The French Art of Not Giving a F*ck: The simple secret to true happiness, the French way

by Fabrice Midal

It's time to stop giving a f*ck!

Be calm... Stop stressing... Embrace the universe... Try yoga... Be fulfilled... and that's an order!

We hear these commands everywhere, and we often torture ourselves to 'try harder', yet somehow we never feel we've done quite enough. It's about time we stopped feeling guilty for not being perfect, and instead simply allowed ourselves to be angry, be tired, be silly, be passionate - to stop giving a f*ck, and just be.

This international bestseller explains why the key to true mindfulness is freeing ourselves from social and often self-imposed stresses-and highlights how we can embrace life more fully by giving ourselves a break.

One of the world's leading teachers of meditation and mindfulness, Midal offers us a new solution to the perennial problem of our too-much, too-fast modern life. It's OK, he urges us, to say no to the things that don't fulfill us. It's necessary, in fact, to give ourselves a break and say, simply, 'F*ck it! C'est la vie'.

The French Art of Not Giving a F*ck grants each of us permission to stop doing the things that don't make us happy. So we have room in our lives for the things that do.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Personal Development, France, Philosophy, Portuguese Literature

184 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

I was given a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reminder to give yourself a break.

[Cecily Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason I was under the impression that this book was really good.
It wasn't... He said the phrase "Not Giving A Shit" wayyy too many times!
I mean I have always wanted to learn how to properly meditate, but this book didn't really help. Sure it told me why meditation is good but if it was as easy as just not thinking, I would be good. LOL
Some good tidbits in there but I had so much more hope for it.
Oh well...

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't judge a book based on it's title. What I thought would be a modern self-help book of the ''don't give a f-' title type, turned out to be a book on buddhist beliefs and meditation, which themselves are not boring things, but this book didn't make them exciting either.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not what I thought it would be. I was anticipating a series of helpful techniques to not let stuff get under my skin. If that's what you're looking for - keep moving past this book.

The book starts out talking about meditation, which seems like a reasonable tactic to "let stuff go", but the book loses focus fast. The author repeats himself all the time, is very repetitive, and redundant... (see what I did there, LOL...) and chooses to use coarse language that could be engaging or humorous - but not in the way it's used here, it's just unnecessary.

The book also had a note of arrogance that I found to be off-putting. "I met with other masters, but none of them really knew what they were doing, the only way to find freedom is my way" kind of comments.

So why did I give it 2 stars? Well, there were a couple of quotes that the author included that I thought were insightful, and so the book did have a bit of a redeeming quality. But this is not a book that I'll ever go back and read to get more insight - it's a "one and done".

I was provided a free ARC copy of this book by the publisher, and this opinion is solely my own.

#NetGalley

[Lecy Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading in progress. So far this book is amazing. I've met many french people throughout my life and this book is exactly what they embody: life in moderation with the good and the bad, as well as no bullshit and remaining in the reality of things.

By embracing our insecurities, problems and weaknesses this ironically makes us powerful and confident.

Many say the french have a waive of arrogance but the reality is they are misunderstood. English culture teaches us to be overly courteous and have a mundane, boring life.

The french live with passion.

[Lyn Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to the audio version of this book. Whilst the title implies you should not give a f*ck about things, it really means for you to not get so caught up in being wound up about things. There were some amazingly simple ideas int this book that I readily adopted and felt at ease.

This book helped put a lot of things into perspective for me and provided me with a platform for greater ease in situations where I would normally feel very much out of my comfort zone.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing title and fascinating book. It explains how wrong everything you think you know about meditation really is. Uplifting and worth the read even if you don’t meditate.

Give yourself permission to not give a shit, be true to yourself while dealing with reality and enjoying each moment and seeing the world with the curiosity and fascination of a child.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the entire audioCD and am still not sure if he is for or against meditation!
One thing he did confirm, which I am a true believer in is that you do not tell people to "calm down," it never calms anyone down, in fact quite the opposite. He has some thoughtful insights.

[Kayln Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

admittedly, i chose this book for the title — but i also love a philosophical self-help novel! rough start, but several good points were made. even more excited for intro to buddhism now :)))

[Norah Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to Read in Exchange for a fair review. As I was reading this book under time constraint in order to read it and write a review in a timely fashion, I think that I will be reading it again later. There are a lot of ideas that I would have liked to spend more time thinking on. For me I feel the ideal way to read this book is to read a chapter think about it for a bit, examine how that chapter pertains to my life and evaluate how to implement the ideas that I think work for me before moving on to the next chapter. Once you get past the excessive use of the phrase not giving a sh*t In the first chapter there is a wealth of of ideas and thoughts on creating less stress in our daily lives. The style of writing is engaging and ideas are presented clearly and concisely. I would recommend this book.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Laura Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very poorly titled book that is obviously trying to ride the coattails of Sarah Knight’s book. Major marketing fail. I read the first half, then skimmed. There’s nothing French about this others than the author. It’s a book about his philosophy of meditation. If you want a less rigid way to meditate, read this (or Dan Harris’ Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics). If you want what the title promises, read Sarah Knight or Mark Manson’s business version.

