Most self-help books are flimsy soundbites that crumble under mild scrutiny. Love languages? Load of shit. The Secret? Utter fabrication.
Very few of these books are well-evidenced or peer reviewed. They quote studies that misrepresent the actual findings or repeat historically inaccurate anecdotes from other self-help books.
Practising experts in areas like health, finance and psychology don't make many one-size fits all declarations - and we should be wary of those that do. But professionalism makes for a boring book, so confident amateurs step in to fill the gap.
Few self-help authors are genuine experts, unless being a life-coach counts, and some are straight-up liars (see Jay Shetty being a fake monk, Mel Robbins stealing IP, et al.)
I meet some of these people in my job and in person they have an oily sheen of desperation, a strong whiff of please-like-me-I'm-not-OK-inside.
(*Sniffs pits*. Like self-help grifters, I also write books and speak at conferences. I’m also known to speak in absolutes and seek external validation for a gaping hole inside me, so... 6/7?)
None of this means you shouldn't consume any self-help. It has it’s place. Sometimes you need a kick up the ass, have an inclination you need to justify, or want a new hack to try.
But keep it in its box. The author probably doesn't know what they're talking about - and they definitely don't know you.
Merry Christmas,
A
🎄 About 24 Days of Unpopular Opinions
This December, I'm calling bullshit, to keep you sane over the silly season. Over 24 days, I'll share 24 unpopular opinions - like an advent calendar, but filled with controversy instead of chocolate. Share widely to whoever else needs this.
Catch up on unpopular opinions you might have missed:
December 1: You don't have a strategy
December 2: CEOs are tiny babies
December 3: Women should be ugly and mean
December 4: Leaders are dry drunks
December 5: Conspiracy theorists are right
December 6: We should tell people to shut up
December 7: We should lose our Internet privileges
December 8: Self-help is a con
