5 Enlightening Self-Help Books Worth a Read

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Help Worth Seeking

I’m not a fan of the self-help movement. My problem is that the ideology stemmed from a place I can’t get behind; an inherently toxic early 20th century school of thought that promotes the idea that we aren’t enough and need to be better. There are exceptions, of course. For me, a good non-fiction book is one that gives you context and perspective and self-help shouldn’t prey on your insecurities whilst offering promises of making you better. No, what they should do is allow you to embrace what was there all along. For me; these 5 self-help books have been just that and I believe each to be enlightening and well worth a read.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain

With the rise of industrial and corporate America came cultural acceptance that extroversion is the ideal. This began a century of media and societal messages that the introverted mind is somehow broken; that adopting an extroverted outlook is the only way to fit in and you have to fit in.

Susan Cain presents a world ruled by extroverts in which introverts actually have the advantage. She does this by reminding us that our ability to not get lost in the noise, allows us to observe and handle situations more efficiently.

Cool that Volcano – Peter Black

I found this book unexpectedly, not seeking it. An email came into my inbox asking if I would do a review, I agreed. Cool that Volcano is about helping your kids to control their anger by using volcanoes and icebergs as simple, understandable analogies. It makes a point of emphasising that emotions are natural and need to surface one way or another. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be healthily managed.

The Empathy Instinct: How to Create a More Civil Society – Peter Bazalgette

Humanity at large has a great capacity for empathy. Our societies from tribal to the multicultural global scene of today all depend on it. However, many things societal seem to be damaging people’s capacity for empathy; a pattern we’ve seen historically before significant crimes against human rights.

The Empathy Instinct is a book about world history, current science what we are lacking and what we could be doing to fill the empathy deficit.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft – Stephen King

Not strictly a self-help book; more a combination of autobiography and advice based on experience. I found it a great read and very helpful though. In many ways it helped me come to terms with who I am as a writer.

He points out quite bluntly how life prepares us for the critics, how they like many of our experiences are unfair and cruel but also a little funny. Similarly, King also makes a point of stating that you should read often and write for yourself first; a reminder that passion is contagious.

These among many of his lessons speak directly to me and have been a great help not just behind the keyboard.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life – Mark Manson

No, Mark Manson does not promote indifference or becoming unfeeling. He promotes the ideal that we have limited time in this life and only so many F’s to give and that we should spend them wisely by taking responsibility for our own situations and learning to endure the hard times. I don’t agree with a lot of the points he makes. Most of it even. That’s the thing, enlightenment doesn’t have to come from what you are being told but what makes you realise about yourself.

Reading this book made me think deeply and find my own more empathetic stance to this world but one that agrees we have to pick our battles and take responsibility for making ourselves happy rather than blaming others for making us unhappy.