[Karlha · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this a try as an audio book, not really expecting to get much from it. I'm happy to report I was wrong. I'm going to try to stop giving as much attention to the pointless things and concentrate on just being me.

BTW, the version I listened to was narrated by Ben Willbond. Having heard his voice, I can tell you that I would happily listen to him read a phone book!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I will definitely be rereading this. Not at all what I thought it would be about. It’s about being present and mindful and the profound happiness that can come from letting go, allowing yourself to be and live the best life you can. An excellent read for humans in the 21st century.

[fer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me decepcionei com esse livro porque tinha uma ideia totalmente errada sobre o que ele trata. Em nenhum momento do livro ele mandou ninguém a merda.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t is a very powerful book on examining one's habits and considering the patterns and beliefs that may not be serving us. Unfortunately, the book's biggest problem is its title. Nothing that Midal promotes has anything to do with being French. On the contrary, Midal shows again and again that the ideas that he espouses are actually counter to mainstream French culture. Perhaps the many negative reviews reflect the erroneous expectation that this book would give one the excuse to drink wine all day, smoke copious amounts of Gauloises and look effortlessly chic, even in one's shabbiest clothes.

If you are interested in growing as a human being, being more present, challenging patterns of behavior that don't serve you and experiencing more joy, you may like this book. If you are interested in philosophy and literature (Midal references The Odyssey and other classic texts, as well as philosophers Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Nietzsche, etc.), you may enjoy this book. If you are simply interested in "not giving a sh*t", you may want to look elsewhere.

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned:
“I forget the command to let go which is itself, the opposite of letting go… (anger) I take the risk of experiencing it. I taste it, even if it hurts me. What often follows is relief, not the calm we try to enforce by artificially stifling what we’re living though. This is the very basis of meditation - it’s neither herbal tea nor a magic pill, but instead real work on our sorrows, confusion and emotions… like a doctor examining his or her own wounds… it means facing up to everything that is stopping us from truly not giving a shit…”

An unexpected critical tour of meditation and oft cited methods of dealing with inner emotional skews. I started to listen to this in small chunks which simply didn’t work - it was only when I started listening to it in a run did its impact really hold me, and I liked it! For better or worse, can you feel it? Because you probably should and that’s not a bad thing… Shame indeed is the social face of guilt

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It came at the perfect time in my life. The fact that I was traveling to France at the time made it even more amusing. Good lessons on how to not take many things in life so seriously. I recommended to many friends.

[Baroness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free yourself from your mental prison…

[Maddie Blonder · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read!! First time reading this genre of book and I loved it. He takes such an interesting approach to common issues we struggle with. Definitely worth the read!

[Tina Ann Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more forgiving view of meditation. I think a lot of people are hesitant to take of meditation because there are too many rules on how to do it properly. Also meditation seems to be commercialized into the wellness culture. The author takes a more essentialist view of meditation.

[Megan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really great gems in here

[Misha Kuehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of the best audiobooks of late. To be honest, it was nothing I expected as it delved deep into meditation and personal inner grown.

[Burgundy Bug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fabrice Midal’s 2017 self-help book serves as a public service announcement that advises against traditional means of meditation and social structures. Throughout the book, the author uses his background in Philosophy and years of experience in the meditation and wellness field to share what he has learned with the reader.

While meditation is the central focus of “The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t,” Midal’s ideology branches off in a way that it can be applied to multiple aspects of life.

Overall, “The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t” is a digestible read that offers another perspective on wellness. Midal’s views that are discussed throughout the book are grounded in the philosophy of personal development and empowerment.

Although I dove into it knowing that Midal’s life work was devoted towards meditation, I was actually surprised by how present it was throughout the book. Nevertheless, I didn’t find that it necessarily altered the core philosophy of Midal’s sentiment.

I found “The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t” delightful and insightful all at once. In addition to redefining what I thought I knew about meditation, it reinforced what I already knew I needed to do: cut the crap and stop giving a shit; to stop holding myself back, wanting to be perfect, trying to understand everything, rationalizing, and tormenting myself. Chapter eight, “Stop Wanting to Be Perfect” was particularly touching for me.

By the end of “The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t,” I felt refreshed with a new outlook on meditation and self-care.

Overall? I give Midal’s book 3.5 out of 5 deep breaths.

Full review: click here.

[McYang · Rating 1 out of 5]

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). But 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. Save your money and move along...

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad quick read. Brought up some interesting perspectives on today’s society and our need to be perfect.