SELF-MASTERY

Self-help books don’t help

The flaws common to many self-help books

I do not hate all self-help books, in fact I like several. But the fact that I like a few for the millions that exist is hardly a ringing endorsement of the industry (accepting that I might not have read every single one). And I fully support the concept of self-help books. The idea of someone writing something to help others, to do something better or overcome an obstacle in their lives, is highly laudable.

Easily the best title and cover for a self-help book

So what is wrong with them?

1. Over-promise. I suspect in most cases the authors are very well meaning and want to share their insight so others can realise the remarkable transformations that can be achieved with 'positive thinking' or whatever. Somewhere along the way however it became a business (the moment they walked into a publishers?) and then in come the 'sellers’. They want and need to market the book so it sells as many copies as possible. They will get hundreds of books in their inboxes and very few have genuine potential. So like the ‘X-factor’ business model they do whatever they can to shift stock as quickly as possible (ongoing book promotion costs money) and nothing to sustain sales or build the skill or reputation of the author. If people buy something for the wrong reasons they have still bought…