Do self help books really help?

I've had a lot of help from them in the past, although it does depend on whether it's a good self-help book or a bad one. I also think that some people expect books of that nature to wave a magic wand and for all their problems to be solved just by the reading of the book and aren't prepared to put the effort into helping themselves. I've also been helped by well-written novels in the same way as you say.

Hiya margi, Am trying to read at the moment one of Joseph Murphy´s Books that is self help in some sort of way. Have to say it has a lot of logic in it. This kind of Book I usually read and read again for it to sink in. I have read one or two before won´t say which and I did not care much for them as like you said they were only telling me what I already knew anyway. But this one of Joseph Murphy´s is attention getting and will take me time to sit down and have time for me to take in what I am trying to pay attention to.xxx

I don't read many of these types of books. I don't often read them any more, but I used to read them a lot. They do mostly confirm what I already know, but it does give me a good feeling that I was able to know something that other people don't necessarily know.

I have read a few in the past and yes a few things here and there where useful but like you I never learnt any thing about my self than I already knew...and after so many years of living I think I know my self pretty well and if I feel down or depressed I give my self a good talking to and I pull my self out of it! and yes reading about human nature teach us a lot!

Hi, Marguicha! I've read several self-help books too. You are right that most of the things they say are obvious and well known. But these are things that we often forget and I think that we need a reminder. We need also help to overcome many problems and it's good to be offered some tips how to do it. I should say that such books were useful for me a couple of times. But we really have to act, follow the instructions and then we could say if a teaching is good or not.

Yes, I do read them a lot. Maybe, you are not learning much anymore from reading them because you already have a rich amount of experience and reads. As for me, I learn a lot from reading them as I am just starting to carve my way into the real world of responsibility. That's the disadvantage of being young, you have to work hard to learn how to go through life. That is where self help books come into play. I have read several self help books and they really get into me. I have read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dare to Fail, Books by Andrew Matthews and others. The problem is the execution of the principles that they say. As much as possible, I do follow the principles they say, but it stills is hard. Also, when I do get to read self help books, I try to be critical on some principles that they offer and sometimes I add up some ideas of mine with those ideas that the books present to suit me up appropriately. Well, in the end, those self help books can't help you out because it is only you who can really decide for yourself.

I would say that most self-help books are only going to tell you what you aleady accept. Those things that you don't want to accept, the mind will simply blank out. In my opinion, it is only experience that can make a difference in your life. Experience that comes from self-reflection through meditation practices and by "facing our demons" if we have any. I like to read informative books, and not books that give advice. For instance, I have a book on Zen (I am a practitioner). It has a few pages that talks of meditation, and then it is simply full of what people have found out about themselves and what enlightenments they have gotten through their own meditative practices. Zen books are inspiring, but never tell me anything I don't already know. In fact any Zen master would tell me that I already know my true nature, it is just that I need to uncover what I already know.. _Derek

Yes i do read a lot of self help books.It surely helps if you have the mind to accept the suggestion and act upon it. Merely read a self help book and keeping quiet wont help.It takes some efforts on our part to change our negative traits and become successful in life

hi friend, I think it really depends, it's helpful if the topic is something you know nothing of, like when I was young, I read " how to develop a super power memory", I did not really had one after reading the book but certain principles I could still apply even today, some are useless or some just in a way affirms what you already know

I used to read them many years ago, but I found that they were little to no help to me at all. They all pretty much said the same things, although some might have been worded a little differently. I guess if we really want to help ourselves we have to find another way to do it.

i always like reading anything inspirational..i love self-help books..they are very interesting for me..some are the same and related to what i have already known or should be about myself but still i always love reading anything like it..

Self help books? Like those personality improvement books or how to be financially successful books? Well, i've read some they were enjoyable to read. Not all of them. We have to choose the author who can best tell us about these self help ideas.

There's many of self help books in the market, some is good and some is just copycat. I read some self help books, esp from Dale Carnegie, his books are simple, yet it's meaningful and pretty helpful. Maybe you can try 'em.

Book is the perfect companion of each and every man. who have none in this world there is always book support you in every steps, every minute of life. because, book is fulfill our expectations and it never ditch you.

Well, it depends on what type of Self Help book you are refering too as there are many different kinds out there. I know I have read a lot of different kinds and some of them were stuff that did not really help, while others shed a little light and insight on what is going on, or things I might want to consider to help me in the situations I am going thru. A lot of people probably never consider one of the Best Self Help books we can read and own, and for me that is the Bible, and a great Self Help for any situation a person could go thru.

I have read quite a few self help books and sometimes I feel disappointed when I finish the book, because I don't feel that I have learned anything new. That happens when the book only or mostly contains things that I have heard before or things that I have experienced myself. Sometimes I think that I could have spent my time on something better On the other hand I can't say that about every self help book, and I think that some of them have been useful or have inspired me to see things from a different perspective.

I don't really read the self help books very much. I did read a couple of books about management when I first started in the field, but to be honest, I really didn't get a lot out of them. I did better with the rules and regulations within the company and then I knew more where I stood and how I could help the people that worked with me to excel. Maybe I have just never found one for me or had an issue where I felt I needed guidance...oh wait...there was one!!!! "How to raise a teenager and what to do if you couldn't" It had some pretty decent info and perspectives but not enough to make me recommend it to others..LOL.

You know, I think that there are valuable lessons that can be gotten from any book that we read and for that reason, self-help books are not my favorite genre of book to read, but I will read them occasionally because of the fact that there are so many different books in that genre. I will typically take small lessons from them, but really nothing that makes a huge impact on the life that I am and will be leading in the future.

I have only read one that really has changed my way of thinking. It was a book about becoming more positive in life and I have come a long way with it. It helped me so much! Its called Your Better Life Now.

Yes self reading books help a lot but yet I do not any of them with me at present.