Talk:Self help

Where does Dr. Phil fit into the picture?
Does he has a bunch of books on marriage/relationships and weight loss? 02:12, 1 July 2009 (UTC)
 * He is a sad case in that he started as a proper psychologist, got his own TV show and now peddles shit. Some of his later stuff could go on here. 02:14, 1 July 2009 (UTC)

Scientific self help
Well, As everybody knows, Adding word "scientific" can also help in marketing, As some skeptic people consider it scientific and rational without digging for empirical research. I have read a list of scientific self-help books on LessWrong. Well, I trust people over there, But we can not take "trust" as an empirical research. Can anybody review following books? We can add section on books that are actually helpful. I'm open to discuss.


 * 1) http://lesswrong.com/lw/3nn/scientific_selfhelp_the_state_of_our_knowledge/
 * 2) http://lesswrong.com/lw/7k6/my_favorite_popular_scientific_selfhelp_books/


 * -- Mjainit (talk) 16:56, 16 January 2014 (UTC)

is Self help really such a bad thing?
I am very aware that most of what constitutes 'self help' is bollocks, but surely there are some useful titles available. I couldn't begin to suggest which ones though (perhaps something that lays down some structured CBT?). And on a separate point, I can't help but feel that the general opinion of those purchase these books is that are just pathetic saps who need to pull themselves together. I am sure all you rational types are all well rounded happy individuals and have no need for such things, but some of us are emotional train wrecks who find life just a tad hard. Restating blindingly obvious life tips can useful, especially if it isn't always that obvious.--AMassiveGay (talk) 17:47, 12 September 2010 (UTC)
 * You have to be careful with self-help stuff because you're dealing with potentially untrained authors trying to pass themselves off as real counselors. I can't speak for other countries, but the US is a ready-made market for psych quacks because of our craptastic mental health care system and American culture's general resistance to professional expertise. Given the generally fragmented state of the science surrounding clinical psychology, it's particularly hard to properly calibrate your bullshit detector when you go looking for a book to help your particular situation. That in a nutshell is the danger of overreliance on self help books. EVDebs (talk) 18:40, 12 September 2010 (UTC)
 * I think there is something to be said about about the stigmatization of mental health problems. It is a source of ridicule and fear. You are either a dangerous psychopath or just whining hypochondriacs with 'no real problems'. Folk with minor to moderate depression, anxiety, etc. do not want (or are simply unable) to talk to a Dr, or at all, for fear of what friends and families would say. Self help literature is often the only source of advice available. I think that is a problem of society at large rather than the self help industry, which is pretty harmless if you are of a relatively sound mind which I think these books are (or at least should be) aimed at.--AMassiveGay (talk) 22:36, 12 September 2010 (UTC)

Cognitive behavioral therapy self-help
So what about the self-help books written by cognitive behavioral therapists like Albert Ellis, Aaron Beck and others trained in the field's techniques? CBT emphasizes the learning of certain skills and ways of disputing harmful beliefs to manage your emotional disturbances, yet you could do this on your own from reading books instead of having to learn it from a CBT practitioner. Reference: The empirical status of cognitive-behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735805001005 Advancedatheist (talk) 16:05, 20 October 2012 (UTC)

A distinction should be made
between the 'learn how to do XXXX/Improve your YYYY' type books which offer information variously on everything from artichoke growing to zither-playing, and the 'self-help and become a wealthy, chap/babe magnet, in touch with the universe, with the secrets of eternal life and happiness and how to become whatever you want.' The former can help one achieve what it says on the tin - or at least give one some knowledge of the topic, the latter have 'one idea, in many words and told many ways.' (A way of distinguishing - look at pate (your favourite number)/the nearest non-blank one. If there is at least one fact presented you have a useful book; if you cannot identify a fact (or the same noun is repeated several times) you have the latter (simplistic but effective). 82.44.143.26 (talk) 18:26, 13 January 2016 (UTC)