-set that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
-
-
good basic psychology in everyday words
- By jaise on 18-03-2019
-
Unf*ck Yourself
- Get out of Your Head and into Your Life
- By: Gary John Bishop
- Narrated by: Angus King
- Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unf*ck Yourself is the handbook for the resigned and defeated, a manifesto for real-life change and unleashing your true potential. Have you ever felt like a hamster on a wheel, furiously churning your way through life but somehow going nowhere? Like the happiness you seek, the relationship you crave or the career you've always wanted are constantly out of reach? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you are a victim of your own self-doubt. And now is the time for you to unf--k yourself.
-
-
Absolutely amazing, cannot recommend enough.
- By Anonymous User on 19-06-2019
-
Atomic Habits
- An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones
- By: James Clear
- Narrated by: James Clear
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A revolutionary system to get one per cent better every day. People think when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions – doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits.
-
-
Downloads available too - great book.
- By Matt W. on 01-01-2021
-
12 Rules for Life
- An Antidote to Chaos
- By: Jordan B. Peterson
- Narrated by: Jordan B. Peterson
- Length: 15 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Acclaimed clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson has influenced the modern understanding of personality, and now he has become one of the world's most popular public thinkers, with his lectures on topics from the Bible to romantic relationships to mythology drawing tens of millions of viewers. In an era of unprecedented change and polarising politics, his frank and refreshing message about the value of individual responsibility and ancient wisdom has resonated around the world. In this audiobook, he provides 12 profound and practical principles for how to live a meaningful life.
-
-
“To say anything is to say nothing at all”
- By greg watts on 08-01-2019
-
Will
- By: Will Smith, Mark Manson
- Narrated by: Will Smith
- Length: 16 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most dynamic and globally recognised entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.
-
-
WAY TOO MUCH WIL AND POWER
- By Anonymous User on 23-01-2022
-
The Resilience Project
- Finding Happiness Through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness
- By: Hugh van Cuylenburg
- Narrated by: Hugh van Cuylenburg
- Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hugh van Cuylenburg was a primary school teacher volunteering in northern India when he had a life-changing realisation: despite the underprivileged community the children were from, they were remarkably positive. By contrast, back in Australia Hugh knew that all too many children struggled with depression, social anxieties and mental illness. His own little sister had been ravaged by anorexia nervosa. How was it that young people he knew at home, who had food, shelter, friends and a loving family, struggled with their mental health, while these kids seemed so contented and resilient?
-
-
I don't like self-help books
- By Jo on 06-12-2019
-
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
- A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
- By: Mark Manson
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For decades we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F*ck positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f*cked, and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn't sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is - a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is his antidote to the coddling, let's-all-feel-good mind-set that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
-
-
good basic psychology in everyday words
- By jaise on 18-03-2019
-
Unf*ck Yourself
- Get out of Your Head and into Your Life
- By: Gary John Bishop
- Narrated by: Angus King
- Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unf*ck Yourself is the handbook for the resigned and defeated, a manifesto for real-life change and unleashing your true potential. Have you ever felt like a hamster on a wheel, furiously churning your way through life but somehow going nowhere? Like the happiness you seek, the relationship you crave or the career you've always wanted are constantly out of reach? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you are a victim of your own self-doubt. And now is the time for you to unf--k yourself.
-
-
Absolutely amazing, cannot recommend enough.
- By Anonymous User on 19-06-2019
-
Atomic Habits
- An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones
- By: James Clear
- Narrated by: James Clear
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A revolutionary system to get one per cent better every day. People think when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions – doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits.
-
-
Downloads available too - great book.
- By Matt W. on 01-01-2021
-
12 Rules for Life
- An Antidote to Chaos
- By: Jordan B. Peterson
- Narrated by: Jordan B. Peterson
- Length: 15 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Acclaimed clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson has influenced the modern understanding of personality, and now he has become one of the world's most popular public thinkers, with his lectures on topics from the Bible to romantic relationships to mythology drawing tens of millions of viewers. In an era of unprecedented change and polarising politics, his frank and refreshing message about the value of individual responsibility and ancient wisdom has resonated around the world. In this audiobook, he provides 12 profound and practical principles for how to live a meaningful life.
-
-
“To say anything is to say nothing at all”
- By greg watts on 08-01-2019
-
Will
- By: Will Smith, Mark Manson
- Narrated by: Will Smith
- Length: 16 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most dynamic and globally recognised entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.
