Book Summary: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck-

If there was a price for repeating an obscene word, this book would have got it for repeating the F*** word so many times. It got to a point where I was about to return the book, but I decided to wait and see if there was any good points after all, and there was plenty.  
 
 The author draws from his personal and entrepreneurial experience, the way he overcame obstacles, achieved self-satisfaction and what he learned on the way.

The title of the book itself is little misleading as it makes you think the book is about dismissing things in life and perhaps in funny way. The truth is that the book shows you how to prioritize on what you should “give a F” about and what you shouldn’t, and it is not that funny.

The book thoughts are not always very organized, so the way you see it below is not necessarily the way that was provided in the book but grouped in a way to make an easier reference.

Summary.

General Points

·        To aim for positive experience is negative, the acceptance of negative experience is positive.

·        The backward law by Alan watts is when you care less about something it starts to get better.

·        Seeking happiness is a problem (Story of the Buddha)

·        Suffering and discomfort are not bug of creation, they are features to drive you to do more

·        Choose your struggle.

·        Emotions are overrated, kids and dogs shit on carpet.

·        You are always wrong and so am I (the author).

·        Certainty is the enemy of growth; we assume we know how the story ends.

·        We are the Architect of our own beliefs.

·        You are not special.

·        Failure is a way forward.

·        The importance of saying No.

·        Rejection makes you better/stronger.

·        The importance of the Immortality project we all have.

·        Question your conceptual self, as it gives F*** just to avoid the reality of one own death.

·        Keep death in mind to appreciate life.

Meaning of not giving a F***

·        Being a comfortable of being different.

·        To avoid giving a F*** about adversity, need to give a F*** about something more important.

·        Whether you realize it or not, you always give a F*** about something.

Reasons why people screw things up

·        Denial of the issue

·        Victim Mentality

Values we usually assess our life by

·        Pleasure: most superficial easiest to obtain easier to lose.

·        Material Success: problem here is that once basic requirements are achieved then it won't matter much.

·        Always being right.

·        Staying positive; sometimes life really suck, in fact some of the negative experiences are the most important ones.

Defining good and bad values

·        Popularity is bad value because it's out of one’s control and it's not based on reality.

5 counter-initiative backward law

·        Problems are non-conventional and not comfortable but life changing.

·        Uncertainty, acknowledgment of own ignorant ego.

·        Failure, to discover own failure to improve.

·        Rejection, ability to say No.

·        Mortality, pay attention to own death (to prioritize better).