Tag Archives: self-help books

OK, so instead of writing a blog post at work today, I wrote a letter to the editor of the Utica OD (and worked on my novel; never neglect that). I thought, no problem, I would write something when I got home, possibly about the errands I intended to run on the way home. Well, those errands took a while. Then I had to type the letter into the computer. THEN I had to edit it down to 200 words.

200 words? Yikes! I typed it into my wordpress page, because that’s the only way I know how to count the words (does gmail do that sort of thing?). I just barely managed it, with the help of a couple of contractions, which I do not usually use when I am writing (as you see). All I have energy for now is to type these two measly paragraphs and submit the letter as today’s post (the other difficult thing about the letter was I did not include ANY parenthetical comments).

Loretta LaRoche’s recent opinion piece decries the self-help industry and praises common sense. It’s true, some how-to books are silly, and common sense often seems in short supply. However, common sense will only get you so far.

For example, when I was overweight, common sense told me to change my eating habits and exercise more. However, until I read a book on the South Beach Diet, I couldn’t find a system of healthy eating that I could follow. I didn’t read any books on exercise, but I sought advice when needed.

As LaRoche says, we cannot be happy all the time. However, should we be miserable most of the time? A self-help book can help someone recognize destructive thought patterns and behaviors.

Some say, “We didn’t need all this crap in the old days, because people just sucked it up.” While stoicism and endurance are good qualities, I ask, why should we not try to improve our lives?

Some people do not need or want help. Either their common sense tells them everything they want to know or they find satisfaction in their ability to suck it up. Some of us can benefit from a little help.