BOOK REVIEW: "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck" by Mark Manson

I've never meet Mark Manson, but I'm pretty sure if I did we'd be best friends.

I picked up this book for two reasons:

1) A friend of mine introduced me to Mark Manson's "Law of 'Fuck Yes'" which I am all the way in on
2) How can you not read a book with this title?

This is not going to be a fucking book report like you wrote in high school because there was some sort of grading rubric attached to it.  I am going to talk about the main points that really resonated with me, and since 86% of you probably haven't picked up a fucking book yet this year, make this your first.

Okay, on to the promised book review:

You have limited fucks to give, so use them wisely

The title of the book is a little misleading.  It's not about not giving a fuck about anything and living your life like the lead character in Grand Theft Auto.  If you did that, you would go to jail after getting an STD from fucking a hooker in your stolen lambo.  No, the main point is that it is impossible to give a fuck about EVERYTHING, so be smart and just give a fuck about SOMETHING.  That something is what's important to you.  I didn't read this book before I went to business school, but I may as well have.  The common trap your average MBA is that they try to give a fuck about too much.

"I need to get an A in Finance!"
"I want to start a club!"
"I need to suck this guy's dick network with this investment bank!"

Fuck all that.  I knew going in what my priorities were: getting a job and not having my health go to shit.  Pretty fucking simple.  GPA?  I did not give one fuck about that.  My GPA at the end of the first semester was 3.05.  To paint the picture of how shitty that is, the first semester classes were set on a curve such that the average grade was a B+ (3.3).  Yup, I was well below average.  But when I wasn't giving a fuck about classwork, I was busy preparing for interviews, because that's what actually gets you the job.  Or I was sleeping or working out.  Two things I enjoy much more than school work.

Again - prioritize your shit and put all your energy into shit that matters TO YOU.  Don't give a fuck about what you think other people might think is important.  Live your goddam life and live it for you.

You must enjoy the process to achieve the result

This one was very interesting to me, because it's true.  The best example that Manson used was that if you want to be fit and have 8-pack abs, you have to enjoy working out, eating a strict diet, etc.  Because if you don't, you're never going to be super fit.  And that makes sense.  That's why people make new year's resolutions to get in shape, go to the gym for about a month, don't see any immediate results, and say "fuck this shit, let's go bowling."  Whatever you aspire to be, you must embrace the road to get there, otherwise you never will.  So eat shit.  Just kidding, I just felt like being an asshole for a second.

Another example I love of this is that companies like Nike and Adidas tend to showcase their sponsored athletes excelling at their sport under the bright lights being adored by fans.  Not Under Armour.  Under Armour shows their athlete's grinding, training when no one is watching, because that's what you have to do to succeed.  That translates to nearly every profession.  Want to nail that sales pitch to that huge client?  You gotta do the research and all that other fucking work before you get your five minutes to make a sale.  Here's my favorite Under Armour ad:

If that didn't give you chills down your spine, you may have to taser yourself in the nipples to see if you're alive.

You will always have problems

In case you haven't figured this out yet, problems are a part of life.  They're not going away, I don't give a fuck who you are.  Some of you might be rolling your eyes thinking that the super wealthy don't have any problems - they do, just not the same ones you have, but trust me they're there.  The thing I observed most from my peers that amazed me the most is how people thought that getting over one hurdle would solve all their problems.  A common theme at business school was "I want to get a good internship, convert it to an offer, so I can just come back 2nd year and relax."  That's basically the MBA wet dream.  But guess what - then you have to start that job after you graduate, and if it's not all it's cracked up to be, you've got the problem of finding another job that doesn't make you want to slit your wrists.  Getting a job offer is great, but then you have to learn and do that job.  Getting promoted is great, but now you have more responsibility, maybe some people reporting to you, and you have to figure out how to be a good manager.  This is what I mean by problems never go away, but it's good to have problems that you constantly need to solve.

Bottom line:  If your attitude is once I do [insert something here] I'm all set, you're either really fucking unrealistic, of you're nine years old.

If you're too lazy to look up this book, buy it here on Amazon.  No, I don't get a commission, I'm not whoring myself out to fucking Amazon, I just really liked this book and wanted to share it with the 12 readers who make it to the bottom of this page.

Taco Bell Brings Out the Best Manners in People and Has Restored My Faith in Humanity

A friend had a housewarming/Derby party yesterday and the invite said that there would be drinks and snacks, but to bring anything we wanted to share.  Because I'm a lazy piece of shit that can't prepare any sort of food that doesn't come out of a can and involve a microwave, naturally I figured I'd swing by Taco Bell on the way over.

After rolling in with 3 bags of Tacos and a shitload of hot sauce (the drive thru guy really went above and beyond there - someone needs to give that guy a raise), I was greeted with the obligatory "Ooohs" and "Aaaahs" that Taco Bell organically elicits from people.  As I set down the bags and I made what I thought was a pretty clear announcement that the Tacos were up for grabs.  I hadn't had lunch yet, so naturally I started going to town on a soft taco.

Then a peculiar thing happened: Someone asked if they could have a taco.  Then another person did.  And still another.  I thought I made it abundantly clear these were for sharing, but these people must've thought that it was some kind of trap, or there had to be a catch like they had to give me a kidney for a Doritos Locos Taco (which by the way, I would be the one getting ripped off).

Listen, as much as I enjoy eating grade D rat meat tacos, there was no way I was going to eat 18 of them.  So of course I was like "yeah, go ahead!  Have at it!"  Then it occurred to me: People will be super polite for some Taco Bell.  It really brings people together.  If I brought Tostitos and salsa, no one would have asked before grabbing a handful.  If I brought some cookies, no one is asking if it's okay to have one, they just take it.  But Taco Bell...land of the $1.39 Taco makes people ask permission as if they're not worthy.  It's pretty fucking amazing.

Now of course, some obligatory food porn:

If you're impressed that I spent over $30 at Taco Bell, this ain't my first fuckin' rodeo:

Now that I think of it, Pepsi didn't completely fuck up with that Kendall Jenner ad.  Right idea, wrong product.  If Kendall hands that cop a taco, this commercial is instantly believable.