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Has AI already killed self-help nonfiction books?

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Re: Has AI already killed self-help nonfiction books?

#121

Personally, I see the self-help industry dying because people are starting to realize that it’s just a network of individuals selling products, promoting each other’s products, and creating new avenues to sell more products. I refer to it as the “self-help mafia.” Tim Ferriss kind of created it.

Hard disagree. I have read lots of books, participated in events and training seminars and had profound results in my life. My marriage is better because of what I learned, I am a better father and leader because of what I learned. And the fact that people sell things as part of that growth journey is how they support their ability to share the lessons and techniques.

Well grifters can also be marks. It sounds like you're both.

Re: Has AI already killed self-help nonfiction books?

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hard disagree. I have read lots of books, participated in events and training seminars and had profound results in my life. My marriage is better because of what I learned, I am a better father and leader because of what I learned. And the fact that people sell things as part of that growth journey is how they support their ability to share the lessons and techniques.

Well grifters can also be marks. It sounds like you're both.

Sounds like you need to learn some healthy communication. If this is how you show up in relation to others your network of collaborators will be small, keep you weak and limit your ability to effectuate your will in the world.

Re: Has AI already killed self-help nonfiction books?

#126

Something not mentioned that links to both LLM training AND drop in book sales... Anna's Archive

I would be extremely surprised if piracy accounts for any serious dent in the sales of books.

If this was true, they wouldn't be getting sued and aggressively pursued for takedowns

Re: Has AI already killed self-help nonfiction books?

#127

Personally, I see the self-help industry dying because people are starting to realize that it’s just a network of individuals selling products, promoting each other’s products, and creating new avenues to sell more products. I refer to it as the “self-help mafia.” Tim Ferriss kind of created it.

Self-help industry is something that literally can't die. It's in the same category as astrology and technical analysis.

Re: Has AI already killed self-help nonfiction books?

#128

Personally, I see the self-help industry dying because people are starting to realize that it’s just a network of individuals selling products, promoting each other’s products, and creating new avenues to sell more products. I refer to it as the “self-help mafia.” Tim Ferriss kind of created it.

Hard disagree. I have read lots of books, participated in events and training seminars and had profound results in my life. My marriage is better because of what I learned, I am a better father and leader because of what I learned. And the fact that people sell things as part of that growth journey is how they support their ability to share the lessons and techniques.

"because of what I learned." Do these books/seminars actually teach you something new about being married or a father, that you didn't know before? Like what? I always figured they were more about coaching, persuasion, convincing. To the extent I've scanned them, I never saw any kind of new fact, definitely not about something like being married.

Re: Has AI already killed self-help nonfiction books?

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dale Carnegie created it, Tim Ferriss is a century too late to point as origin.

Dale Carnegie -> Jim Rohn -> Tony Robbins -> [all hacks now]

Why is Tony Robbins a hack?

Re: Has AI already killed self-help nonfiction books?

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would be extremely surprised if piracy accounts for any serious dent in the sales of books.

If this was true, they wouldn't be getting sued and aggressively pursued for takedowns

" they wouldn't be getting sued and aggressively pursued for takedowns"

I don't think so. That behavior only tells you the modest cost of sending takedown notices/threatening letters is less than the (supposed) lost revenue. Kids I know (I'm a teacher) don't seem at all aware of it when complaining about textbook costs and I kind of vaguely hint they look online for it--nothing like the popularity of napster.

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