The Weird Irony of Self-Help Books

Are they really making us better?

Alexa Nargi
Any Writers

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Photo by Nicole Wolf on Unsplash

For so many of us, the perfect morning routine or productivity hack seem to be just a quick read away. It’s in our nature as humans, especially in competitive Western societies, to continuously look for ways to improve. Whether it’s professional development, increasing confidence or how making a simple mentality shift that will somehow benefit us, our society adores self help.

It didn’t surprise me to learn that the self-help genre (including books, communities, motivational speakers, etc.) is an $11 billion dollar market. And who can fault us for that, really? Who wouldn’t want to learn how they can become better?

While I think that self awareness is an essential part of our ability to learn and grow, and I’ve enjoyed a number of resources that easily fall into the self-help genre, the irony of this industry is a bit difficult for me to swallow.

Let me explain.

Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash

Self-Help Feeds on Hope

And maybe even desperation

Similar to someone who has recently been laid off from their job setting aside money…

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Alexa Nargi
Any Writers

figuring it out. Topics: mental health, philosophy, food, travel. Published in The Startup, Invisible Illness, 4th Wave Feminism.