Life is a nasty, mean, and straight-up savage beast. But, if it's constantly coming at you with all that it's got, why can't you return the favor? In a genre filled with inspiration, optimism, and positivity, Erika Ryles gets down and dirty explaining the curveballs that life throws at us, how not to give a sh*t about them, and not be a jackass while doing so. This self-help book doesn't guarantee that all the problems in your life will be resolved after one read, nor does it tell you that life is an endless downpour of tragedy, betrayal, and deception. It only lets you see things as they truly are from the perspective of someone who has seen it all.

How would you feel if someone kept punching you in the face? I know I would want to fight back. This is what life does. So, why don't we tell it to back off and handle it like a show pony? How to Not Give a Shit and Not Be a Dumb Ass in the Process is a short yet powerful book from Erika Ryles, who doesn't sugarcoat anything. She tells it like it is, and it is nasty. A fresh take on the self-help genre, Erika Ryles doesn't tell you to embrace the power of positivity. We have heard this a million times before. Instead, she opens your eyes to the world around you, and why you need to start taking control instead of giving it away. Erika emphasizes the realization and remedy of one of the fundamental flaws in our mindset: No one stops you from achieving anything, except you. While some doubt they'll ever make it, Erika serves as a reminder that your dreams can still be realized. Most of us have lost touch with our playful inner child under the crushing weight of the world's troubles and the grueling reality of responsibilities. Some may have even forgotten what carefree happiness and laughter flowing from one's soul feels like. Our happy places that were once a safe mental escape of peace and tranquility, are in desperate need of rehab because we still carry inescapable baggage and sand there, too. We all carry a lot of burdens on our way to the finish line. Take control of your destiny and not be a bystander to the very people, things, or events trying to rob you blind of any happiness. Are you ready to cut loose some dead weight to get to your first place?

Erika P. Ryles is a serial entrepreneur, visionary thought leader, spiritual life coach and the author of How to Not Give a Shit and Not Be a Dumb Ass in the Process: The Ultimate Handbook on Being a Better Human. She has been working for years in many sectors of business, but now provides extensive counseling in needed areas—such as entrepreneurship, mental health, LGBT+ and socioeconomic issues. As an avid reader with an acute focus on international affairs and human security, Erika has covered her fair share of ground academically, while circumnavigating the brutal realities of her own existence. Although Erika is very grateful and proud of her academic and career accomplishments, none of these things matter to her against her passion for helping humanity find its inherent peace. She has been a passenger on a lengthy rollercoaster ride of triumphs and harsh failures, which has granted her a firm grasp on the ladder in the chaos we call life. It is said that the development of a character in a story comes not from when they are achieving their highest accomplishments, but when they are experiencing the harshest of circumstances. Life is infamous for hitting us below the belt, especially when we least expect it. Erika has gone through a platter of experiences, from being bullied as a smart kid, being surrounded by abusive people, experiencing betrayals from her loved ones to just plain terrible luck. Erika has tasted all sorts of failures but her astute abilities allow her to still stand tall. The secret was never in her story, but in her mindset. It is because of unfavorable events in life that pushes us to dig deep within ourselves and find our gems. Carbon only turns to diamonds through extreme compression over a vast period of time. With a different perspective on life, Erika elaborates not on how it can be lived with an optimistic and positive attitude but on the engagement with and embracing of the dark and gritty truths that we all choose to hide in our closets. We may not like addressing these matters, but that is precisely why Erika brings them to the forefront of the conversation. The world is cruel but we don't stop being good human beings. We have to take this life for what it is and change it to reflect what we want it to be.