Unfuck Your Worth: Overcome Your Money Emotions, Value Your Own Labor, and Manage Financial Freak-Outs in a Capitalist Hellscape

by Faith G. Harper

Untangle your emotions and expectations about money so that you can live your best financial life. Without fear and shame holding you back, it's more possible to move past all those social barriers to actualizing whatever your money aspirations are, whether that's getting a raise, getting out of debt, having honest conversations about money with your family, saving for the future, or wherever your values lead you. Dr. Faith, author of the bestselling Unf*ck Your Brain and Unf*ck Your Intimacy, tackles one of the toughest emotional topics there is with her trademark mix of neuroscience, gentle encouragement, and no-nonsense language. This book isn't about getting rich quick (or necessarily at all)--it's about figuring out your own economic values and baggage, and learning to be the person in the world you know you have it in you to be.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Personal Development, Finance, Personal Finance, Audiobook

192 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2020

About the author

Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN is a bad-ass, funny lady with a PhD. She’s a licensed professional counselor, board supervisor, certified sexologist, and applied clinical nutritionist with a private practice and consulting business in San Antonio, TX. She has been an adjunct professor and a TEDx presenter, and proudly identifies as a woman of color and uppity intersectional feminist. She is the author of the book Unf*ck Your Brain and many other popular zines and books on subjects such as anxiety, depression, and grief. She is available as a public speaker and for corporate and clinical trainings.

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of little tidbits here on the late-stage capitalist hellscape we live in, and how to get by and get your worth within the system. I like that the book was humorous, brought bits of Buddhism in, and covered just a little bit of each topic, but I would have liked more. Even just a “for more, check out XX’s work/book/TED talk.” The references that were there were interesting and gave me a jumping off point, but I would have liked an organized, consistent “this is how to keep learning about this topic.”

The book talked about placing your money where your values are only briefly. I would have liked to see more about how to use your dollars to actually fight/make better the capitalist hellscape. Retirement is dandy, but knowing my money is where my mouth is while earning my way to retirement would be cool, too.

[Tai Odunsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok but the cursing is fucking superfluous :-P

[Missdoster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone looking to do the work and probe their personal relationship with money. Loads of writing prompts which I thought were great jumping off points, and the writing style is wonderfully colorful and funny. If the title and subtitle appeal to you, then you won’t be surprised by the language or the political perspective. It gets somewhat detailed about budgeting and debt payoff, etc. if that’s what you’re looking for, but at a relatively brief 185 pages it’s more a nice overall financial primer than step by step guide to any one aspect of money management.

[Melissa Algood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got me thinking about my relationship with something that only has value because I say it does. Recommend for the new mindset

[Isabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anecdotes and some useful tips sprinkled with the obligatory f words. Could use way more (fact based) tips.

[cypher · Rating 2 out of 5]

some good ideas, some bad. definitely too much about "trauma".
yes, meditating to manifest wealth is not the most productive way, but are the average money problems caused by "trauma"? "trauma influenced chaos" is a construction which, in my opinion, does not place blame correctly, what you value is a choice, not generated by trauma, so caused by others, current culture shows me people are more comfortable not taking responsibility and like going with the effortless flow of just existing more guilt-free. i really dislike the 'poor me, i have low self esteem, excuse me' approach, self esteem is generated by values, not the other way around.
next, why not blame "society", which is "systemic" (and the fact of being systemic implies what here?) says the author, don't blame yourself, and, let's say, your sneaker/pump shopping addiction.
or, maybe your anger is the problem or not sleeping well, or another idea from the text, it's understandable that you might think saving money is "not fun".

(+) education in school to talk about financial health and the importance of budgeting for the future to achieve goals, define (realistic) financial goals and set the base plan to achieve them (going to university to get a specific degree, applying for the right jobs), value your time and use it wisely to help your financial goals (choose to study for school and work as opposed to a club night out), understand correctly why achieving financial goals is important, "class essentialism" is not good, analyse past financial decision and conversations about money, thinking about opportunity cost correctly, thinking about how to budget self-care and label self-care correctly (separate health from self-care, and don't make allowances for things without importance), consider the snowball plan and debt consolidation, educate yourself on average financial tools and products/features to help you save money, discuss money and financial values and goals in your relationship, think of your job and your income and if you can improve anything

oh, and
(---) calling shopping addiction "shopping addiction" is "dumb", the author wants people to forgive and excuse themselves more, the author is saying you might be a poor person who needed help and shopped some clothes (...what about that environment, paying bills, helping others in need with that money, building a fund for your children's education, feeding your dog better, buying healthier food for yourself more, just some examples...but the chapter about "opportunity cost" came after her subtle pro-shopping propaganda)

it's useful to look at books like this, more information on these subjects can help, but it's important to consider that lots of books like this are written from the perspective of the authors, a subjective view, based on their personal values.
don't blame others, for causing "trauma", (or "capitalism", this is popular), raise above toxic cultures and choose not to be part of the consumerist movement, and don't excuse yourself.

