Are Self-Help Books Legit? 10 things to look for while finding the right book

A Quick Guide

Self-help books are the new trend these days. You may have heard of popular self-help books like ‘The seven habits of highly effective people’, ‘The subtle art of not giving a fuck’, ‘Feeling good: the new mood therapy’, ‘How to win friends and influence people’ etc. Such books help people to be more self-reliant and self-sufficient as individuals turn to them to fix their problems by using their own mental resources. Due to this, bookstores worldwide are full of copies of attention-grabbing self-help books which sell like hot cakes. However, the question is ‘Are self-help books actually effective?’. The answer to this is three-fold. It depends on the content, the problem & the person.

Effectiveness of self-help books

When it comes to the problem, most people with self-esteem issues, social anxiety, failed relationships, stress, work-life imbalance, etc, usually turn to self-help books with persuasive titles in the hopes of resolving these areas. In cases like these, self-help books motivate and inspire them to take action. Usually, persuasive language, captivating anecdotes, life-changing testimonials, and the author’s personal experience of self-discovery are used for this purpose.

Self-help books: The Content, the Problem & the Person

However, useful as it may be to inspire others, the content matters as well. Many books lack the scientific evidence to back up their big claims. They may use terms like ‘ Research says…’ quite informally to make their book seem authentic but do not cite the evidence for it. Similarly, the book may begin with big promises but doesn’t follow through. This can often lead to a process of frustration in the reader. And he may shift from one book to another to another, but not find the answer to his problem.

Similarly, if a person’s problem is chronic or has a biological basis, self-help books may not be your go-to option. It is best that proper psychotherapeutic treatment is sought for effective management. Likewise, personal factors matter too. People who scroll through books looking for a quick fix and are not actually willing to implement the strategies suggested, may not get the help they need even if they read a thousand books.

It must be clarified that not all self-help books are ineffective. Many people do get benefits from these books. It helps them to feel less lonely and supported during their difficult times. Even therapists prescribe self-help books to their patients to facilitate them in their treatment. So, bibliotherapy is actually a thing. But it again depends on the problem, the content, and the person for self-help books to be effective.

How to find the right self-help book

Many people face the difficulty of separating or identifying real self-help books from bogus ones. According to expert psychologists Jeff Nevid & Spencer Rathus (2016), there are a few things you need to look out for to find the right self-help book:

1. Do not judge self-help books by their cover or title

A good cover & a catchy title are not guarantees for the effectiveness of the book. Many authors compete for being the best-sellers and grabbing the attention of people is their aim. So, do not predict what the book is like based on how pretty or catchy its cover or title is.

2. Be cautious of self-help books with high claims

The biggest identifier of fake or ineffective self-help books is that they make big promises and quick fixes. Their ideas are not rooted in reality. So, if something feels unrealistic or magical about what the author is claiming, be aware. Think about it, ‘your problems developed over a long period of time and someone is telling you they can fix it in one week?’. Surely, you can’t believe that. So, when turning to self-help books do not expect quick fixes. Be realistic. Remember, ethical authors will never mislead you by making fake promises.

3. Check the author’s credentials

Search up the author of the book. Ask the questions: Does he/she have the degree, training, and experience to be giving advice to people? Is he/she a psychologist? What degree does he/she have? MD? PsyD, Ph.D.? Is the author affiliated with a university? If the answer is yes to most of these questions, it is likely that the information is coming from an authentic source.

4. Check whether the stance in the book is conservative

Many authors hold conservative worldviews and bash science and other researchers. They claim they have unique knowledge or the secret that others don’t. Similarly, if they offer something magical which is not based on evidence, think twice. Chances are it’s a sham. Stay away from such books.

5. Check self-help books for references

If the author is actually legit, ethical, and providing authentic information, he/she will provide the source of his information. So, check the book for references and citations to ensure it is grounded in evidence.

6. Ask your college or university teacher for recommendations

You may turn to your teacher to provide you with a list of authentic reference books.

7. Read textbooks

Although reading textbooks doesn’t seem like the most exciting thing in the world, remember they offer authentic information. Multiple researchers or authors make combined efforts into publishing these information-dense books, rooted in evidence. So, you will not get quick fixes. You can even get ideas for suggested readings from these.

8. Read self-therapy workbooks

Many competent psychologists design Cognitive Behavior Therapy workbooks, Dialectical Behavior Therapy Workbooks, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy workbooks, and so on. These workbooks are packed with information on self-assessment i.e. how to identify your problem, its triggers, its roots in childhood, your problematic behavior patterns, and so on. Similarly, they also suggest various evidence-based psychotherapeutic exercises to tackle them effectively and modify your problematic thoughts and behaviors. Accordingly, this workbook’s treatment often spans a period of 8 to 12 weeks. So, sticking with them will help you not only help in self-growth but also be cost-effective if you cannot afford to go to a therapist.

9. Do not expect quick fixes

Do not expect shortcuts to solve your problems. Instead of wasting your time on one book or another, spend a few minutes doing your homework in finding the right book. The solution or treatment may be slow, but it will be long-lasting.

10. Ask your counselor

If you have a counselor or a therapist, you may ask them for recommendations on effective self-help books.

If you want to learn about how to identify real psychology, check out the articles:

Are you a victim of believing in Pseudoscience acting as Psychology?

How to differentiate Pseudoscience from Psychology: 15 ways.

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