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Mark Manson: Self-Help for People Who Hate Self-Help

November 2, 2026 · 1 h 21 min

Show notes

Mark Manson is the author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and a former dating coach whose argument cuts against most of the self-help genre: Happiness is the wrong thing to chase. In conversation with Coleman Hughes, he explains why people should aim for purpose and meaning instead, and why he thinks affirmations and manifesting tend to most benefit those who already feel good about themselves. They get into Søren Kierkegaard, how pickup artistry gave way to the manosphere, and when to bring up politics on a first date. Manson also talks about the two-and-a-half years he spent helping Will Smith write his memoir.

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All episodes of Conversations with Coleman

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