The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: How Many Pages, Who Wrote It and What It's About
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck was written by the American blogger and author Mark Manson and published in 2016. It is a short book of about 220 pages in nine chapters, and most readers finish it in four to five hours.
Its message is that a good life comes not from trying to be positive about everything but from choosing carefully what to care about, and accepting that problems and pain are part of life.
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Author | Mark Manson, born 1984 |
| Published | September 2016 |
| Pages | About 210 to 225, depending on edition |
| Chapters | 9 |
| Reading time | About 4 to 5 hours |
| Genre | Self-help |
| Follow-up book | Everything Is F*cked, 2019 |
| Film | A documentary-style film version came out in 2023 |
Who is Mark Manson?
Mark Manson is an American writer born in 1984 in Austin, Texas. He became known through a popular blog about life advice, written in a blunt, funny, profanity-filled style. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck turned that style into a book that became an international bestseller and has been translated into dozens of languages. He later co-wrote Will, the memoir of actor Will Smith.
↑ Back to the topWhat does each chapter cover?
Chapter 1, Don't Try, argues that chasing positivity only reminds us of what we lack. Chapter 2, Happiness Is a Problem, says happiness comes from solving problems, not avoiding them. Chapter 3, You Are Not Special, criticizes the culture of entitlement. Chapter 4, The Value of Suffering, asks which problems are worth having. Chapter 5, You Are Always Choosing, separates fault from responsibility. Chapter 6 says we are wrong about much of what we believe, and that uncertainty is healthy. Chapter 7, Failure Is the Way Forward, praises action over motivation. Chapter 8, The Importance of Saying No, is about commitment and boundaries. Chapter 9, And Then You Die, reflects on mortality as the thing that gives life meaning.
↑ Back to the topWhat are the book's main ideas?
Manson's central idea is that we only have a limited number of things we can truly care about, so we should choose them well. He argues that pain and problems are unavoidable, and that the question is which struggles we are willing to accept. He urges readers to take responsibility for everything in their lives, even what is not their fault, to choose better values than pleasure, popularity and constant positivity, and to stay open to being wrong.
↑ Back to the topWhat is the writing style like?
The book is conversational, humorous and full of strong language, which is part of its appeal. Behind the jokes are serious ideas drawn from psychology and philosophy, illustrated with stories from Manson's own life and from figures such as the musician Dave Mustaine and the soldier Hiroo Onoda.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Written by Tori Books for readers and students.