-
-
WAY TOO MUCH WIL AND POWER
- By Anonymous User on 23-01-2022
-
The Resilience Project
- Finding Happiness Through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness
- By: Hugh van Cuylenburg
- Narrated by: Hugh van Cuylenburg
- Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hugh van Cuylenburg was a primary school teacher volunteering in northern India when he had a life-changing realisation: despite the underprivileged community the children were from, they were remarkably positive. By contrast, back in Australia Hugh knew that all too many children struggled with depression, social anxieties and mental illness. His own little sister had been ravaged by anorexia nervosa. How was it that young people he knew at home, who had food, shelter, friends and a loving family, struggled with their mental health, while these kids seemed so contented and resilient?
-
-
I don't like self-help books
- By Jo on 06-12-2019
-
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?
- By: Dr Julie Smith
- Narrated by: Dr Julie Smith
- Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on years of experience as a clinical psychologist, online sensation Dr Julie Smith shares all the skills you need to get through life's ups and downs. Filled with secrets from a therapist's toolkit, this is a must-have handbook for optimising your mental health. Dr Julie's simple but expert advice and powerful coping techniques will help you stay resilient no matter what life throws your way.
-
-
Same Thing. Different Title.
- By Anonymous User on 25-01-2022
-
Beyond Order
- 12 More Rules for Life
- By: Jordan B. Peterson
- Narrated by: Jordan B. Peterson
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 12 Rules for Life, acclaimed public thinker and clinical psychologist Jordan B. Peterson offered an antidote to the chaos in our lives: eternal truths applied to modern anxieties. His insights have helped millions of people and resonated powerfully around the world. Now in this long-awaited sequel, Peterson goes further, showing that part of life's meaning comes from reaching out into the domain beyond what we know and adapting to an ever-transforming world.
-
-
Helps me so much
- By Samuel on 09-03-2021
-
Can't Hurt Me
- Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
- By: David Goggins
- Narrated by: David Goggins, Adam Skolnick
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare - poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a US Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events.
-
-
This is a boring book about RUNNING
- By Jules on 17-02-2020
-
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
- By: Stephen R. Covey
- Narrated by: Stephen R. Covey
- Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Stephen R. Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has been a top seller for the simple reason that it ignores trends and pop psychology for proven principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity. Celebrating its 15th year of helping people solve personal and professional problems, this special anniversary edition includes a new foreword and afterword written by Covey that explore whether the 7 Habits are still relevant and answer some of the most common questions he has received over the past 15 years.
-
-
Timeless Book
- By Amazon Customer on 07-06-2017
-
Let Go
- It's time for us to let go of shame, expectation and our addiction to social media, from The Resilience Project
- By: Hugh van Cuylenburg
- Narrated by: Hugh van Cuylenburg
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this follow-up to the best-selling The Resilience Project: Finding Happiness Through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness, Resilience Project founder Hugh Van Cuylenburg combines powerful insight with research and his own disarming and candid storytelling to show how it is possible to let go of the things that are stopping us from feeling connected, safe and happy.
-
-
Another masterpiece!
- By Anonymous User on 03-12-2021
-
The Barefoot Investor, Revised and Updated Edition
- The Only Money Guide You'll Ever Need
- By: Scott Pape
- Narrated by: Scott Pape
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the only money guide you'll ever need. That's a bold claim, given there are already thousands of finance books on the shelves. So what makes this one different? You'll get a step-by-step formula: open this account, then do this; call this person, and say this; invest money here and not there. All with a glass of wine in your hand.
-
-
What Rubbish
- By Peter S. Bishop on 08-09-2019
-
Atlas of the Heart
- Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
- By: Brené Brown
- Narrated by: Brené Brown
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Atlas of the Heart, New York Times best-selling author Dr Brené Brown takes us on a journey through 87 of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and lays out an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances - a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heart-breaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection.
-
-
Simply what I needed to hear & learn
- By Louise Fleming on 23-02-2022
-
Greenlights
- Raucous Stories and Outlaw Wisdom from the Academy Award-Winning Actor
- By: Matthew McConaughey
- Narrated by: Matthew McConaughey
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
I've been in this life for 50 years, been trying to work out its riddle for 42, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last 35. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.
-
-
Seems like a Whole load of bull
- By Andrew on 09-12-2020
-
The Happiest Man on Earth
- By: Eddie Jaku
- Narrated by: Jacek Koman
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed in November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp. Over the next seven years, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors every day, first in Buchenwald, then in Auschwitz, then on a Nazi death march. He lost family, friends, his country.
