A Civil World. Off-topic discussions on a variety of topics. > Time For a Coffee Break!

Do you read self-help books?

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NEDESAPIO:
Why do you think there are so many self-help or self-improvement books on the market today?  Why is it that most every famous beautiful woman from Sophia Loren to Suzanne Somers feels the need to write at least one book, not about beauty or fashion, but about her "philosophy" of life?  And then there are those little books with titles like "50 Things That Really Matter" that you can buy at Kohl's or Home Goods.  Does anyone here like reading these books?  Do any of you learn anything useful from them?  I'd honestly like to know.

This New Year's I was staying with some relatives.  In the guest bedroom is a bookcase full of self-help books, most of which belong to my aunt.  I had brought two books of my own with me; one was an art book, and the other was a volume of Sherlock Holmes stories.  I'll say one thing for the self-help books:  they're magnetic.  They have a way of drawing you to read them, whether you really want to or not.  But I found that the more I read of these books, the more confused and depressed I became, and the more I felt I was wasting time -- so eventually I went back to the Pre-Raphaelites and Conan Doyle.

So, do you read self-help books and why?

blue2000:
I love self-help books!  ;D ;D ;D
As you said, they are very magnetic - they are meant to be - since they need to attract readers, they need to give you the impression right away that YOU have the problem they are talking about - and you need their help, FAST! If it is a common problem, or they can make it sound that way, they can sell a lot of books.

I think if you are honestly happy with your life, or you aren't the kind of person to obsess over problems, it isn't surprising that they would depress you. You really wouldn't want to know that someone thinks you have problems!

Personally, I have health problems (one of them being a book addiction :D), and I'm the type of person who obsesses over this stuff, so I see a new book and I think "Oooo, cool! I wonder what they have to say about it?"

Sometimes they actually do have something new to say, sometimes not.

I don't read much of the celebrity books. I get the impression that they are trying to sell you on their image rather than a solution to any normal problem. "I'm rich, gorgeous, and I have a perfect life!  Buy my book and find out how to be just like meeee!!!!"
I really don't need someone to tell me that I'm poor, ugly, and totally worthless compared to them. Then I'd have to buy the books that talk about "finding your inner beauty", "financial sucess for pennies", and "fantastic career opportunities, in only minutes a day!".
Do you know how many of those are out there?? I'd never finish!!!

Lisbeth:
I read them sometimes.

I avoid ones by celebrities like the plague, but I do like such books about relationships (if they are not of the "he's just not that into you" or the "Rules" sort of thing) and about business success. 

For example, I read several of Susan Forward's (these include Toxic Parents) and some others that discuss relationships from a psychological point of view. I also read Living Single in a Couple's World by Xavier Amador and Judith Kiersky (all are psychologists).

NEDESAPIO:
Keenreader:  Actually, I have read some of Lillian Glass' books (like Toxic People) and found them very interesting and helpful.  If the author has real credentials (Glass, of course, has a Phd.) I tend not to feel I'm wasting my time by reading the book.  But I find the celebrity-authored books too superficial and pie-in-the-sky.  The same goes for those well-intentioned booklets with titles like "50 Things That Really Matter"; in fact, I could easily imagine a parody of one of those books.

ccnumber4:
I read them.  But I read almost every other type of book, as well.  I have found some to be extremely helpful in my life and some to be just plain silly.  I just finished Max Lucado's "The Cure for the Common Life," although I categorize that more in the Spirituality genre than Self-Help.  I picked it up on a whim when I was searching for a C.S. Lewis book.  It sat around on the shelf for about 3 months, until I took it on the plane with me.  I was surprised to find that it had very timely info for where I am at in my life. 

Had I read it several months ago when I first bought it, it would not have impacted me in the slightest.  I have also read relationship books, career guidance / business books and religious / spiritual guidance books.  I enjoy them, but no more than any other genre I am currently in the mood for.   

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