<p>I noticed that in nearly every major bookstore (where I live), the departments of economics, management, business and related literature are starting to be filled up with 50-80% of not very academic-looking “self help” books, the titles of which often bear the tone of “How to become a Leader in 24 hours”, “How to Date Girls”, “The 7 Great Habits for Success”, “Stress and Time Management”, “This and that pop-pseudo-psychology therapy”, “How to be Happy in one Year!” etc.</p>
<p>Why is it like this?</p>
<p>Are people today in such a bad condition that they needs BOOKS on how to be human? </p>
<p>Or do I have to expect a huge amount of detachment in the world of corporations, management and business? A bunch of stressed, depressed, lifeless people?</p>
<p>I’m asking because althought I don’t have any practical/family background in the field, I decided to study Economics and Management at university (out of pure personal interest)… and seeing such kind of books now gives me the creeps…</p>
<p>It is because many people in this world are pathetic and can’t find a way out of very logical situations. Therefore they turn to a book to solve their problems. I quote a movie, “You can’t help yourself because yourself SUCKS!” How can you help yourself when your own mind, the great human mind, can’t get you out of your depression. These books are just a way to make money for the so-called “author gurus.” I say screw those books. Anyone is plenty capable of getting out of a funk!</p>
<p>Unfortunately we live in the world of the “quick fix” - perhaps as a result of our unique blend of capitalism and democracy (along with a zillion other factors), our society has become very self-centered and impatient, we believe that we are entitled to many social, economic, material, psychological, physical, educational (and so forth) opportunities that earlier generations fought and died for. We demand and expect fast solutions to our problems that affect all facets of our lives (social, economic, material, psychological, physical, educational and so forth). We live for the here and now with little thought for the future. We accumulate wealth by getting further in debt. At the same time, since we are surrounded by so much material wealth we have become blind to the fact that something is missing in our lives. Therefore, we turn to self help books in part to get fast “band-aid” solutions to all our problems, or we turn to them in an effort to find meaning to our shallow empty materialistic lives…</p>
<p>Self help books in turn are a huge business, they play on and feed off of our materialistic expectations and our emotional insecurities; and readers tend to believe that if someone wrote a book about it, it must be right… and when it’s not, they turn to the next guru in an effort to find THE solution to their particular problems. It is a vicious self-perpetuating cycle…</p>
<p>(putting sarcasm aside, however, there are many people who do suffer from depression or other very real problems and not of their own making. Books however, are not the solution for these people).</p>
<p>the world is also getting to be a much more complicated place, and some people lack certain skills to help them navigate this world (wow, I sound just like the back of one of those books, don’t I?). Unfortunately, the self-help books usually don’t work. I mean, most people trying to solve their problems have 4 or 5 books on the same subject. Is there really going to be that different topics covered in each one? You just need to have confidence.</p>
<p>The sad part is that many sections in bookstores are being gutted to make room for this garbage (like the literature, history, reference, & science sections).</p>
<p>I think scansmom more or less expressed my first impressions on such literature. </p>
<p>What I’m worried about is that the theories in such books seem to be an immature business… but are evolving into very complex systems that might be somehow a requirement for certain careers in the future (especially in business, leadership, etc.)</p>
<p>Indeed, I had a look at some chapters of books like “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman, and there seem to be some references in biological sciences. But all those theories… some of which are counter-intuitive… others which lead one (at least, myself) to find a number of contraddictions within the overall system:
If all billions of people who buy those books could solve problems and think positive, then why is there still so much war and suffering in the world?
“Social intelligence”, empathic rapport, blablabla… seems idealistic, but why is there still so much conflict between cultures, prejudice between societies?</p>
<p>Will the evolution of such selfhelp books one day lead to peace in the entire world?</p>
<p>Or will they (as all philosophies in history) become new, institutionalized forms of religion, the leaders of which will do everything possible to earn money on the emotional imbalances of their clients?
(see: Scientology… and well, with all respect, many other historical institutionalized religions)</p>
<p>I think all that helplessness comes from the combined fact of too many choices and too much free time, thus make life ten times more pressuring and difficult. . . </p>
<p>Read “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl. It’s called and “existential vacuum” in there, and a lot of his ideas make sense. It’s not a corny self-help book- it’s actually a fascinating memoir/psychology book. However, I think it helped me get through some difficult times more than any self-help book would.</p>
<p>many choices (i.e diversity) is the “fruit of life”. How can that cause helplessness.
In my opinion, all people have problems. And They try to solve those problems through the self help books; that’s all. But I think that what they should be doing is talking to someone about their problems and try to get help out of something that breathes instread of a book.</p>
<p>I know it’s hard to talk openly to someone, especially if it’s someone close to you. which is why I have never tried it. But that’s why psychiatrists are there; it’s easier to get an objective opinion from a professional who you are not related to.</p>
<p>lol… I read a useful quote
“The best way to earn something from a selfhelp book is to write and publish one.”</p>
<p>Well, even psychatrists, mental health professionals etc.
Aren’t we starting to take them too much for granted?
Where is all the personal responsibility of individuals?
Historically speaking, what did people do before “counsellors” existed?</p>
<p>I live in Europe and maybe therefore I’m not very used to the “go to the counselor”-mentality. I have heard that in USA there are counselors for everything, from school to relationships, etc. (I might almost consider a career in counseling since it’s truly very lucrative).
Coaches, trainers, etc.
Don’t you think it’s a bit exaggerated and a waste of money? </p>
<p>Economically speaking, “outsourcing” your personal health to others might be useful and improve your efficiency… but, I mean, it’s YOURSELF.
You must be autonomous, independent, self-sufficient!</p>
<p>What has happened to the individual human being’s capacity to think for himself?</p>
<p>IMHO the development of selfhelp and modern counseling bears a deep similarity with the institutional evolution of ancient religions…
I can forebode that those selfhelp gurus will become the next religious leaders in 100-200 years.</p>
<p>^ I’ve always wondwered why it’s so common to go to a shrink in the US. Over here there’s still what one could call a “social stigma” when it comes to seeking professional help like that. That has reflected bad on society, but too much of it, as in the US, is also bad.</p>