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How to Read Self-Help

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Re: How to Read Self-Help

#11

Post by foreverhere »

kristianc wrote: post #9
jordanpg wrote: post #6

My main objection to these types of books is how overly verbose they tend to be. With a few exceptions, this category of book is built around a nucleus of few possibly valuable pearls of wisdom , and then 300 pages of filler is added. Usually lots of anecdotes ("Let me tell you about my friend Alice..."), checklists, and needless exposition. If this really is wisdom , it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to com…

> If this really is wisdom, it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to communicate. But I suppose the propounders have to make a living somehow. The article makes the point that the wisdom really does take much longer to communicate - a nugget of wisdom like ‘accept yourself’ seems trite when taken alone, but the examples (presumably filling the other 300 pages) are what makes the advice actually sink in.

This is similar to secret societies of the 18th century. Using an initiation ceremony to convey simple ideas in alluring, romantic rituals.

Re: How to Read Self-Help

#12

Post by munificent »

The article says that good self-help that leads to wisdom is obvious but hard to imply.

The natural corollary of that is that you probably already have the necessary wisdom in your head (because it's obvious). And thus, if you're debating between spending two hours reading a self-help book and spending those two hours doing basically anything else, the latter is likely the better choice because there is at least some chance than in those two hours you will apply some wisdom or otherwise enrich your life.

The reason self-help books are bad is not because they contain bad information. It's because reading them burns time that could otherwise be better spent.

Re: How to Read Self-Help

#13

Post by juanjmanfredi »

jordanpg wrote: post #6

My main objection to these types of books is how overly verbose they tend to be. With a few exceptions, this category of book is built around a nucleus of few possibly valuable pearls of wisdom , and then 300 pages of filler is added. Usually lots of anecdotes ("Let me tell you about my friend Alice..."), checklists, and needless exposition. If this really is wisdom , it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to com…

I suggest signing up for James Clear's newsletter: https://jamesclear.com/newsletter

He is the author of Atomic Habits, which is a reasonably short guide to mastering habit formation. His free newsletter delivers a high amount of wisdom per word, and reading the book is not necessary to get value from it. Normally I can read the newsletter in about 30 seconds, and then can spend as long as I want thinking about the content.

Re: How to Read Self-Help

#14

Post by afiori »

kristianc wrote: post #9
jordanpg wrote: post #6

My main objection to these types of books is how overly verbose they tend to be. With a few exceptions, this category of book is built around a nucleus of few possibly valuable pearls of wisdom , and then 300 pages of filler is added. Usually lots of anecdotes ("Let me tell you about my friend Alice..."), checklists, and needless exposition. If this really is wisdom , it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to com…

> If this really is wisdom, it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to communicate. But I suppose the propounders have to make a living somehow. The article makes the point that the wisdom really does take much longer to communicate - a nugget of wisdom like ‘accept yourself’ seems trite when taken alone, but the examples (presumably filling the other 300 pages) are what makes the advice actually sink in.

More than that it is about how different we all are, the parent poster would like no anecdote, I would like some, you would like some different from mines.

300 pages of filler could very well be the same message told 15 different times in 15 different format hoping that most people would gain that precious wisdom from at least one of them.

I see this as a common fallacy of hyperrational people

Re: How to Read Self-Help

#16

Post by nestorherre »

kody wrote: post #8

I recommend the podcast "By The Book" if you're fascinated by/interested in the self-help book genre. The hosts select a self-help book, try to live it to the letter, and report their findings.

Thanks for the heads up. Checking it out atm and it seems valuable.

Re: How to Read Self-Help

#17

Post by gumby »

jordanpg wrote: post #6

My main objection to these types of books is how overly verbose they tend to be. With a few exceptions, this category of book is built around a nucleus of few possibly valuable pearls of wisdom , and then 300 pages of filler is added. Usually lots of anecdotes ("Let me tell you about my friend Alice..."), checklists, and needless exposition. If this really is wisdom , it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to com…

This is true of almost all business books as well. Typically they are a brief paper or even a single drawing ("crossing the chasm" is a single insightful drawing).

Unfortunately a four-page (or one-page!) book wouldn't sell particularly well. So like washing powder they are expanded with inert fillers.

Re: How to Read Self-Help

#18

Post by jointpdf »

jordanpg wrote: post #6

My main objection to these types of books is how overly verbose they tend to be. With a few exceptions, this category of book is built around a nucleus of few possibly valuable pearls of wisdom , and then 300 pages of filler is added. Usually lots of anecdotes ("Let me tell you about my friend Alice..."), checklists, and needless exposition. If this really is wisdom , it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to com…

I have a couple of books that are something between self-help and neuroscience/psychology that I can recommend. They are a more scientific and evidence-based lens on many of the same themes as self-help books (resilience, confidence, acceptance, etc), and they contain concrete exercises and summaries. They might appeal to people who are allergic to woo:

- Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, Wisdom

- Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-being

Re: How to Read Self-Help

#19

Post by ahoka »

kristianc wrote: post #9
jordanpg wrote: post #6

My main objection to these types of books is how overly verbose they tend to be. With a few exceptions, this category of book is built around a nucleus of few possibly valuable pearls of wisdom , and then 300 pages of filler is added. Usually lots of anecdotes ("Let me tell you about my friend Alice..."), checklists, and needless exposition. If this really is wisdom , it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to com…

> If this really is wisdom, it does not follow that it takes 300 pages to communicate. But I suppose the propounders have to make a living somehow. The article makes the point that the wisdom really does take much longer to communicate - a nugget of wisdom like ‘accept yourself’ seems trite when taken alone, but the examples (presumably filling the other 300 pages) are what makes the advice actually sink in.

The Enchiridion is like 60 pages and contains the wisdom a lifetime.
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