Acknowledgments

I feel lucky to live in an age where the no-fucks-given antics of public figures, as well as the occasional common man, are broadcast far and wide. In no particular order, I would like to thank these members of the Not Giving a Fuck Hall of Fame^* for inspiring me every day as I wrote this book:

The Not Giving a Fuck Hall of Fame

October 3, 1992: Sinéad O’Connor rips up a picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live.

January 20, 2015: Ruth Bader Ginsburg falls asleep at the State of the Union… because she was drunk.

July 25, 1965: Dylan goes electric.

September 13, 2009: “Imma let you finish” at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, feat. Kanye West.

February 28, 2011: Charlie Sheen appears on the Today show, demands $3 million per episode of Two and a Half Men, and claims to have “tiger blood” DNA.

June 7, 1993: Prince changes his name to an unpronounceable symbol in order to breach his contract with Warner Brothers.

December 15, 2011: RIP Christopher Hitchens, giver of no fucks.

March 10, 2003: Natalie Maines tells an audience in London that the Dixie Chicks “are ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.”

October 19, 2015: Passenger allegedly strangles a woman on Southwest Airlines for leaning her seat-back on him.*

February 16, 2007: Britney Spears shaves her head, gets tattooed, and one week later attacks a car with an umbrella.

October 21, 1992: Madonna publishes a coffee-table book of erotic photos called Sex, which features her then boyfriend… Vanilla Ice.

September 21, 2015: Pizza Rat doesn’t give a fuck.*

My husband, Judd Harris, gives the vast majority of his fucks to me on a daily basis. Not only that, he’s been coaching me to live my best life since 1999. He is the fucking best.

My agent, Jennifer Joel, is the epitome of sophistication and class, so her seal of approval on this project meant a lot to me. Her support has been complete and unwavering from the get-go. She’s a fucking star.

My editor, Michael Szczerban, saved me from myself on any number of pages and did so on the tightest of deadlines and with great aplomb. He is both a brilliant editor and a really fucking good guy.

Many folks at Little, Brown and ICM—including but not limited to Ben Allen, Reagan Arthur, Sabrina Callahan, Meghan Deans, Nicole Dewey, Liz Farrell, Lauren Harms, Sarah Haugen, Andy LeCount, Charles McCrory, Garrett McGrath, Madeleine Osborn, Miriam Parker, Tracy Roe, Cheryl Smith, and Tracy Williams—gave their fucks liberally to all aspects of this book’s publication. Jane Sturrock at Quercus UK, Frederika Van Traa of Kosmos in Holland, Mariana Rolier from Rocco in Brazil, and Ulrike von Stenglin from Ullstein Verlag in Germany led the international charge. Go, Team NGAF!

My parents didn’t flinch at the title. My grandmother, however, was told I was writing a book about ducks.

Finally, The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck wouldn’t have been so comprehensive without the contributions of hundreds of people all over the world who responded to my anonymous survey and who shall therefore remain anonymous. There were also a few dozen friends and family members who offered inspiration along the way, and who would probably prefer to remain anonymous. I can respect that.

Once you read the book, you’ll know who you are—and know that I thank you.