Self-Help Book Review: The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight

I am a self-professed, unashamed self-help book junkie.

There, I said it.

I read my first self-help book when I was 16. I didn’t fully realize at the time, but this was my introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–now a therapeutic approach I use with most clients. I’ve been hooked ever since.

It makes sense, actually. I love reading and I love psychology. Self-help books blend the two (and are more palatable than text books.) Self-help books tend to have a personal component that is not found in your traditional reference books.

I wanted to start offering reviews of the self-help books I’ve read so 1) you can decide which are worth your time and which are not 2) I can justify reading more self-help books.

Prepare yourself.

Review Of:

**The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck By Sarah Knight**

How I Learned About This Book: A kindred spirit recommended it to me when I mentioned having just read this book by Jen Sincero.

You Might Like This Book If:

You approach self-help books with heavy cynicism but are open to some kind of mental shift.
You enjoy well-done parodies. (Although nothing can be compared to this Twilight Parody. Yes, I’ve read it, but only because it was on an 18 hour road trip. Don’t judge.)
You enjoy practical advice mixed with prolific expletives.
You are a chronic people pleaser (and want to change that).
You want to learn how to not allocate so much time, energy, and money to things which aren’t important to you (and, most importantly, do it without being a jerk).

Don’t Read This Book If:

You don’t enjoy an inane amount of profanity when reading. (As if the title didn’t make this obvious.)
You want to just cut to the chase.
You would prefer a more gentle approach which does not involve self-deprecating humor or strong opinions which may clash with yours.
You are related to Marie Kondo.

What I Liked (as a Human and Mental Health Professional):

While not always my therapeutic approach, there is something about profanity mixed with self-help advice I can appreciate. It can provide some shock value which helps to view yourself and your beliefs, attitudes, and actions in a different way.
It’s undoubtedly entertaining. The author shares many personal examples and stories that are hilarious, uncomfortable, helpful–or all three.
It does offer some sound advice. For example, the author teaches readers about setting boundaries in an honest and polite way (she even uses a cool matrix to help visualize the concept.) She focuses on differentiating between caring about other people’s thoughts vs. opinions, and why that matters.

My Main Critique:

The book is redundant. I found I got the perspective I needed after the first half of the book. I finished it just because it was entertaining and had some great visuals and stories near the end of the book.

My Overall Rating: 6.75. (0 = Don’t bother, 10= I’m enlightened)

Bottom Line: Worth the read for the entertainment value, unique visuals, and practical tips, but may be a bit much for those with gentle constitutions.

Have you read this book? What are your general thoughts on self-help books? Comment below!