-
-
Inspiring | Sad | Inspiring | Life Changing
- By Amazon Customer on 12-08-2020
-
The Storyteller
- Tales of Life and Music
- By: Dave Grohl
- Narrated by: Dave Grohl
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Having entertained the idea for years, and even offered a few questionable opportunities, I have decided to tell these stories just as I have always done, in my own voice. The joy that I have felt from chronicling these tales is not unlike listening back to a song that I’ve recorded and can’t wait to share with the world, or reading a primitive journal entry from a stained notebook, or even hearing my voice bounce between the Kiss posters on my wall as a child.
-
-
And what a damn storyteller he is!
- By Anonymous User on 12-10-2021
-
Make Your Bed
- Small things that can change your life...and maybe the world
- By: Admiral William H. McRaven
- Narrated by: Admiral William H. McRaven
- Length: 1 hr and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
'What starts here changes the world' was the university slogan that inspired William H. McRaven to take charge of the small things that could change his life...and even the world. Here McRaven shares the 10 life-changing principles he learned during his 37 years as a Navy SEAL. These 10 philosophies helped him to overcome challenges not only in his career but also throughout his life. What's more anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves, and the world, for the better....
-
-
Great guide for anyone
- By Zoran Stopar on 18-07-2021
-
Think Like a Monk
- The Secret of How to Harness the Power of Positivity and Be Happy Now
- By: Jay Shetty
- Narrated by: Jay Shetty
- Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the number one podcast ‘On Purpose’, distils the timeless wisdom he learned as a practising monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.
-
-
The new Bible of our time.
- By mrs s garrett on 12-09-2020
About This Audible Original
About Everything is F*cked From the author of the international mega-best-seller The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck comes a counterintuitive guide to the problems of hope. We live in an interesting time. Materially, everything is the best it’s ever been - we are freer, healthier, and wealthier than any people in human history. Yet, somehow everything seems to be irreparably and horribly f*cked - the planet is warming, governments are failing, economies are collapsing, and everyone is perpetually offended on Twitter. At this moment in history, when we have access to technology, education, and communication our ancestors couldn’t even dream of, so many of us come back to an overriding feeling of hopelessness. What’s going on? If anyone can put a name to our current malaise and help fix it, it’s Mark Manson. In 2016, Manson published The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, a book that brilliantly gave shape to the ever-present, low-level hum of anxiety that permeates modern living. He showed us that technology had made it too easy to care about the wrong things, that our culture had convinced us that the world owed us something when it didn’t - and worst of all, that our modern and maddening urge to always find happiness only served to make us unhappier. Instead, the “subtle art” of that title turned out to be a bold challenge: to choose your struggle; to narrow and focus and find the pain you want to sustain. The result was a book that became an international phenomenon, selling millions of copies worldwide while becoming the number-one best seller in 13 different countries. Now, in Everthing Is F*cked, Manson turns his gaze from the inevitable flaws within each individual self to the endless calamities taking place in the world around us. Drawing from the pool of psychological research on these topics, as well as the timeless wisdom of philosophers such as Plato, Nietzsche, and Tom Waits, he dissects religion and politics and the uncomfortable ways they have come to resemble one another. He looks at our relationships with money, entertainment, and the internet, and how too much of a good thing can psychologically eat us alive. He openly defies our definitions of faith, happiness, freedom - and even of hope itself. With his usual mix of erudition and where-the-f*ck-did-that-come-from humor, Manson takes us by the collar and challenges us to be more honest with ourselves and connected with the world in ways we probably haven’t considered before. It’s another counterintuitive romp through the pain in our hearts and the stress of our soul. One of the great modern writers has produced another book that will set the agenda for years to come. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. ©2019 Mark Manson (P)2019 HarperCollins PublishersPublisher's Summary
From the author of the international mega-best-seller The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck comes a counterintuitive guide to the problems of hope.
We live in an interesting time. Materially, everything is the best it’s ever been - we are freer, healthier, and wealthier than any people in human history. Yet, somehow everything seems to be irreparably and horribly f*cked - the planet is warming, governments are failing, economies are collapsing, and everyone is perpetually offended on Twitter. At this moment in history, when we have access to technology, education, and communication our ancestors couldn’t even dream of, so many of us come back to an overriding feeling of hopelessness.
