Alpha Male Strategies: How to Be an Asshole

I’ll admit, I winced at the title. *How to Be an Asshole* isn’t exactly subtle, but after listening, I get it: this audiobook isn’t about being a jerk for the sake of it—it’s about shedding the social conditioning that turns men into doormats. Cory Smith’s arguments are polarizing (his dismissal of ‘beta’ behaviors as inherently weak will rile some listeners), but his tactical advice is undeniably sharp. The section on ‘frame control’—how to dictate the emotional tone of any interaction—alone is worth the price of admission. I found myself pausing to take notes, especially during his breakdown of how to handle tests and shit-tests in conversations. Don Keedik’s performance is a standout. His voice has this *weight*—like a guy who’s spent years in boardrooms and bars, not a studio. He doesn’t overperform; he lets the material’s edge speak for itself. My only critique? The production could’ve used tighter editing in a few spots where Keedik’s breath sounds are distractingly loud. And while Smith’s ‘asshole’ framing is intentional, the lack of nuance in some chapters (e.g., dismissing vulnerability as *always* a weakness) feels reductive. Still, for men who’ve been burned by playing nice, this is a masterclass in flipping the script. Just don’t expect warm fuzzies—this is a scalpel, not a teddy bear.