Why self help writing ignites anger in some people
Self-help writing is empowering and comforting for some people — not for others though
I recently read a piece on Medium from a writer who was rather dissatisfied with a personal development technique described by a famous author in his latest book. This famous author has earlier invented the character of a lawyer who, after a nasty event in his life, starts to follow an austere lifestyle. The lawyer first sells his very expensive car.
The famous author then writes another book extolling the virtues of starting your day very early.
The writer now claims to have tried, with diligence, to follow this technique. The writer was unable to follow the routine for too long and had to abandon it.
This is the writer’s basis for trashing the Self-help writing industry, which the writer acknowledges will soon be worth $25 Billion.
Why do some people love to hate Self-help?
The rise of the self-help genre has led to a new wave of criticism. It is a debate as old as the hills — does personal development writing actually work? Every one of us has a different opinion on what self-help should be. Still, there are some common threads that run through discussions about it.
The detractors see Self-help books as gimmicky, popularized by the Oprah Winfrey show. The admirers see the books as an excellent resource for coping with life’s challenges.
So why is there so much criticism? Here are some of the top objections the more vocal critics of the self-help genre have.
Objection 1: These books work with anecdotal evidence and not proven science.
That’s true. A large number of self-help techniques and tips rely on the author’s personal stories. Then again, ‘scientific’ study is one way of resolving life’s mysteries — there are many others.
A study involving MRI scans of monks’ brains confirms changes occur inside brains that meditate. Certain areas of the brain show enhanced activity during meditation.
Monks have been meditating for centuries — since long before MRI scans got invented. They were aware of the advantages, and it’s a good thing they didn’t wait for corroboration.
Objection 2: Reliability of information is suspect — most of the advice doesn’t work.
Critics say Self-help writing offers very few solutions for complex problems. Did the critics make this statement based on any definitive survey or data?
Statements such as these usually mean ‘it didn’t work for me, but I can’t say that and I need support to back it up’. Those who accuse self-help writers of propagating opinions as facts are guilty too. A bit of a paradox, but so it is.
Objection 3: Self-help is one-dimensional advice that’s hard to apply in the real world.
The attackers might say the books offer generalised guidance, or even platitudes. While what’s needed is a script tailored to every reader’s needs.
True, it is possible to find niche help from human counsellors. The books are not written to replace that. If you need medical help, it is nobody’s case that you should immerse yourself in ‘The Power of Positivity’.
Objection 4: Many authors have begun using a repetitive formulaic structure.
So do writers of Murder mysteries, Romcoms and, Super Hero movies. That’s why it’s called a genre. Every genre has a style and a format, and that’s how it is.
The range of human emotions is universal and limited. Yet, every person experiences their emotions in their own unique way.
Each author brings their own perspective and a way of explaining the subject. Good authors explain it better — other authors pay the price for not being good enough. The readers remain in charge of what they consume.
Objection 5: Oversimplification and misinterpretation of human psychology.
Most self-help works on the principle of cause and effect — ‘If you do this, you should get this result’. It’s geared to proving practical techniques to improve your life in micro-doses.
This debate is about relevance of Theory vs. Practice. Academic satisfaction demands that you grasp the complete physiology of the problem. Another way is to have a solution that you work with and allow it to solve your issue over a period of time. Most self-help works this way.
Would I rather bask in the knowledge that I know everything about my issue, while I continue to struggle with it? Or would I prefer to take the first step to solving it?
Objection 6: They create a sense of hope for the reader. Soon after they start to push expensive products or services.
True, some books do that — a small minority of those. The sales process is no different from what a million other products and services follow. The User has an option to pay higher for a premium product. The choice always remains with us, the consumers.
Buying a book is a voluntary act — and so is following the suggestions inside.
The uncomfortable truth about Self-help
As the name implies, self-help requires you to help yourself. This involves reading tons of stuff, and narrowing it down to a handful of usable techniques. And that happens at the beginning. Then comes the hard part — applying the techniques for a period of time. Being willing to face and push through the resistance that arises in the early days.
If the resistance is too high, the technique will not do you much good. It’s time to choose another, and give it your best shot.
To discover what you actually need is a process — a hit and trial process at that. It’s the only way that growth happens in any field, including in scientific fields.
That’s why the wise person has said: “Personal growth is not for wimps”!
Where does that leave us?
Self-help books make people feel like they can make changes in their life. Yet, there are some books that may be predatory in nature. Not all self-help books will work for everyone. The books depend on the individuals’ willingness to change and what it takes to help them improve.
If an Oscar winning movie disappoints, you are unlikely to go on a movie sabbatical. No self-help advice is likely to be wrong — it’s just not relevant at that moment, for that person. For someone else, it could work wonders.
There’s no such thing as a self-help book that will make you happy without your involvement. No matter how many books you read, no one else can do the work for you. But if you put in the work, self-help has unlimited potential for healing and growth.
To-dos don’t work — dos do.
