I have read Mark Mansons’ self-help title, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck on audiobook along with millions of other people. For Mother of Movies, the book resonates. I loved it so much that I read it 4 times since discovering it on Audible. It was an excellent companion while mowing the lawn, walking, or simply when I felt like life was handing me lemons. For me, it’s a pick-me-up. I enjoy the cynicism and honest nature of Manson’s words.
He treats many subjects with a deft hand, is funny, and has a tonne of quirky anecdotes that are so blunt they make me laugh. When I heard that The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%! had been transformed into a movie, I was elated.
“We have to eat our problem cheese”
Mark Manson Quotes Disappointment Panda
The trailer for The Subtle Art of Not Giving AF promised Mark Manson himself floating in a pool as Disappointment Panda pulls the plug on a patient in a hospital along with many of the ballsy sentiments included in the book. Having already heard the book a bunch of times with a voice that sounds remarkably similar to Mark Manson thanks to the audible version, listening to it again in movie form was still enjoyable.
To be honest I wasn’t expecting a very Ted talk-centric version of Manson just sitting at a table with random and odd stylized images inserted into the proceedings. But overall, the title still lands its footing. I liked seeing the visceral version of events from the book come to life.
Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art
Director Nathan Price (The Hot House) has made The Subtle Art a narrative that can be enjoyed by anyone. Manson has so many stories included in the book, I would have preferred more of that than the talking. But I’m still happy the film was made. In comparison to the myriad of documentaries floating around, this title is unique in where the source material has come from. Perhaps this will start a trend. Will we see a bunch of other self-help books released as movies? Only time will tell.
The origin book is poignant. It’s formatted in a way that hits on things about happiness and what that ultimately means to the everyday hero. In the film, some of the ideals from the book have been worded differently, perhaps for relevance. I didn’t enjoy the newly arranged, dumbed-down chopped-up version nearly as much as the source material. I felt some of the contexts were missing, but this is only a mild criticism. It’s also probably why on IMBD.com most of the high-end reviews are titled “Source Material 10/10.”
Mark Manson’s Books
As a fan of the author and the book, I couldn’t possibly hate the movie. But if I had to choose between watching this title again or re-reading the original text, I choose the text hands down.
This will be enjoyable for those who have read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%! and loved it. For everyone else, you might find some of the unique ways in which Mark Manson views the world inciteful but it’s the book in a condensed version being read out on screen. Another way to enjoy the book, I guess.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%! is rated
3 documentary movies out of 5
If you want to watch this awesome adaptation from novel to movie, check your favorite “where to watch” platform. For residents in the USA and the UK, Mother of Movies recommends ReelGood.com.
