title: Asshole: How I Got Rich & Happy by Not Giving a Damn About Anyone & How You Can, Too
author:  Martin Kihn 
description: 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. <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  A$$HOLE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ALSO BY MARTIN KIHN
  
  
  _House of Lies_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A$$HOLE
  
  
  How I Got Rich and Happy
  
  
  By Not Giving a Damn About Anyone,
  
  
  And How You Can Too!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © 2008 by Martin Kihn
  
  
  All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by
  mimeograph or any other means, without permission. For information, address
  Writers House LLC at 21 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10010.
  
  
  
  
  
  ISBN 978-0-7867-5374-1
  
  
  Distributed by Argo Navis Author Services
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _For my parents,  
  who did not raise an asshole;  
  and for my wife,  
  who had to live with one._
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Contents
  
  
  [Author’s Note](part0006.html#an-01)
  
  
  [INTRODUCTION](part0008.html#ind-01)
  
  
  [PREPARATION](part0009.html#pre-01)
  
  
  [STEP ONE: Keep Your Eye on the (Ass)Hole, Not the Donut](part0010.html#ch-01)
  
  
  [STEP TWO: Get a Life [Coach]](part0011.html#ch-02)
  
  
  [STEP THREE: Act As If](part0012.html#ch-03)
  
  
  [STEP FOUR: Think Win-Lose](part0013.html#ch-04)
  
  
  [STEP FIVE: Pract