Self-Help Nation

Self-help books have been arund for years. Some are practical: DIY (Do-It-Yourself) books and videos. But others promise the world, when experience and circumstances dictate otherwise.This is the case of a social phenomenon known as “The Secret,” which in its day, promised to make all wrongs better. Hard times, depression, even physical ailments were no challenge for this self-help method that guarantees results – positive results, and in some cases, success.

The Pros

The virtue of self-help books has nothing to do with helping yourself. It has more to do with being receptive to “someone else’s advice.” We all have the experience of being overwhelmed or even blinded by extenuating or extraordinary circumstances that make it difficult for us to understand. Throughout history, humankind has come to grips with many complicated situations. Some say that the “secret” is positive thinking, reinforcement, positive energy, feelings, actions. But others believe that positive thinking and optimism are only a part of the big picture.

Self-help books offer a positive outlook on life, when times are tough. Positive-thinking and positive attitudes surely enhance our rehabilitation and even might avoid worse circumstances.

The Cons

But one thing is “positive reinforcement or support” and quite another a cure-all for the disease, physical/mental ailment or difficult situation we wish to resolve.

Self- help books, videos, etc. have been around for years. All of them promise results, but the proof is in the pudding. Whereas, self-help books promise or guarantee positive results regarding such practices as “thinking, feeling and believing” in oneself, real medical solutions such as medicine, therapy, rehabilitation, even religion seem to be much more effective when it comes to curing.

Many critics of self-help books and methods cite the negative effects of promising too much. Self-help books tend to “get your hopes up,” and when the desired effect fails to produce itself, people tend to suffer from severe depression or outright give up on life, on finding the right solution.

Another critique describes how authors of self-help books and motivational speakers seem to make excessive amounts of money by offering conferences, book signings and “positive” public speeches that have little to do with the reality at hand or the weakness of our human condition.

We invite you to examine the pros and cons of this issue, by watching the following video regarding the debate about self-help books and videos:

Things to think about..

Think about the following questions:

6. If there was an area that you would like to improve in, what would it be? How would you go about improving, or turning that weakness into a strength?

Glossary

to come to grips with (v): to deal with a situation in a mature way.

DIY (n.): do-it-yourself; a genre of books that teach you how to do things on your own.

to promise the world (v): to promise immediate and very positive results.

overwhelmed (adj.): overcome with emotion.

extenuating (adj.): lessening the effect or impact; ie. extenuating circumstances (mitigating factors)

to enhance (v.): to embellish, to improve the appearance or performance of something.

to get your hopes up (v): to have great expectations or hopes regarding the outcome or result.

outlook (n.): the prevision or forecast; the panorama or status of a situation