In human history, we’ve never lived so well: we’ve beaten a bunch of diseases, gained access to global knowledge, and surrounded ourselves with the comforts of technology. Yet the better life gets, the more anxious and distressed we become. We live with the feeling that everything is awful. The planet is heating up, economic inequality is off the charts, politicians steal and lie. Our uncertainty about the future, our despair, and our hope that everything will be fine—these are expertly exploited by anyone who feels like it, from marketers selling us yet another useless nonsense to religious and political figures. So what do we do?
“Stop hoping for the best,” says Mark Manson, the author of the worldwide bestseller “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.” In his new book, he discusses the crisis of hope, the uselessness of believing in a just world, and the idea that the quality of our life is determined by the quality of our personality—not by the benefits or troubles the world showers on us. Drawing on the wisdom of Nietzsche and Kant, Plato and Tom Waits, the author will help you develop a clear-eyed view of everything around you. Because wherever you look—yes, it really is a mess. It’s been that way and will always be that way. It’s time to stop running from this truth and learn to accept life as it is.