A Better Life for Only $24.95??? (Results May Vary)

First off, let me note that the purpose of this article is not to bash self-help books. Although the title of the article may imply that my intent is to do so, it is not. However, self-help books have their value and their limitations and it is important to understand both before spending hundreds of dollars on them with the hope that doing so will lead to a better life.

There was a time when I was addicted to self-help books. Ever committed to my own personal growth, I sought the wisdom of those who seemed to possess the answers to some of my lingering questions, which spanned a variety of subjects ranging from careers to relationships. I felt a "rush" whenever I made my way to the self-help section of a bookstore, and in the end I typically walked away with $25-$150 less in my pocketbook and an unrealistically high level of hope that the keys to happiness and fulfillment could be found somewhere on the pages of my new purchases.

Admittedly, there are some extremely well-written self-help books out there, along with many more that range from mediocre to fairly good. I won't bother naming names, because my intent is not to promote or demote the work of any particular author. What it took me time to understand though was how much "self" is required to make a self-help book worthwhile. In other words, a self-help book really does require that you do the work to make things better for yourself.

Some authors get this point across by developing a workbook or "companion book" with exercises for readers to complete so that they can begin to put certain concepts in motion and make the transition from passive readers to persons of action. But the bottom line is that change cannot really come from a book. It must come from within.

Those who author self-help books are human just like the rest of us. Many struggle with issues such as low self-esteem, domestic violence, divorce, rebellious children and other life challenges. When we put too much faith in their ability to bring about a positive change in our lives, we set ourselves up for disappointment.