IF you’ve ever asked your friends for book recommendations, then you will almost certainly have had some prick suggest one of these titles.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Usually just an opportunity to prove how intellectual they are. They’ll say things like ‘fascinating’, but won’t be able to actually describe any specific sections of the book as they started skim-reading on page six and gave up on page 22.
12 Rules For Life
Someone has decided to take the life advice of Jordan Peterson, a man whose views on gender roles would make a 1950s Northern dad tell him to ‘be more open-minded’. Apparently eating beef cures depression, in which case why bother with antidepressants and just fry up a rump steak instead?
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
This person is trying to prove they’ve mastered a guide to success. But they’re not successful, and successful people don’t waste hours reading bullshit books, preferring to use the time to make money and spend it.
Anything by Malcolm Gladwell
While the books themselves are entertaining, this person is simply doing more intellectual dick-swinging. Gladwell came up with the theory that you need to spend 10,000 hours mastering a skill like the piano. Still, your friend has put in plenty of hours toward becoming an expert dick.
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
If someone recommends this book to you, be prepared to listen to a long, rambling diatribe full of New Age jargon. The go-to coffee table book for people whose coffee tables also feature a bong and a dream catcher.
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
Many people owned a copy in the 90s but didn’t actually read it because it is boring and pretentious in a dull arty-farty way. Possibly worth reading if you’re male and an arsehole and need a pseudo-scientific argument for why men frequently act like dickheads.
