Recommended Self-Help Books
The appetite for self-help books has led to the publication of over 2,000 new self-help books a year. As a society, we have become more focused on self improvement than at any other time in history. Advances in the scientific study of human behaviour have brought extensive information on better ways to raise your children, to lose weight, to improve relationships, to become a leader in the workplace, and to improve your personal effectiveness and happiness.
Does Reading Self-Help Books Work?
It depends on the severity of the concern and the quality of the book. For some issues, especially mild concerns, reading a book is the ideal way to learn about what to do. For other, more complicated problems, there is nothing better than talking to a counsellor, a doctor, a teacher, or a consultant who can address your particular concern with expertise and encouragement. Asking a trusted professional which books to read is a good way to sift through the many choices. Many counsellors will suggest self-help material to increase the effectiveness of the counselling. Practice through self-help exercises between sessions usually leads to quicker results (Burns, 1994).
Which Self-Help Books Are Worth Reading?
How do you know if the book's information is reliable and of high quality? Of the more than 2,000 new self-help books published each year only 5% have research to document their effectiveness (Rosen, 1993). This is an astounding figure. Imagine what would happen if 95% of the Do-It-Yourself books on installing Electrical Wiring in your house were not critiqued by a certified electrician to ensure proper, safe advice on wiring!!
The promotion of self-help books by celebrities like Oprah or books written by high profile people like Dr. Phil, or John Gray do not guarantee they are effective or well researched either. The authors of The Authoritative Guide to Self-Help Resources in Mental Health (Norcross et. al., 2003) suggest the following strategies for selecting a good self help book:
- Don't judge a book by its glitzy cover, catchy title or advertisements.
- Avoid books which make grandiose claims. If it sounds too good to be true it likely is.
- Examine if there is research evidence reported in the book.
- Books that focus on one problem tend to be better than those that claim to help all problems.
- Avoid psycho-babble and slick writing.
- Check out the author's professional education and credentials.
- Distinguish between balanced information and subtle marketing.
Source Line's Self-Help Book Ratings
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Excellent – A must read – Meets all requirements |
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Very Good – A very worthwhile read |
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Good – An OK book but there are better |
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Fair – Not worth it – More fluff than substance |
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Poor – Avoid these books – Have some misleading info and advice |
