Why Your Favorite Self-Help Book Sucks

Yes, yes—I know you think that one book you read that one time changed your life.

Hell, maybe that was even my book.

And don’t get me wrong, self-help books can help, but I think people mistake what they’re actually doing.

Let me break this down for you.

The Not-So-Secret Secret of Self-Help

Let’s be brutally honest here: there’s really nothing new in self-help books. They’re just recycling ancient wisdom from religions, philosophies, and legendary thinkers.

The real game-changer?

Packaging.

People are freaking weird when it comes to advice, so how it’s delivered makes all the difference. Repackaging age-old knowledge lets these ideas reach more people than ever, and that’s not a bad thing.

Easy to Understand, Hard to Apply

Self-help ideas are the epitome of “simple but difficult.”

They’re a piece of cake to understand, but a massive pain in the ass to actually do.

Unlike intellectual or physical tasks, self-help problems are all about emotions. On the surface, they look simple as hell, but inside, it feels like you’re conquering Mount Everest.

That’s where the magic of packaging comes into play. The way self-help concepts are presented can give you a temporary motivational high, but it won’t last forever.

Learning: The Sneaky Saboteur

Sure, self-help books can kick-start some positive change in your life. But eventually, you’ll need to tackle something else that’s simple but difficult.

Here’s the kicker: learning can feel like progress, even when it’s not.

People end up using self-help books as a crutch to avoid facing their struggles head-on, thinking the next book will make everything a breeze. Spoiler alert: it won’t.

Also, fun fact: on average, a person who buys one self-help book will end up buying seven more.

Breaking Free From the Self-Help Trap

While self-help books can offer a helping hand, they can quickly morph into another obstacle. That’s why it’s crucial to focus on practical, real-world exercises and activities. The goal? To challenge ourselves and others to get off our asses and actually do something.

By moving beyond just talking and sharing ideas, we can spark genuine breakthroughs and create lasting change.