How To Choose A Self-Help Book
And the three self-help books that changed my life
According to the NPD BookScan, the self-help book market is booming, with more books entering the market than ever before.
But with all this choice, how can you be sure you are picking the right one?
One way could be to only buy books that are newly published, or you could choose only those that have a high review ranking. You may strike lucky, or you may find yourself spending your earnings on meaningless text that brings you no closer to finding peace.
The answer, is in fact a question.
Before selecting a self-help book you must first ask:
What am I struggling with?
It is only by understanding where you are in your life, what need you are searching, can you find the perfect self-help book. Yes you may still be daunted by the endless reams of books on that particular difficulty, but you would have increased your odds in finding a book where you find yourself highlighting sections, re-reading chapters and embedding real positive changes into your life.
Your struggle may not always be the same. I have had to ask myself this question numerous times in response to challenges I have faced at different times in my life.
The three books that put me on a better track
‘How to Get a Job You’ll Love’ by John Lees
Don’t let the 3.5 on Goodreads fool you. Originally published in 2001 it has been updated and re-published multiple times meaning it’s still applicable for today’s fast pace digital workplace.
The book takes you on a journey of your life choices, questioning the consciousness of those. It does this through various activities to fully understand what led you to the job you are in now, what qualities you hold and what qualities you admire.
How this book changed my life: In the late 00’s I felt trapped in my job with no clear career path. After a Google search on ‘how to find a job you love’, I unsurprisingly came across this book! When I was not even half way through reading, I realised my passion for business and the opportunities available to me could be furthered by obtaining a degree.
It is because of this book I got the confidence and direction to enrol for an Open University Business Degree.
‘The Chimp Paradox’ by Professor Steve Peters
This book gets scientific, but in a super easy to understand way, to give you the tools to know yourself, effectively communicate with others and to manage your emotions. It is full of helpful drawings and tips on how to manage many common challenges such as stress, anxiety or general low self-esteem.
How this book changed my life: Hours of my day were being stolen from me by my OCD; the continuous checking and re-checking of doors and electrical appliances, because my mind was telling me that I needed to check them again (despite knowing full well I had locked the door or switched off the oven).
Through Professor Peters’ words I learnt that my OCD was down to my Chimp’s repetitive thought patterns. I discovered how to neutralise my Chimp so that OCD would no longer take over my life, giving me my time back and reducing my stress.
‘The Universe Has Your Back’ by Gabrielle Bernstein
This is a spiritual guide on how we must have trust in the universe, whilst bringing depth to the saying everything happens for a reason. The book guides you into unlocking the pressures you put on yourself, and serves as a reminder that even if you are not okay now, you will be. It teaches you the art of how having a positive mindset brings positivity energy into your life, and that difficulties should be looked at as assignments or teachings in your life.
How this book changed my life: I suffered with envy, getting angry that things were not happening for me meaning I could not find joy in other people’s happiness. This was starting to impact my moods and was having a negative impact on my relationships.
Through this book, I learnt to let it all go, to open up to the universe and to feel content knowing that the Universe has a plan for me.
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