[D R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a toooon of 'new' info in here in the realm of budgeting for someone who has done the budgeting thing and understanding different methods of paying down debt. However! What I did appreciate was that the book starts with about a half of a book dedicated to understanding how the capitalist hellscape we live in informs our money decisions and our sense of worth. I appreciated that because a lot of money books skip over this and don't give attention to how this messes with our brains. I also appreciated the exercises to really discover what has value To You as an individual and thinking through budgets from that lens rather than what you "should" value or not. Still working through some of the exercises to track expenses longer term and some I won't use at all. Also enjoy the small hand size of the physical book which made it feel more approachable. Some tips for folks who are self employed and/or have side hustles too.

[JP Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now with this book, I dived into it on audible.

Which is a pretty smooth audiobook. I’ve taken a lot from this book, and I’ve discussed it with my friend. Stop giving so much attention and feelings to money.

It comes and goes, and it isn’t going anywhere, no matter what the form is. I plead guilty, I will say, but hey, this is why I’m here geeking out on these self-books and getting better. Like with people wishing they had more, it’s not how much you make; it’s how much you keep. Instead of trying to impress, invest in yourself to gain more. Now, that will go over your head, but dive, and you will understand.

Strongly recommend.

You must also listen to this TED conference, part of the book.

Amanda Palmer | The Art Of Asking

https://youtu.be/xMj_P_6H69g?si=n99lL...

Peace and love.

PS.
JAYA

[Clint Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook is pretty short so it’s easy to listen to in a single sitting. This book is not about how to save money really, but rather to explore your relationship with it. Changing your relationship with money can help with saving and not going crazy when you don’t. That being said, this book feels like it’s trying really hard to be hip. Lots of cursing, which I’m known for myself, and random “youthful” language makes it a little hard to take seriously at times. But the questions the author asks are worth answering. They make you really think about your relationship with money, how it makes you feel mentally, and how that can affect your physical wellbeing. Worth checking out, especially if it’s at your library or still for sale on chirp.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book overuses the profanity gimmick whereby it loses its impact and provocation after a while and hides the dearth of suggestions and ideas that might be gleaned from another more structured book on the subject. While there are several useful strategies and motivating anecdotes for the new investor or saver, it potentially gets lost in the salty and overly entertaining manner in which it is presented.

[Kayley Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content: The content dived into knowing your worth in the sense of life in general, work, income and setting boundaries. This was probably my favourite book from Faith Harper so far. The books explores finances and values, personal relationships and mindsets surrounding this.
Audio Quality - Good, listened via audible.

Overall -  Was a good listen, simple to follow along with.

Recommendation - To anyone wanting an easy read/listen about understanding your values/relationships with your money and worth.

[A.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gives you an alternative viewpoint to the usual budget advice. You are basically never going to get rich by saving your pennies; capitalism makes sure of that.

And it gives you other places to go for more.

3 stars

[Wrapped Up in Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid financial advice. Would be a good starting point for anyone looking at beginner budgeting.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The emotional and psychological parts of personal finance that no one talks about. Also I love this author’s plentiful sprinkling of casual curse words, I’ll be looking at her other stuff for sure.

[John Jervy Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Fun to read, interesting and informative. 😊

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful. Plan to buy the workbook

[Joe Shinall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good information and logical

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sassy and helpful

[Rebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on finances I've ever read!

[Brooke Tomlinson]

DNF

[JA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finances and freedom and self worth.

[Jeni Aileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great reminder and recap. Unfortunately, none of the worksheets comes with the audible version.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Given the title, I guess it's no surprise that it is expletive-ridden. The core message is that that human beings have intrinsic value and worth, but our society/mentality often conflates money with self-worth and it becomes a central focus in our lives. There's different chapters on psychology, some budget advice and general ad-hoc advice.

Note: For those concerned about today's "woke culture", there is one instance which seems she has gone out of her way to force it in: "some unpaid, labour like pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding/chestfeeding is by default the domain of women, outside of a small but growing group of badass trans men and nonbinary individuals."