37 pages • 1 hour read
Mark MansonA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
How does Manson’s use of the epitaph on Bukowski’s tombstone, “Don’t Try,” inform the rest of the text? How does he make it an affirmation rather than a call for apathy?
Do you agree with Manson’s claim that “Happiness is a Problem?” Why or why not?
Manson sees the tendency toward wanting to be exceptional as counterproductive. How does this counterintuitive view support healthy values?
Manson discusses two famous rock stars, Dave Mustaine and Pete Best. What does his comparison of the two men teach us about values?
Do you agree with Manson’s claim that “often, the only difference between a problem being painful or being powerful is a sense that we chose it, and that we are responsible for it?” Why or why not?
How do you perceive the title of chapter 6, “You Are Wrong About Everything (But so Am I)”? What is Manson’s purpose in this title?
How would you describe Manson’s tone throughout the book? Is it consistent, or does he modify it as the book progresses?
What do you think is the point of Manson’s use of the F-word? What is the effect that he is going for? Does it work, or does the use of the F-word draw too much attention to itself?
A subchapter of Chapter 6 is titled, “Kill Yourself.” What does Manson mean by this statement?
How does the final sequence of the book, in which Manson describes his experience standing on a cliff in South Africa, differ from the rest of the book? What effect does it have on how we interpret his message?
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