Cover Image: The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t

The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I don't like when author's use swear words when they're unnecessary. For some books, it's fun and irreverent and adds something, like Thug Kitchen, but when you're talking about meditation, it doesn't fit and seems to be there for simple shock value. I didn't learn anything new from this book.

Was this review helpful?

I started reading this but didn’t get too far. It’s too similar to all the anti-self help books that were published around the same time.

Was this review helpful?

This novel makes you think about what in your life is holding you back. Get rid of as much negative as possible and also give yourself a break. Stop tormenting yourself-- become your own best friend. It is ok to say NO. It's fine to quit the things that don't fulfill us. These are just a few of the suggestions given to the reader in this novel. The title is very provocative and I truly believe the author's intent was to shock you and make you interested in reading what is in the novel Not caring about things that are not good for you should be one of your goals. This is a very straightforward and easy book to read. There is something in this book for everyone.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. An excellent book for the person who needs to stop giving a sh*t. If you feel like you have to finish everything you start, even though it doesn't fulfill you, this is the book for you.

Was this review helpful?

The subtitle of this book is "Cut the crap and live your life," or, in other words, stop caring about what other people think of how you're living and just live it already. Midal goes through eight principles to live by, or to some, rules: stop obeying, stop rationalizing, stop comparing, stop being ashamed, etc. I had several thoughts as I was reading this. One, there wasn't really anything groundbreaking here. Every major point in this book is something I've read in articles both online and in magazines for years. I didn't read anything that made me have an a-ha moment. Second, and this is merely an observation, but what is everyone's fascination with the French? I've been seeing more and more content online with titles like "What the French eat in a day," "How to stay fit like a French woman," and "Why the French don't stress as much." I literally pulled all three of these from the email newsletters of big online publications in the last two weeks. Do the French have a leg up that I don't know about? Someone, please clue me in. *ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Being a constant worrier myself, I'm glad I read this book as it shows us how not to worry and realize tbst everything will turn out. This is an inspiring book and I would recommend it to friends.

Was this review helpful?

A super hilarious self-help book. The market is becoming over saturated with sweary self-help books, but this one is worth your time.

Was this review helpful?

ARC provided by NetGalley

I have to admited that the tittle is savage because you think that you'll act like nothing matter and bah, i don't give a fuck.

But actually, the book is about meditation, and inner stillness, and find peace to confront the shit.

Told in first person, with personal' stories about the author, is a good book to read, you learn a lot of things with it

Was this review helpful?

Being a teacher, life can be pretty overwhelming. This book is very eye-opening, with a completely new perspective on life. It sometimes feels like everyone has an opinion on how you should live your life. It's not at all that this book says you shouldn't listen to them, it just suggests that you should put yourself first, and think about what you need to do. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Was this review helpful?

Just as the title says.... I don't really give a Sh...about this book! May be its too strong but i was disappointed with the misunderstanding of 'meditation', and there was so much about author and 'ME ME ME'. Sorry!

Was this review helpful?

I didn't finish the book as it wasn't something I was interested in. I think the author was trying too hard to present something that was simpler than what he thought. I thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read it though.

Was this review helpful?

In fairness, for some reason when I requested this I thought I was downloading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck. Mixed the two up, oops. That said, I liked the book ok but it wasn't what I thought it was be. I was expecting comedy! This did have some good ideas in it, and I might actually try meditating now, may be even with my kids. I'm not sure why this was the "French" art though, other than the author being French there was nothing inherently French about the book, the philosophy, etc. 3.5 stars

Was this review helpful?

A quick read about meditation and Buddhist beliefs that tries to present itself as new ideas, but in all honesty is the same as so many of its contemporaries. Midal packages each idea nicely with an "I'm about to tell you something new and life-changing" and instead, simply, re-words and repackages old ideas. I won't say I didn't get anything from the book, but it did not live up to the expectations I had going into the reading. Overall, Midal is right-freedom is attained when you just stop pressuring yourself to live up to societies expectations, your own expectations and just live life. This book just claimed this was something most people don't already know.


Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-book copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I give this book 4 out of 5 I don’t give a freakin’ shit stars! As a person who beats herself up daily and continually has anxiety, I found this book refreshing. This was an easy read that I really enjoyed. I could relate to a lot of the topics that the author covered and it gave me the urge to work on start giving less f*cks. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was it strayed from being a self help book at times and was too focused on the author’s experiences at moments. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I don’t give a sh*t that most of the reviews I have seen were negative on it. I think this was a great book for me and would recommend to someone who beats themselves up daily and tries to conform to everyone’s standards.

I want to thank NetGalley and Hachette Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn't sure exactly what the book is supposed to be about. The title is somewhat misleading, as it promises some insight into French culture. It took a while to figure out that the book is mostly about meditation. It's okay, but not very enlightening or new. It would probably be better received it it were more clear from the outset that it's primarily a book about meditation, in order for it to reach its ideal audience.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am sorry I purchased this title for my library before getting a chance to read the ARC. The title is appealing, the cover is eye-catching, and the premise is in line with current trends (The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F* and Bringing Up Bebe). It reads like an angry social media post. The author means to come across as hip and wise, but instead comes off sounding like an angry media troll. The chapter headings are confusing too - why tell someone to stop meditating when you really mean they should stop trying so hard and let things flow naturally? He tears sage advice apart and then gives it again in a different way - so he supports these practices? But doesn't want to outright say so?

The title has a swear word - that tells me right off the bat I should anticipate unconventional writing style and out-of-the-box suggestions. What it really does is further the stereotype that French people are jerks who are too cool for school and if you want to be like them you need to stop trying so hard. I know this isn't true and, frankly, it sucks that he'd disrespect a culture that way.

To sum it up - remember when a band came out with an awesome new sound that started a movement? And the bands that followed were initially really awesome? Then after a few years it became pop and mainstream and a shadow of its former self? Yeah, this book is the Blink 182 of the Grunge movement. Move along...

Was this review helpful?

I have not read this book in its entirety, but what I have read was interesting. The author heavily promotes meditation to change a person's perspective. Some folks may find this practice of mindfulness to be comforting and inspiring. I think we all need to find ways to relax and give ourselves a break from worry and anxiety. I'm not sure this book will help me with that, but it may work for some readers. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is an illuminating and sometimes humorous take on meditation with some good solid advice behind it. The author offers personal stories and suggests ways to take better care of our psychological selves. Unfortunately, from the title, I was expecting a book about French culture or some trendy/daring look at French attitudes and behaviors. While I found value in the read, it wasn't what I was hoping for. And, by the way, I cannot think of a country that gives more of a sh*t than France as evidenced by their constant strikes, demonstrations and strict observance of French politesse. The title misses the mark of letting us know the content of the book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I found it very insightful and interesting and thought provoking. The overall message of this book is to relax and not overthink things or over worry and things will work out much better for us and it also teaches us not to compare ourselves with others and be proud of all our achievements no matter how big or small they may be and to become our own best friend.

Was this review helpful?

This book is nothing like advertised. Based on the cover and description I was thinking it would be how to not give a shit, cut excess crap from your life, and how to live the life you want with a french twist on the whole thing. Instead, this is a philosophical book on meditation that rambles and uses too many exclamation marks. I would not suggest reading this book no matter your interests.

Was this review helpful?