Amanda's Reviews > The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don't Have with People You Don't Like Doing Things You Don't Want to Do

This book is a parody of the bestselling organization book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Instead of physical clutter, Knights's book focuses on mental clutter- letting go of too many obligations, being protective and selective with your time, money, and energy.

*Warning: Avoid this book if you are highly offended by or sensitive to the "f" word because it's used a minimum of a half a dozen times on every single page.*

In 2015 author Sarah Knight quit her job at a major publishing house to begin her own business as a freelance editor and writer. "I was almost thirty when I began to realize it was possible to stop giving so many fucks, but I was nearly forty before I figured out how to make it happen on a grand scale."
Personally, I think there is a natural progression to this mindset after living almost four decades on this planet.

Knight differentiates between being "an asshole" and putting her philosophy into practice. The basics she stresses are taking care of yourself first, allowing yourself to say "no," and releasing yourself from anxiety and guilt associated with saying "no."

There were no grand revelations here for me because I've drawn many of these conclusions already and put them into practice in my life. For example, I'm comfortable enough to run to the supermarket sans makeup. I am choosy with whom I spend my time, especially family (no need to subject myself to toxic people). I no longer feel any qualms about hanging up on a telemarketer. I even deactivated my Facebook account for a while because I felt it was mentally exhausting and a time drain. (I probably shouldn't mention this because according to Knight, not being on FB is "akin to being a Communist in 1950s Hollywood.")

I think that the author is probably a little more hard core than me. I truly believe that in society reprocicity is important. After all, I'm not charismatic enough or powerful enough to completely stop attending my friends' functions and expect them to support me. If I care about a friend, I would go to her baby shower (even if I dislike showers). And I'd probably buy my friend's homemade peanut butter (at least once).

I found this book entertaining, thought-provoking, and LAUGH-OUT-LOUD funny at times. I would have given it 4 stars, but I deducted one because of the excessive use of the "f" bomb.

Excerpt:

Fitting in. This- THIS RIGHT HERE- is why I wrote the book you are holding in your hands. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or expert no-fuck-giver, The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck is for people who are exhausted by presenting a façade of interest, enthusiasm, and conformity to the rest of the world. It is about empowering them (you) to feel free to be themselves (yourselves) and live their (your) best lives.