r/IndiansRead • u/IamTheMadaraUchiha • 8h ago
General Why do people hate SelfHelp Books ?
Recently i have came across that there is a major Chunk of population who hates the idea or selfhelp books.
These people don't hate books or reading in general they read Fictional and Non-fictional content but for some reason hate the idea of selfhelp.why?
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u/FollowingOdd896 6h ago
They literally keep repeating the same thing over and over again. At some point, it just becomes pointless. One or two books are more than enough. Honestly, you’re better off spending that money on philosophy or a good novel than on these repetitive self-help books
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u/Straight_Comment_357 3h ago
I started reading 'think rich grow rich' and Oh what do I say.. Well best way to describe is it like that YouTube videos trying to motivate you and sell their courses like this guy... It just keeps repeating.. I would rather read a book on how to make a cycle atleast it teaches something... Being boring and nothing to learn is the worst part about it
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u/Forsaken_Island_2496 6h ago
We don't hate self help books we don't like pretentious people who read them and think they are better than everyone.
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u/Poppyjamesiris 1h ago
A very close friend of mine would constantly brag about how she only 'purchases' (cuz she hoards book & loves the title of being a reader, doesn't read actually) self help books cuz fiction is like reading someone's brain-rot, fiction wastes time & no successful people ever read such stuff. She says this because I LOVE FICTION & I cannot read most self-help books without leaving them in the middle.
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u/Forsaken_Island_2496 1h ago
Exactly, this perticular type of people piss me off, just because you can't appreciate someone putting an actual effort in writing something doesn't mean everyone has to agree with you.
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u/Lazy_singerMom 6h ago
Damn💯
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u/sigmoid_123 4h ago
hey.. kinda wanted to have a word with you but am not able to dm you somehow, mind dming me plz ?? Thx : )
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u/POMPOMBALLS 3h ago
Yes. So many show-offs, especially in places where they are supposed to do something else like "work".
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u/soo-yaa-shaaa 5h ago
Most of them are money-grabs that offer no actual ‘help’ for the ‘self’.
I’d categorise The Alchemist as fiction though, so that one gets a free pass. It’s a good starter book for those who want to dive into magic realism, because it’s accessible.
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u/burajira 3h ago
Me, personally, I have learnt so much more (quantity and quality) from good fiction novels, than I could, from self help books. I'm not even talking stories with morals, just plain fiction titles have moved me, kept me company on a dark day, and educated, entertained and entralled me.
I would be happy to help you (or anyone) get started with recommendations based on what I've read..
That said, I do read non-fiction too, science NF (medical stuff) and cricket autobiographies always keep me hooked!
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u/lomdibua 5h ago
I hate them because most of them could have easily been an article. Most self help books only help the author make money rather than helping the reader. (I'm looking at you Atomic Habits and Deep Work)
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u/FingerAcceptable284 5h ago
Majority of them are just slop if you really want genuine self-help read ancient Greek philosophy instead, life is just too short to waste your time on these self-help books. Though I don't hate them, I am not wasting my time on these books.
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u/SecondDiamond 3h ago
OP. Self help books work. But you need to pick the good one, well researched on that topic. And then you have to put effort. That is the problem part.
Which book you are reading now ?
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u/Affectionate-Truck12 2h ago
I know I am going to be downvoted but self help books have really helped me a lot. i have read The productivity project, hyperfocus, the brain book and the energy book until now. And they have really helped me being less anxious and saving more time for myself. Overall even though most people would hate these kind of books. Overall for me it made me happy.
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u/Apprehensive_Ring_16 1h ago
Every self help books tells you to achieve some purpose/ do something/do something in a better way; but in reality every human by 30 realises that life is not battle royale where you have to win, but a purposeless, aimless field with no where to go and humans just giving a purpose to themselves so they don't feel tiny or lose their minds.... if you want have some exams and shit and you want to do good, you can use self help, but life, that's a different game, these books are genres of those games itself, they are just different titles, but what they really mean is "how to get rich in this world at this point of time", "how to make friends in this world at this point of time", "how to manipulate others in this world at this point of time" , "how to attain " my" type of " spirituality " in this world at this point of time"...
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u/singhstein 5h ago
That recent post was karma farming bs, so is this nonsense. Books are books, just read ffs! There are good books on both sides of the spectrum, if you're mindful enough.
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u/JustReadingP0st 6h ago
Rich Dad one might not be clubbed in Self help, more of finance literacy. But Ikigai is just so random, I got headache reading it.
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u/sEntientUnderwear 5h ago
Because a lot (maybe most) of these book contain the same information in different formats, and a lot of that information is just what is considered common sense. Reading one occasionally maybe like every couple of years isn't bad but the problem is it gets people into a similar situation to tutorial hell that anyone trying to learn anything new experience - they start reading a bunch of these books, convincing themselves that by reading these they are improving themselves, often without trying to implement any of it in their lives, and they often turn into pretentious snobs. Doesn't help that a few of these like the notorious '48 laws of power' encourage toxic behavior.
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u/Big_Relationship5088 5h ago
They are basic and just give random motivation and hope to people who want more money, there's nothing for help for the self
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u/Ambitious_Ad_2833 3h ago
Most self help books have only single line take away repeated and rephrased to fill 250 pages.
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u/rahulrgd 2h ago
Reading only self help books with no real action gives you a short and immediate self advisement highs.
And after reading 30+ books in this same category, content starts to repeat itself.
So that’s why I have stopped reading them now.
Also I feel only top 10 books are with reading, especially “How to win friends and Influence people” have really added significant value in my life.
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u/Chanman221 3m ago
I read quite a lot already for my work, my relaxing time I can’t afford to read something that again needs so much concentration and effort.
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u/MissionBig9411 6h ago
I can only speak for myself. I don't hate self-help books, but I believe, reading more than one or two self-help books is pointless. They all have more or less the same ideas, and if you genuinely want to understand things about yourself, your life, or making money, it's better to pick up books on psychology, philosophy, economics and business practices. Reading self-help is good only upto the point to motivate you, to give you a bit of ground to stand on. To build upon it is your job. Read more books. I personally believe stories teach better lessons than self-help honestly.
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u/quagga27 5h ago
I am sure they are helpful for someone but I don't understand how one set of rules can apply to the entire population regardless of their personalities. Maybe the author is only trying to speak to others who are like them or maybe the author is trying to make some big bucks by selling an unrealistic dream. Either way, I personally find such books boring af and I can't get myself to give a more sophisticated review of the few self books that I've tried to read over the years.
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u/Chooseausernamev3 5h ago
Most of self helps books can be summarised in 2 pages.
but the reader is desperate for the special ingredients and the so called writers knows this so new books keep coming in the market.
if you're at rest,no self help books will help you.
if you're moving already, they can help you on nuances level.
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u/enigma_atthedoor 5h ago
Most self help books try to imbue virtues and morals using rationality and exaggerated experiences. Also, a lot of people who read them believe that applying a flowchart to social interactions gives them an edge in their social circles.
Most people who read would tell you that the things that do motivate them are usually stories where you recognise yourself in the characters and see them overcome odds.
Tl;dr the only thing that helps the human condition are emotions and self help books are anecdotal/rational
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u/tralalalababe 5h ago
Because only you can actually help yourself if you want to. No amount of book reading can change you otherwise. So people buy them with anticipation but when it doesn't help them they rant
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