What’s going on? If anyone can put a name to our current malaise and help fix it, it’s Mark Manson. In 2016, Manson published The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, a book that brilliantly gave shape to the ever-present, low-level hum of anxiety that permeates modern living. He showed us that technology had made it too easy to care about the wrong things, that our culture had convinced us that the world owed us something when it didn’t - and worst of all, that our modern and maddening urge to always find happiness only served to make us unhappier. Instead, the “subtle art” of that title turned out to be a bold challenge: to choose your struggle; to narrow and focus and find the pain you want to sustain. The result was a book that became an international phenomenon, selling millions of copies worldwide while becoming the number-one best seller in 13 different countries.
Now, in Everthing Is F*cked, Manson turns his gaze from the inevitable flaws within each individual self to the endless calamities taking place in the world around us. Drawing from the pool of psychological research on these topics, as well as the timeless wisdom of philosophers such as Plato, Nietzsche, and Tom Waits, he dissects religion and politics and the uncomfortable ways they have come to resemble one another. He looks at our relationships with money, entertainment, and the internet, and how too much of a good thing can psychologically eat us alive. He openly defies our definitions of faith, happiness, freedom - and even of hope itself.
With his usual mix of erudition and where-the-f*ck-did-that-come-from humor, Manson takes us by the collar and challenges us to be more honest with ourselves and connected with the world in ways we probably haven’t considered before. It’s another counterintuitive romp through the pain in our hearts and the stress of our soul. One of the great modern writers has produced another book that will set the agenda for years to come.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
More from the same
What listeners say about Everything Is F*cked
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 25-07-2019
Did not enjoy
I discovered Mark’s blog about four years ago. Loved. Loved his first book. Borderline obsessed. Loved the start of this book but as it slowly progressed it felt like he was telling other people’s stories - with a condescending undertone. I was really excited to hear his book narrated in his own voice but it didn’t gel well with me. The points seemed a little cloudy and I am sad to say - did not enjoy this book but hope other people have a better experience!
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sehan
- 21-12-2019
poor content
it was ok until he started talking about religion. it became an unbearable preaching after that.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Vince in Perth
- 12-12-2019
Drivel
Incredibly poor writing. Like an unfiltered stream of conscious thought. Utter drivel - can’t recommend this at all.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anthony DAmbros
- 06-11-2019
Disappointed.
I really liked the first book. I felt the author was riding the wave of the initial book's success. This was rushed, had no direction, confusing.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mrs L.S.Luck
- 30-07-2019
Too many words
A book only obscurely about Hope a tiny fraction of the text .Some interesting history but deeply cynical and pessimistic.The F*cked is to portray the book as daring and contemporary is all I can suppose .If you’re not already depressed you may be by the time you have ploughed through this book. Overall theme :life is tough,suck it up .But try harder too .
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Moses Soliman
- 14-10-2019
Not worth it
maybe i was expecting much. But the book didn't make much sense to me. still there are great points and arguments there. in general most of it felt empty and pointless to me.
also the performance of the narrator (the author himself) to wasn't good.
overall not worth it
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tin man
- 10-06-2019
Loved it
i found myself making up reasons to go for a drive just so I could keep listening! Definitely an eye opener that's fire sure!!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rodney Wetherell
- 29-05-2019
Compelling reading on many subjects
I could not stop reading this book, though kept wondering what sort of book it was - it's not a straightforward self-help book, nor a work of philosophy, let alone theology, but Mark Manson does touch on these areas all the time, and others besides. His portraits of episodes in the lives of Newton, Nietzsche et al are fascinating, and well-used in his analyses. He goes in for too many sweeping statements, unsupported by evidence, so the only way to read this is as a series of viewpoints, a prolonged opinion piece - a long sermon, perhaps. Once you accept that, you can just go along with it, agreeing with this, disagreeing with that. I have not read Mark's first book, but may now do so. I believe he will start useful arguments in the minds of readers, and between readers. Mark's pronunciations are sometimes not correct - one would have thought he would find out how to pronounce the name Nietzsche, since he says it dozens of times throughout the reading. It is not 'Nietzschie'.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 27-06-2019
Insightful Perspective
Well Mark has done it again.
With his meticulous attention to detail.
Mark has dissected analysed and elaborated many untold truths about history, social agreements and the things we have chosen to take for granted.
