The Subtle Art is a book about what to care about
Mark Manson sorts values into good and bad. A good value is based on reality, good for the people around you, and in your control.
His bad values are pleasure, material success, always being right and staying positive. His good ones include honesty, standing up for yourself, curiosity and humility.
The book came out in 2016, grown from one of his blog posts. Manson writes it the way he talks, swearing included.
What Manson says about struggle
The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience.
Who you are is defined by what you’re willing to struggle for.
Ask it of a goal you're chasing: would you put up with the hard part?Everything worthwhile in life is won through surmounting the associated negative experience.
You are already choosing, in every moment of every day, what to give a f*ck about.
Write down one thing you gave your attention to today that you'd rather not have.
Cut your values to three
The values exercise in the free Astera workspace starts with about sixty words in six groups. Tap every word you'd defend. Then sort the pile and cut it to three.
Hold each of your three against his test. Is it based on reality, is it good for other people, and is it in your control?
Try Values
We built Values into the free Astera workspace to go with this book. Your answers save as you go.
Try itThe book itself is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.
Questions
Is The Subtle Art about not caring?
It's about caring on purpose. Manson says your attention is limited, so spend it on a few things you chose.
What is the backwards law?
Manson borrows the idea from the writer Alan Watts. The harder you chase feeling good, the worse you feel about not feeling good yet.
Who publishes it?
HarperOne, in 2016.