The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck – book review

Sometimes, I don’t give a fuck. Other times, I pretend I don’t give a fuck, but in reality I really do give a lot of fucks. Occasionally, I very openly give fucks.

Some days I give fucks about things I certainly shouldn’t give a fuck about. Like the other week, I didn’t want to go to a particular place with some particular people – and I still ended up going out. Why? Because I felt obliged to, and knew I would feel guilty if I didn’t. I went out and spent money I don’t have on things I didn’t want or like, with people I don’t know and/or want to spend time with.

If this sounds like you, then you need The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k by Sarah Knight. If you don’t like the word Fuck, you probably won’t want it.

Before leaving, I opened my Amazon parcel containing this book, and had I have read just the first page before leaving the house – I wouldn’t have bloody gone.

This book discusses Knight’s NotSorry Method, which provides you with a basis on what and who to reserve your fucks for. It helps you stop spending time, effort or money on things/people that annoy you, or ‘no longer bring you joy’.

I read chapter one on a cosy Sunday night. I got up on Monday and instantly decluttered my wardrobe. This is almost like a warm-up. If you can declutter your wardrobe of clothes that no longer bring you joy, you can declutter your fucks too.

If you haven’t noticed by now, much like this blog post, the book says fuck (and variations of) a lot.

Now, not giving a fuck may seem like an incredibly selfish, arsehole-ish thing to do.

Spoiler: It’s not. And this book helps you to realise that, should you use the information in the right way.

The first rule of not fuck-giving: Don’t be an arsehole. Always bear people’s feelings in mind but be sure to not confuse that with their opinion, know why? Because you no longer give a fuck about their opinion.

Not giving a fuck means putting yourself first, which in turn makes you a happier, less anxious person.  Saying no to the things you couldn’t care less about means you have more time and energy to spend on things you do care about. This is what Knight coins ‘the Fuck Budget’.

Think of it in terms of blogging. If you stop giving a fuck about who’s playing the follow/unfollow game, and start giving a shit about the accounts you do follow and want to follow because you like their content, you’re going to enjoy using your social media and it won’t feel like a chore.

The key to Knight’s NotSorry Method is based on two things: deciding not to give a fuck, then actively not giving a fuck.

Another key factor to taking this attitude on board it to stop caring about what other people think about you. This is something I have been guilty of, despite a façade of the opposite. I’ll often go home and wonder ‘but what if they thought….’ ‘maybe they think….’ Stop. Stop it right now. First of all, they probably don’t think that, but secondly you are a person that doesn’t give a fuck. So stop giving fucks.

The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k helps you catagorise and prioritise your fucks for a clearer, more organised mind. It even has allocated space for you to list said things you may or may not give a fuck about.

Whenever I mentioned buying this book to my dad, he would say ‘Don’t bother giving a fuck about the book, don’t buy it and just don’t give a shit.’ I mean, some people probably could do it that way, but if you’re anything like me, this book is the push you need to get you on your road to enlightenment.

Sarah Knight’s book is an incredibly liberating, life-affirming self-help book, which really speaks to you on a personal level. It’s also fucking hilarious. You’ll find yourself nodding going ‘Yes, that’s absolutely me – I have to stop that!’ and laughing your way through the pages at her metaphors and comparisons. It’s very heavily subcatagorised within its four chapters, which makes it easy to take breaks, make another cup of tea and reflect on the book. One thing I will always have fucks for is a cup of tea.

I read this book cover to cover in two days – I’ve barely been able to put it down. I definitely recommend grabbing a copy, I got mine from Amazon for £6.49 here. Once you’ve read it, you will feel empowered and ready to go out and live your best life, with much fewer fucks given. I’m definitely going to pick up her other best-sellers You Do You and Get Your Shit Together!