Podcast Episode Summary: "You Are A Badass"
Podcast: If Books Could Kill
Hosts: Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri
Title: You Are A Badass
Release Date: January 23, 2025
1. Introduction to "You Are A Badass"
In this episode, hosts Michael Hobbes (A) and Peter Shamshiri (B) delve into Jen Sincero's self-help book, You Are A Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. Celebrating nearly two years of the podcast's existence, Michael introduces the book with skepticism, labeling it "the dumbest book we've done so far" (00:34).
2. Overview of Jen Sincero and Her Works
Jen Sincero, a former punk band musician from the 90s, transitioned into authorship, gaining fame with You Are A Badass. The book has spawned several spin-offs, including You Are a Badass at Making Money, You Are a Badass for Teens, and You Are a Badass Dad (01:51). Michael notes that unlike other authors they've covered, Sincero wasn't a well-known figure prior to her writing career (02:09).
3. The Law of Attraction and Its Portrayal
Both hosts criticize the book's reliance on the Law of Attraction, likening it to the themes found in The Secret. They discuss how Sincero presents positive thinking as a scientifically-backed method to manifest desires, extending it to exaggerated claims like the universe delivering tangible results ("scientifically") (02:57-03:23). Michael sarcastically remarks, "You could think you're cancer away" (03:39), highlighting the book's flawed logic.
4. Handling of Depression and Victim Blaming
A significant portion of the critique focuses on Sincero's approach to depression. She frames depression as a self-imposed state, suggesting that individuals are subconsciously sabotaging themselves by staying in negative mindsets to receive attention and avoid responsibility (07:25-18:57). Peter mockingly summarizes, "Have you tried cheering up? Vibrating vibrate in a happy way?" (16:37).
Notable Quotes:
- Michael: "The leading cause of sucking, staying broke, dating morons uncontrollably crying in public because we hate our lives is that we haven't yet woken up to how truly powerful we are" (07:28).
- Peter: "If you were once depressed but have decided to let it go, stop listening to melancholy music... I don't know, maybe the Atlantic" (17:18).
5. Advice on Making Money and Encouraging Debt
In You Are a Badass at Making Money, Sincero suggests that reluctance to accumulate wealth stems from a subconscious refusal to "give ourselves permission to become rich" (24:30). The hosts ridicule her financial strategies, which implicitly promote taking on debt to shift one's mindset towards wealth accumulation.
Notable Quotes:
- Michael: "Once you decide to do something like cut off your friends and family... the big snooze is creating chaos to self-sabotage" (10:25).
- Peter: "She spends so much time telling you how powerful and dangerous this knowledge is that you're fully invested by the time she gives the actual advice" (13:43).
6. Examination of Sincero's Previous Work: "The Straight Girl's Guide to Sleeping With Chicks"
The discussion shifts to Sincero's first book, published in 2005, titled The Straight Girl's Guide to Sleeping With Chicks. The hosts condemn the book for its homophobic undertones and misleading content.
Key Criticisms:
- Promotion of non-consensual and manipulative tactics for engaging with women of the same sex (50:24-53:13).
- Misrepresentation of bisexuality and lesbian identities, including the use of derogatory and fabricated terms (55:16-56:43).
- Inclusion of fictional characters as examples, such as Xena, to falsely depict lesbian relationships (49:06-50:13).
Notable Quotes:
- Michael: "This is vile. It's just like, yeah, women don't suspect you." (51:56)
- Peter: "This is really bad." (51:09)
7. General Criticisms of the Book's Writing and Approach
Both hosts agree that Sincero's writing is disorganized, unfunny, and lacks substantive advice. They highlight the use of random anecdotes, poor grammar, and a lack of clarity in conveying meaningful insights.
Notable Quotes:
- Michael: "She's spitting truths" sarcastically (51:27).
- Peter: "It's not well written. It's not really advice. It's not really humor. It's not really insight." (58:10).
8. Societal Impacts and Broader Implications
The hosts express concern over the societal corrosion caused by such self-help books. They argue that books like Sincero's propagate harmful ideologies, such as victim-blaming and unrealistic financial advice, furthering the divide and exacerbating mental health issues.
Notable Quotes:
- Peter: "You're a rich person being like, it's like so good to be rich. I'm just gonna tell you all the ways it's gonna be rich." (33:03).
- Michael: "If you sort of try to boil down her financial advice into one thing, it's very clearly go into debt because that will put you in a more aggressive mindset." (32:24).
9. Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In wrapping up, Michael and Peter reiterate their disdain for Jen Sincero's approach in both of her books. They caution listeners about the detrimental effects such literature can have on individuals' mental health and financial well-being. The episode underscores the importance of critical thinking when engaging with self-help content and highlights the potential harm of misguided advice.
Notable Quotes:
- Peter: "It's such toxic fucking poison." (32:24).
- Michael: "I would not" (58:40) – referring to discussing problematic content further.
Summary
If Books Could Kill's episode "You Are A Badass" offers a scathing critique of Jen Sincero's self-help books, particularly focusing on her misuse of the Law of Attraction, victim-blaming narratives, flawed financial advice, and problematic representations of sexuality. Through witty banter and sharp analysis, hosts Michael and Peter expose the underlying flaws and societal dangers posed by such literature, urging listeners to approach self-help advice with skepticism and informed judgment.