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F*ck Feelings: One Shrink's Practical Advice for Managing All Life's Impossible Problems | Michael I. Bennett, MD and Sarah Bennet
F*ck Feelings: One Shrink's Practical Advice for Managing All Life's Impossible Problems | Michael I. Bennett, MD and Sarah Bennet
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The only self-help book you'll ever need, from a psychiatrist and his comedy writer daughter, who will help you put aside your unrealistic wishes, stop trying to change things you can't change, and do the best with what you can control—the first steps to managing all of life's impossible problems.
Book Overview & Core Themes
Warning that convincing yourself there is a path to effortless happiness will only make you feel like a failure, F*ck Feelings offers a pragmatic, no-nonsense guide to managing difficult situations. By keeping your sense of humor, bending wishes to fit reality, restraining feelings, and managing bad behavior, readers can find a new kind of freedom through realistic goal-setting and personal accountability.
Key areas examined within this work include:
- Dismantling unrealistic self-help tropes and emotional idealization.
- Pragmatic strategies for handling family, love, work, self-esteem, and difficult personalities.
- A three-step operational formula: accepting reality, identifying manageable goals, and establishing behavioral rules.
- Bridging psychiatric authority with sharp, humorous prose.
About the Authors
Dr. Michael I. Bennett, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist who graduated from Harvard College ('66) and Harvard Medical School ('70) with over forty years of clinical experience. Sarah Bennett is a professional comedy writer whose work spans television, digital media, and sketch comedy, and who has co-authored two New York Times bestselling books of advice with her father.
Core Audience & Intended Use
- Self-Improvement & Personal Growth Readers: Essential reading for individuals seeking practical, no-nonsense tools to break cycles of rumination and perfectionism.
- Mental Health & Coaching Practitioners: A valuable reference aligned with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles.
- Pragmatic Problem-Solvers: An insightful manual for focusing energy strictly on controllable actions rather than unpredictable emotional states.
Product Specifications
| Full Title | F*ck Feelings: One Shrink's Practical Advice for Managing All Life's Impossible Problems |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Michael I. Bennett, MD and Sarah Bennett |
| Publisher & Imprint | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication Date | September 8, 2015 |
| Binding Format | Hardcover (HC) |
| Print Length | 384 Pages |
| Language | English |
| ISBN-13 / ISBN-10 | 9781476789996 / 1476789991 |
| Primary Genre (BISAC) | SEL021000 / SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Success |
| Sub-Genres (BISAC) | PSY013000 / CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY; SEL016000 / HAPPINESS; SEL027000 / SELF-MANAGEMENT |
| Item Condition | Pre-Owned / Very Good |
| Dimensions & Weight | 5.50 x 1.20 x 8.38 inches | 16.0 oz (approx. 1.00 lbs) |
Frequently Asked Questions About F*ck Feelings
What is the core philosophical thesis and practical methodology behind F*ck Feelings?
Written by a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and his comedy-writer daughter, Fck Feelings offers a pragmatic, no-nonsense antidote to traditional self-help tropes that advocate endless self-analysis or emotional idealization. The authors argue that many of life's problems—such as difficult personalities, bad luck, and inherent human flaws—cannot be fixed, solved, or processed away. Instead of trying to feel better or change unchangeable circumstances, the book advocates for managing behavior, accepting limitations, maintaining self-respect, and acting responsibly regardless of internal emotional distress.
How is the book structured, and what specific life categories does it address?
The book is organized into ten chapters tackling major human struggles, including Improvement, Love, Communication, Parenthood, Self-Esteem, and Fairness. Each section systematically dismantles unrealistic self-help myths (e.g., "I should be able to change my partner" or "I need closure") and replaces them with a pragmatic three-step operational formula: accepting reality, identifying manageable goals, and establishing actionable rules for behavior.
What unique credentials and intergenerational collaboration inform the authors' perspective?
Dr. Michael I. Bennett, MD, brings over forty years of clinical psychiatric experience, having graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. His clinical realism is balanced by co-author Sarah Bennett, a professional comedy writer whose work spans television, magazines, and digital media. Their collaboration yields a rare combination of psychiatric authority, cognitive-behavioral clarity, and sharp, humorous prose.
How is F*ck Feelings applied in clinical psychology discussions, executive coaching, and self-management?
The text is widely referenced as a practical entry point into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles. Mental health professionals and coaches use it to help clients break cycles of rumination, abandon perfectionism, and focus energy strictly on controllable actions rather than trying to regulate unpredictable emotional states or change other people.
What fundamental insight regarding human limitations and self-respect does the book emphasize?
The authors emphasize that emotional suffering is often compounded by the false expectation that life should be fair or that feelings dictate capability. Fck Feelings asserts that true emotional maturity is not achieved by feeling happy or serene, but by doing the right thing, treating others decently, and holding onto personal values even when internal feelings are painful or chaotic.
Condition Notice: Pre-Owned / Second-Hand Product
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Condition Details & Grading:
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- Markings & Personalization: Items may occasionally contain inscriptions, library stamps, owner names, marginalia, or highlighting. Individual item descriptions reflect significant deviations from standard acceptable condition.
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