Self-help
From Freepedia
Though the term self-help can refer to any case whereby an individual or a group betters themselves economically, intellectually or emotionally, the connotations of the phrase have come to apply particularly to psychological or psychotherapeutic nostrums, often purveyed through the popular genre of the "self-help" book. Sometimes writers refer to a "self-help movement", though this movement exists independently from self-help books.
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Self-help marketplace, and criticisms
Group and corporate aid for the "seeker" has also moved into the "self-help" marketplace, with LGATs and therapy systems ready with more or less pre-packaged solutions to instruct folk seeking their own individual betterment.
Compare with other motivational groups that are sometimes called cults:
Though remaining popular, self-help books and programs have been criticized as offering "easy answers" to difficult personal problems. According to this view, the reader or participant receives the equivalent of a placebo while the writer and publisher collect the profits. The book God is My Broker asserts, "The only way to get rich from a self-help book is to write one." Self help books have also been criticised for containing pseudoscientific assertions that tend to mislead the consumer.
History
The first "self-help" book was - indeed - titled "Self-Help". It was written by Samuel Smiles (1812-1904) and was published in 1859. Its opening sentence is: "Heaven helps those who help themselves", which is often quoted but rarely referenced. The author was of a progressive political bent.
See also
Resources
Web books
- Psychological Self-Help; by Clayton E. Tucker-Ladd; Mental Health Net. Click here to turn directly to the section on procrastination.
- Free eBook of Self-Help, by Samuel Smiles at Project Gutenberg The first self-help book, published in 1859.
Web articles
- Criticism of Self Help Article at Self Help Basics
- How to change a habit
Websites
- A collection of self help articles to enhance your personal development and accelerate your journey toward abundance and happiness
Books
- Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical, & Financial Destiny; by Anthony Robbins. Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, 1991. ISBN 0671727346
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity; by David Allen. Viking Adult, 2001. ISBN 0670899240
- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People; by Stephen Covey. Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, 2004. ISBN 0743272455
- Unlimited Power: The New Science of Personal Achievement; by Anthony Robbins. Random House Publishing Group, 1987. ISBN 0449902803
