About this episode
Mark Manson, Author of "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" explains why most self help is backwards, and how to actually improve your life and wellbeing. He shares his perspective on life, death, success, and finding our purpose. Mark recounts how the surprising death of his friend shifted his view on life, and why it's important that we lean how to die before we die. He describes the challenges he faced after becoming 'an overnight success' and selling 10 million copies of his book - challenging the idea that success can make you happy. He uses 'The Paradox of Progress' to explain why the wealthiest countries are also the most unhappy. Mark also explains the fundamentals for building a healthy relationship, and how to use the context of the past to inspire gratitude for the present. SPONSOR: https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself Code: KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off (Currently only ships to US & Canada) ___________ Timecodes: 0:00 Intro 1:45 The Death of My Childhood Friend 8:12 How to Die Before You Die 9:56 The Painful Reality of Personal Growth and Change 12:44 The Challenges of Success and Happiness on the Macro and Micro Level 19:44 What to Give a F*ck About 23:37 Stopping BS’ing Yourself 25:55 Why the Rich are Unhappy - The Paradox of Progress 32:05 Finding Meaning Beyond Success and Dealing with Exponential Swings 37:20 Overcoming Depression after Massive Success 40:12 The Backwards Law and the Pursuit of Positive Experiences 43:44 Letting Go: A Pathway to More 47:10 Self Sabotage: Manson's Law of Avoidance 54:11 The never-ending wheel of self-improvement 57:17 Taking LSD & Seeing God 1:03:56 Finding Your Unique Combination of Skills and Gifts 1:12:28 The Limitations of Identity and Finding Meaning Beyond Success 1:14:57 The Importance of Maintaining Separate Identities in a Romantic Partnership. 1:17:53 Historical Context & Understanding Progress 1:27:44 Conclusion ___________ Mark Manson: Mark is the three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, as well as other titles. His books have sold around 20 million copies, been translated into more than 65 languages, and reached number one in more than a dozen countries. In 2023, a feature film about his life and ideas was released worldwide by Universal Pictures. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson/ Website: https://markmanson.net Books: https://markmanson.net/books YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson ___________ Know Thyself Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ Website: https://www.knowthyself.one Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ4wglCWTJeWQC0exBalgKg Listen to all episodes on Audio: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FSiemtvZrWesGtO2MqTZ4?si=d389c8dee8fa4026 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/know-thyself/id1633725927 André Duqum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/ Meraki Media https://merakimedia.com https://www.instagram.com/merakimedia/