I love a good self-help book. They are terrific at making you feel that if you just do this one thing, all your troubles will resolve, your personality will improve and those millions you should be making will flow right to you. Overall the tone is hopeful, encouraging and enthusiastic, exactly what we need in the current world.
There’s something a little pollyanna-like about them, with their focus on the individual rather than any form of community. If the individual gets it right, then everything else will fall into place, they seem to say.
And yet, I enjoy them, even when I don’t believe them. I’ve read quite a few through the years and looking at my shelf many of them did not leave any impression on me. So it’s probably time to revisit some.
The other type of book I have lots of are writing books, as in books about the craft and practice of writing. Some have a lot of overlap with the self-help books as they focus on mental preparation and attitude. They all promise that if you do this thing, follow this process, you’ll achieve your goals.
I intend to write a few reviews of various books, from the ones that are truly helpful, to those that are thin ideas. My aim is not to poke fun, though that might happen in a few cases, but to see if I can find the grain of truth, the one helpful thing in each book.
I’m spreading the net wide and including books written about self-help, writing, purpose and attitude. Some authors have lots of letters after their names, some have none.
Have your say!