On Being Awesome

A Unified Theory of How Not to Suck

By: Nick Riggle

Narrated by: Nick Riggle

A lively philosophical exploration of what it means to be awesome and not suck, and a plea for more awesomeness in our personal, social, and public lives

In this engaging, fun, and astute investigation of a thoroughly contemporary condition, philosopher and former pro skater Nick Riggle argues that our collective interest in being awesome (and not sucking) marks a new era in American culture, one that is shaped by relatively recent social, political, and technological shifts.

At the core of his work is the idea that awesome people are exemplars of social creativity. We suck when we foil their attempts at creative community building. To be down, game, chill, basic, wack, or a preference dictator are just a handful of ways we can create, respond to, or fail to take up social openings in the office, in public, or with our friends and loved ones.

What can the invention of the high five and the history of "cool" tell us about the origins of awesome? Can introverts be awesome? How do our expectations of awesome relate to race, gender, and sexuality? How is our desire for awesomeness shaping our cultural landscape - art, altruism, athletics, and public life? These are just a few of the questions Riggle explores in this accessible, philosophical road trip through the ethos of our time.

On Being Awesome articulates a singular and gripping cultural ideal and provides a new and inspiring framework for understanding friendship, success, and happiness in our everyday lives.

Bonus PDF included with awesomeness/suckiness chart

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2017 Nick Riggle (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"What is the opposite of an asshole? It’s the ‘awesome’ person who goes off script in the usual interactions, creating new opportunities for creative expression and social communion. Nick Riggle’s fun book is ‘awesome’ by its own definition. But don’t miss its profound ambition, which is to show how philosophy unearths the structure of ordinary language, defines the meaning of life in routine business, and poses the question of how best to live.” (Aaron James, author of Assholes: A Theory)

“It’s…hard to imagine that anyone else has thought so deeply about the nature of awesomeness: its meaning, its importance, and the ways that true awesomeness is under threat. In On Being Awesome, Riggle offers a careful dissection of the psycho-philosophical categories of sucking…but the book also works as a practical, and surprisingly inspiring, guide to better living.” (Scientific American Mind)

“A deceptively fun-loving tour of philosophy’s most ancient question: how best to live. Riggle uses modern jargon to apply timeless philosophical truths to today’s problems.” (Success Magazine)

It helped me to express awesomeness everyday

It has the argument and the counter argument for the subject of awesomeness and it proves it’s necessity in every day life.

Learn how to stop being a prick!!!

if you're the kind of A hole that holds up traffic, is lame. in the brain, and sucks at being a human, than do us all a favor and read this twice! This is a no brainer for me because, I'm the F N shit. So do the world a favor and take yourself out of your misery wack ass suckster!

Awesome book! Gave me so many ideas

There are a few criteria by which I judge a piece of media as extra awesome -

Can it be digested by a non-expert? Yes! This is super accessible and makes philosophical/ethical concepts easy to discuss with people who don't think about them for a living (like me! I'm not a philosopher).

Does it give me ideas? Yes! I wrote down dozens of notes of content I want to make or conversations I want to have based on concepts the book introduces.

Will I recommend it? Yes! The fun title especially makes it easy to suggest to people and I already know a few people who will not hear the end of it till they pick up a copy (or downloads) of the book themselves.

Of note - the analysis of social interactions (especially about starting social openings) helped me introspect on my own experience and I think it will be a useful framework to discuss in the workshops I run! For that I am very grateful.