Great book.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Warren King
- 28-05-2019
A great follow up to The Subtle Art, but way more philosophical
A really enjoyable dive into much deeper elements hinted at in The Subtle Art... this book should challenge you to be better and to reframe how you approach life. It doesn’t decry religion or make fun, but points out weaknesses of character and the necessity for maturity. My words can’t capture the essence of the book well enough, but safe to say if you enjoyed The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k and titles like Sapiens and Homo Deus, this will be right up your alley. Challenge yourself.
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Brian Sachetta
- 30-09-2020
I love Manson, but read his other books instead
I’ve been a huge Mark Manson fan for almost six years. When I first read “Models,” I was floored. A couple of years later, when he released “The Subtle Art…” I was also pretty blown away. I just love his writing style, personality, and humor; I find him to be extremely relatable and effective.
I actually first read this one, in print, the day it came out. My first pass through the book left me disappointed. All the same Manson trademarks (the humor, the swears, the seemingly strange references) were there, but the helpfulness and positivity were not. At the time, this book about hope seemed like anything but. As such, I was quite let down.
That was 18 or so months ago. As we all do, I’ve changed and learned some things in the last year and a half, so I was curious to go back and see if I now saw this book in a different light. I grabbed the audio version to move through it quicker. Unfortunately, after listening, I felt pretty much the same way I did the first time around. Here’s why.
Though the book is extremely well-written, well-paced, well-cited, and clever, it’s the definition of a bait and switch. Manson lures the reader in with a catchy title and suggests that, although the world seems fractured, hope will save us. If you get all the way to the end, however, you’ll find that that’s actually the complete opposite of his argument.
In fact, Manson’s true argument here is that hope is flawed and dangerous. It’s what led to all the war, struggle, and destruction over the course of human history. Moreover, he says that we should not hope, ever — we should instead just be better. This is where I think his argument collapses upon itself and loses me. Here’s what I mean by that.
We often say that money is the root of all evil. But money is just a tool. So is hope. Neither one has any inherent goodness or badness — it’s all in what we make of each one. When we use hope destructively, it can lead to cheating, corruption, and war. But when we use it in a positive fashion, it can lead to prosperity, togetherness, and inspiration.
This is where I think Manson gets it wrong. Rather than just saying, “Hey, hope can be bad, so watch out,” he casts it as all bad, which, in my mind, is incorrect. This leads to an overall, pervasive feeling of pessimism throughout the manuscript, in spite of some of his other solid arguments along the way.
That leads me to another thing I disliked about this book — that dark tone. Manson, in this book’s early pages, says that this is not a work based around nihilism. But after reading it twice, it’s clear that it is. Could a book that isn’t about nihilism really end by saying that we are nothing and never were anything? At least in my mind, I don’t think so.
Of course, as a huge Manson fan, the expectations were super high, and it can be tough to live up to those expectations. Regardless of that fact, however, I feel like Manson blew it with this one. It could’ve been SO good. He could’ve continued his “The Subtle Art…” success by offering people some form of peace and clarity here. Instead, however, he leaves the reader wondering what the heck to think and what in the world just happened.
So, in sum: if you like Manson’s style, you’ll still find parts of this one that you enjoy. After all, he’s clearly a very smart person and a great writer, and that shows here. But, on the whole, if you’re looking for a dash of positivity, even usefulness, as many of us found in his previous books, you won’t find it here. That said, I still highly recommend his other books instead.
Mark, if you’re somehow reading this, know that I still love your work, overall. Just, for the love of all things holy, please lighten things up a bit next time.
-Brian Sachetta
Author of “Get Out of Your Head”
42 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Stephanie Peterson
- 14-06-2019
Masterful writing, but stick to writing
The content and narrative of this book is fantastic! Just like it’s predecessor..... However, after listening to the Subtle Art, it just didn’t hold up from a performance standpoint. My only wish is that Mark Manson had chosen to let the same person narrate this version for him again, instead of doing it himself.
38 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- MommaJ
- 31-05-2019
Good content, bad delivery
The book is good. I simply cannot listen to Mark Manson’s narration. I was left longing for the narrator from his previous book. Just too monotone for my adhd brain to stick with it. I needed the engagement of an expressive voice. Couldn’t even make it halfway through.
79 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Log Jammin
- 17-05-2019
5 star Philosophical soft-porn for the masses.
Read and masterfully delivered by the author, Manson constructs an easily digestible accessible philosophical jaunt through clever interpretations of Nietzsche and Kant as well as the Stoics.
