When one reads Mark Manson’s thrusting title for his latest book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, it’s tempting to picture him lying back in a luxury pool on an inflatable donut, raising his shades and flipping the middle finger. However in the book, Manson clarifies what he means by ‘not giving a f*ck’ with a short, spicy anecdote that captures the spirit he hopes to instil in his readers.

Specifically, Mark doesn’t advocate indifference or apathy. When his mother was scammed out of a lot of money from a trusted friend, he could have chosen to shrug it off and move on. Instead he said:

No, screw that, Mom. We’re going to lawyer the fuck up and go after that asshole. Why? Because I don’t give a fuck. I will ruin this guy’s life if I have to. (p.15)

So what is the subtle art of not giving a fuck really about? It’s about overcoming adversity in the face of your goals, and not caring about the social consequences, whether it be pissing someone off, getting in awkward situations or challenging expectations.

This is an anecdote from The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson. I record my favourite non-fiction stories and the lessons associated with them to help practise what I read. If this story resonates, I highly encourage you check out the full book.