Summary

In this generation-defending self-help book, a rockstar blogger shows us that the key to being stronger and happier people is to handle adversity better and stop trying to be “positive” all the time.

9 reasons why I love Mark Manson’s subtleties

I decided to ditch the traditional approach to reviewing this book today. Because frankly, this is not a traditional book. But what I am going to do is give you 9 reasons why you should read this book.

The first chapter starts with what exactly are the subtleties of not caring about anything. Does it mean being indifferent to everything? That’s the most crucial perspective answered here, and it sets the tone of the entire book and coaxes you to read and find out the secret to a good life.

The second chapter talks about the Happiness equation and how to solve it. Wait, didn’t I read that happiness is not a solvable equation? I love that he breaks it down here to a simple, actionable activity of choosing your problems.

The third chapter tells you you-re not special. I love that Mark does that by likening your emotional health to eating vegetables. It’s boring, mundane, but necessary. And he stresses that it’s what really matters-the ordinary.

The fourth chapter emphasizes the value of pain and suffering by telling you a Japanese war-time story. It was my favorite story. It made me easily understand the concept of self-awareness discussed further. It made me aware of my emotions to situations. It made me understand that it’s all up to us, what metrics we set to measure success decide whether we are successful or not.

The fifth chapter convinced me that it is my choices that decide my quality of life. Everyone has problems, but it’s what I do about them that matters.

An openness to being incorrect must exist for any real change or growth to take place is the message on the sixth chapter.

The seventh chapter tells me that if I fail, it’s not the end of the world, but the way forward. I need to keep taking action even if I don’t know what I’m doing. Because action is just the effect of motivation; it’s also the cause of it.

I loved that Mark summed up the eighth chapter about the importance of rejecting the unwanted beautifully in one line;

In the end, the question I asked myself is, how do I live on forever? The answer to this question will shape my life's meaning while I’m alive and kicking.

Final verdict

Every chapter has a unique and fascinating real story that makes the life-lessons reading so much more exciting and realistic. I agree the book is filled with profanities, that could be a dampener for many readers, but hey, that’s life. Life is not all beautiful and classy and elegant. There is an ugly truth once in a while; it’s just our reaction that matters.

Who Should Read

Please read this book; Young, old, man-woman, rich, poor, and everyone. It’s a man’s earnest appeal after years of self-introspection that won’t take over a few hours of your time, but it will add so much value to the countless hours that are yet to come in your life.

Happy Reading!

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