Manson's path begins with his scribbling - in tiny print - The Uncomfortable Truth (essentially, that no matter how much we distract ourselves, the human condition is meaningless) on coffee cups for unsuspecting chain store customers, leads through a step-by-step "As Seen On TV" tutorial to create your very own religion, inevitably brings the reader to a conclusion that it's not because everything is f#cked that we need hope rather it's hope that needs everything to be f#cked, then explains how Edward Bernays channeled this truth with his Uncle Sigmund's conclusions to manipulate and convince the masses of their #fakefreedom while creating what is now the modern advertising economy.
Manson finally suggests that, “Instead of looking for hope, try this. Don’t hope. Don’t despair, either. In fact, don’t deign to believe you know anything...Don’t hope for better, just be better. Be something better. Be more compassionate, more resilient, more humble, more disciplined...— be a better human.”
My Audible experience was as enjoyable as Manson's previous entry into the pantheon of anti self-help self-help books and i found myself LLOL'ing (legitimately LOL'ing) enough to consider this work, much like life, a dramedy.
44 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Noor A.
- 08-01-2021
Creative but Lacks in Thought
TLDR: This book is thought provoking and creative, with very good final chapters on happiness and suffering. Manson brings up well researched examples, philosophers, and studies. At the same time that also made the book read like a foul mouthed book report at times.
Overall though, the book presents such basic arguments about heavy topics, like religion, science, without the nuance needed.
As far as religion goes, the book doesn’t make the distinction between theological religious truths and cultural influences/corruption on religious practices. If a religious leader shames you for asking questions about religion, that’s not right. But that’s not evidence that the religion itself is faulty. True believers welcome questions.
There are also many qualities about religion that he mentioned, which are true: religion can be a source of hope, religion can provide relief from the “uncomfortable truth” (existential nothingness I’m assuming). But that doesn’t mean that religion is pacifying us or ignoring these issues.
As far as science goes, he makes it seem like science improved the world and created progress, whereas religion left people stuck. Science did improve many things in the world. But science, evidence, and empirical truths are not the whole picture. It’s not like science is at odds with religion. Plus the book totally ignores that yes while there was a lull in intellectual life in Europe during the Middle Ages, Islamic society was thriving intellectually in mathematics, science, and medicine. Islam even encourages the pursuit of knowledge…
Last example/rant, the book makes this basic insinuation that the world used to be terrible but now it’s not, but we’re still gonna be dissatisfied. I get the truth in this, but he points out modern examples of the “blue dot effect” such as political extremists (right and left). But he doesn’t differentiate the extreme from legitimate social justice movements. Yes as humans we will always be at a level “7” happiness, and yes as humans, pain is constant. But injustice is still never acceptable. Injustice is not simply pain, but it is a perversion of natural law.
Anyway, thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mk90
- 16-05-2019
Narrator is lacking.
I enjoyed Subtle Art alot due to pacing, this narrator lacks the charm and character.
31 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Lindsay S. Nixon
- 16-05-2019
a string of ranty blog posts w/ a few good points
This isn't a "book" in my opinion. It's more of a collection of essays and ranty "blog posts" with maybe 1 or 2 academic-ish articles for HuffPo.
There are some parts of the 'book' that were well researched, provided excellent points and I thought to myself "oh wow" and "I'm going to have to read this again!!!" (30%) the rest was odd and didn't belong, despite Manson's best efforts to make it all fit. I feel like I read a string of ranty blog posts...
The writing also oscillates between deplorable to somewhat academic.
There are times where it reads like a polished, academic book (about 20%) but more often it is ranty blogging with slang like "Cray cray" and vulgar examples that Manson seems to slip in for shock value (except it doesn't work).
Manson is also a terrible narrator. His voice is bleh, but more alarming: he can't properly read his own writing--he can't deliver his own jokes and punchlines (!) It comes out awkward and unnatural-- making his "cray cray" and other slang even more distracting/weird.
41 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kallee1987
- 20-05-2019
Not as entertaining as the first
Not nearly as enjoyable as the first to listen to but was still worth the read. I guess being less entertaining is part of the point of the book in light of the topic of distraction.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- jason newsom
- 17-05-2019
So disappointed!
I really liked his last book a lot. I was hoping this one would be as good. It is not even close! I couldn’t really decipher an actual point. It was just a lot of rambling, in my opinion. I really didn’t care for the narration either. The narrator for the last book was perfect.
