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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?

#151

Post by sanswork »

sharadov wrote: post #97
MengerSponge wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Highly recommend "If Books Could Kill" https://bsky.app/profile/ifbookspod.bsky.social It really is all the same book.

All the writers that I love to hate - hariri, gladwell! Will give it a listen

I wanted to love it since despite being a self help reader I can definitely see a lot of the bad/dangerous advice given all over the place but I often found them really stretching to make stuff negative and being very smug about it which just made it the same issue as the source material. Especially annoying since in most cases there were really solidly valid negatives to go after in the books. It's very much a lets build a straw man then tear it down podcast.

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

#152

Post by aussieguy1234 »

Hardly. I've read several good ones during the AI era and I'm still reading them.

However, that doesn't mean AI is useless for this type of thing. Its very, very good at acting as an "expert" to answer questions you may have after reading the book.

I'm also in an actual informal bookclub with a few friends. It started in the AI era, all nonfiction books and is still going strong.

Depending on the model and size of the book, its also possible to load the entire book into the context window and ask questions.

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

#154

Post by jaharios »

raziel2701 wrote: post #92

In my corner of the internet people started to recommend reading fiction rather than self-help. Books like the count of montecristo for example, where the characters overcome through perseverance, patience and planning. The criticism of self-help books in my little internet bubble is that if you've read one you've read them all. So why not go for works of fiction that are time-tested and are greatly entertaining and…

I like your corner of the internet

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

#157

Post by DrewADesign »

jasonfarnon wrote: post #128
digitaltrees wrote: post #117

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.

"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.

Only hard facts change your perspective?

Lacking happiness or charisma or confidence or the ability to quit smoking or any other run-of-the-mill self-help topic isn’t caused by a lack of relevant data: it’s a matter of perspective. Often, the best way to push through the problem is getting the perspective of someone that’s thought about it more. Whether self help books are an effective medium for that is another topic, but if they’re not, lacking hard facts wouldn’t be the problem.

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

#158

Post by DrewADesign »

JackFr wrote: post #140
digitaltrees wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> limit your availability to effectuate your will in the world. It might limit his ability to effect his will in the world, but I see his availability as unchanged.

Not if that boorish behavior alienated their administrative assistant.

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

#159

Post by _pdp_ »

Quarrelsome wrote: post #100
_pdp_ wrote: post #23

> Find your 1,000 True Fans. If you started off doing this well but have meandered, it’s time to revisit. Get very clear on who those 1,000 people are. Well this is the difficult part. You can 10x the number of followers and still have less than 50 true fans. On the actual content, I am actually not surprised at all. These AI systems are surprisingly convincing when giving personal advise - for better or worse.

followers is a shit metric that only advertisers care for but they also want like 50-100k bare minimum. You need to find 1k people who are willing to give you money, or go out of their way to advocate for you.

That is a better frame of mind - it is not 1000 true fans but a 1000 customers.

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

#160

Post by digitaltrees »

JackFr wrote: post #140
digitaltrees wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> limit your availability to effectuate your will in the world. It might limit his ability to effect his will in the world, but I see his availability as unchanged.

Thanks for proof reading for me.
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