Asshole: How I Got Rich & Happy by Not Giving a Damn About Anyone & How You Can, Too (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This strange, semi-parodic business self-help memoir from author and journalist Kihn (formerly of Spy magazine) details the writer's attempt to throw off, at age 40, the nice-guy habits that were killing him ("defects like consideration, politeness, giving a fuck what you think") and discover the winning Asshole within. After setting some ground rules ("Things I Would Not Do," including substance abuse, adultery and smiling), Kihn finds himself a role model ("the Nemesis," a classic jerk at the office), a life coach (typical advice: "Walk bigger") and starts putting his philosophy into action. Laying out his narrative in ten steps, Kihn's "experiments" take him into the boxing ring, through dog training, into public confrontation and, naturally, toward wisdom, success and happiness. Kihn is generally funny, especially in goofy asides like "Meditation for Assholes" (affirmations include "I constantly feel a nameless dread which inspires me"), but, in keeping with the theme, he's often crude. Whether it works, ultimately, will depend on one's reaction to the ending, in which Kihn Learns a Valuable Lesson. Like an above-average Adam Sandler movie, this mix of racy humor and overt sentiment will probably get both a bigger audience, and less credit, than it deserves.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Praise for A$$hole:

“A$$hole is remarkably profane, laugh-out-loud funny, and surprisingly sentimental. Marty Kihn is one Grade A A$$hole.” —Rory Freedman, coauthor Skinny Bitch

“Prepare to be riveted and to laugh out loud. What’s it like when the nice guy finally decides to take the bull by the horns to become like those complete jerks who seem to get all the girls, all the cash, and all the glory? Through humor and vivid storytelling, Martin Kihn takes you through that journey until he discovers an astonishing lesson.” —John Alexander, author of How to Become an Alpha Male

“A$$hole is the funniest business book I’ve ever read, with Kihn starring as the world’s most loveable asshole. It is also remarkably useful in a sick sort of way. If you want to get rich through fear and intimidation, and don’t mind hurting people along the way, this is the book for you.” —Robert Sutton, author of New York Times bestseller The No Asshole Rule
--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (April 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767927265
• ISBN-13: 978-0767927260
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #361,164 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's definitely funny, but it has a soul too., April 28, 2008

By	M. Strong (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Martin Kihn didn't set out to write the next War and Peace, but that didn't stop him from lavishing some real care on the writing and character of this book. I read plenty of heavy stuff and this looked like it would be a nice book to read as a light-hearted breather. I got that, but I got more too.

The concept of Kihn's book is inherently attractive to anyone who's ever felt like they're being taken advantage of because they're just too nice. Kihn had that feeling and decided to do something about it by making himself into this book's title character. That's the first thing that sets this book apart from a typical farce, it taps into an anxiety that is all too familiar for a lot of us.

The second thing that makes this book a lot better than it might have been is how carefully Kihn cultivates a sense of going on an existential journey. He hires guides and advisers, finally stumbling upon an acting coach as his most successful "guru." As you read, you pick up on subtle changes in tone as Kihn transforms himself from Beta male to the not-so-kind leader of the pack. Kihn packs the book with one funny scenario and description after another, but he always holds onto the core philosophical question about whether nice guys do really finish last. To find out the answer, you'll just have to read the book.

It's Kihn's ability to successfully marry the shallow with the deep that lifts this book above its station. So why just four stars? Well, it's still a book about attempting to be a jerk to make your life better. We have to leave some room for War and Peace.

Recommended for anyone looking for a light and funny read with a soul who can handle a generous helping of vulgarity along the way.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a parody, not a scientific essay, May 17, 2008

By	Busy Me - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book isn't what I expected. I've read all of the how-to-deal-with-a-corporate-bully books. This time, I wanted one written by a bully to see how they think and why they bully nice people like me. This is a humorous, part fiction, part embellishment, part real life, part movie script parody of a "nice guy" worker trying to climb the corporate ladder while the "mean guy" steps all over him and gets ahead. The "nice guy" studies the "mean guy's" habits which seem to work at putting him higher on the corporate ladder while the "nice guy" is left behind. The "nice guy" adopts the "mean guy's" habits through various means which is pretty funny. Once I figured out that it wasn't what I wanted, I kept reading anyway because it was a good laugh. As an aside, my husband is kind of a "mean guy" at work and sometimes at home. I work with him, so I know that he is mean at work. I was laughing out loud as we were taking a long road trip, so I started reading him a passage from the book on how "mean guys" interrupt and talk over people to gain control of a conversation. Before I could get to the second paragraph about interrupting, my husband interrupted me and yelled, "How long is this going to take? I really don't like the title of that book. It offends me, blah, blah, blah." When he finally finished, I explained that it's only two paragraphs and it was funny and I asked if I could continue. He agreed, so I continued reading the passage when he interrupted me again, this time louder to tell me he interrupts me because I never get to the point. I repeated I had only one sentence left to read of the two paragraphs. He sighed and let me continue. Then I finally got to the part about a "real mean guy" interrupts constantly and gets louder with each interruption. He then yelled, "The reason I interrupt is because I don't like you holding me hostage while you read me this (expletive deleted)." I looked at him and said, "I'm right here, you don't need to yell. We haven't spoken for the first 100 miles of this trip and we have 200 more to go. How am I holding you hostage? Do you have somewhere else to go outside of this car in the next 30 seconds?" He recognized himself as what he is. Hmmmmmmmmm. We both had a good laugh. If you want a "scientific" book on why mean people are the way they are and what you can do about it, read "Taming the Abrasive Manager" by Laura Crawshaw.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No More Mr. Nice Guy!, April 13, 2008

By	L. Oshansky (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Martin Kihn, the self-proclaimed former "nicest guy in the world", found himself 40, with no money in the bank, but luckily for us, an engagingly-wicked sense of humor. This book of the author's quest to challenge his nature and exceed the triumphs of the Alpha Male in the business world (instructions fully laid out), comes to an unexpectedly fable-like ending. A great read, especially for anyone interested in the ever-challenging daily life of a New Yorker!