21 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- notvafter11
- 10-12-2019
NOT a Self Help Book
In retrospect, I feel like an idiot for thinking this was a self help book. How could a book called "Everything is Fucked" be a self help book? It's the opposite of a self help book, and if you're already depressed thinking this IS a self help book, you've made a terrible choice. Granted, some of the philosophy discussed went way over my head .I feel like maybe that's how I would characterize this book, a depressing look at human existence and philosophy. Only now, I am reminded that my life won't really matter. And I feel stupid for believing in what I believe. Get the summary guide first if you have questions about whether or not this book is for you.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kentoski
- 04-06-2019
60 mins of actionable ideas in a 7 hour wrapper
Manson is fun to listen to, but it just doesn't feel like there is enough depth of content to truly challenge your perspective.
Maybe it's just that he's preaching to the choir, and that if you want to read this book, you won't get as much out of it as someone who doesn't want to.
17 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- What?
- 12-06-2019
Didn't enjoy it at all
I loved the first book, it really touched me and I listened to it twice. This was nothing in comparison, for me. I was hoping for something along the same lines but was really disappointed.
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- slipperychimp
- 02-06-2019
Rushed undergraduate thesis constructed from blogs
This book is like the result of someone rushing to meet an undergraduate thesis deadline on a subject they know very little about. There’s no real structure or message, and the ideas presented lack depth of thought or analysis. It’s as though the author picked his favorite 20 unrelated publications and then condensed a few points from each one in to a single book. I think Manson was attempting to produce his own version of Sapiens by Yuval Harari but without the intellectual standing or knowledge to deliver.
Although I thought the Authors other work: “The Subtle Art of not giving a f*ck” was entertaining enough and worth a listen for the ‘millennial generation’, I’m sorry to say I don’t recommend this one at all. It’s not the worst book I’ve come across, but compared to his last work, I felt the author was trying too hard to be funny while the narration was mono-tone, badly paced and just plain boring.
Rather than hitting that pre-midlife crisis market, this one is more for the spoilt 14 year old who feels unloved because mummy and daddy got a divorce. I found most of the book was totally disengaging, especially the ‘how to start a religion’ section, as a non-religious person even I found this to be just unfunny rambling bluster (quite a few of Mansons 'jokes' have been circulating for some time...)
From what I can make out, the core of the book is that humans react because we have feelings, while also having a logical brain. No sh*t! This level of obviousness along with a general naivety was present throughout. For example, extremist thought is highlighted in the book to have many proposed factors and drivers, however the author quickly dismisses these and proceeds to reduce not being able to reason with extremists down to the absence of a powerful parent and therefore they are just being childish. Simple! All the world’s problems can be solved if only everyone read this book ….
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- cactus
- 18-05-2019
He shouldn't have read it himself
Now I know how important narrator is. The previous book was not only better because of the story but also had an excellent narrator. Mark why did you read it yourself :( man?! Really dissapointed about the story too. It just doest clear what it is trying to say.
28 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mr Meldrew
- 24-05-2019
Cop out
Very disapointed endless historic stories then rambling about AI WHY? Not impressedeo feel conned and it was a cop out to the required subject matter!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Marie
- 21-07-2019
This book is f*ucked
A bit of a misguided effort to make an unclear point. Totally unlike any of Mark Mansons other content or previous book. Bit disappointed.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- hiral gori
- 19-05-2019
not as expected,not at all engaging.
It's not engaging needs more substance. not as powerful as title says it's fucked book
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Dave
- 17-07-2019
Boring and full of negativity
Boring, monotone narration, with the content of the book just mind numbingly dull. Save yourself seven hours listening to this, and do something positive instead.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Samuel
- 14-06-2019
Not quite the subtle art....
‘The subtle art of not giving a f*ck’ was a great book. This..... not so much.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Ash Carter
- 30-07-2019
The book lacked a why?
Didn’t really get the point of the book, like how it’s going to help anyone, was an ok listen but I’ve left not really understanding the point of it. Mark as always thou very funny and witty.
2 people found this helpful
20 Best Fantasy Audiobooks
This genre is so full of talent, it can be difficult to know what to listen to next — so look no further than this list to get you started.



20 Best Nonfiction Audiobooks
From the entire history of humanity to astrophysics, to our gut and mental health, dig into this list and learn something new.



Best Australian Podcasts on Audible
Audible Original Podcasts are free for Audible members. Check out this list of home-grown content, from binge-worthy true crime to self-help.


