Self Help Books

Cotta

Does anyone recommend any and if so why?

Tiddlywinks

Wow, nothing like getting straight to the point...


http://www.amazon.co.uk/S-U-M-O-Shut-Up-Move-Brilliant-ebook/dp/B008D30UX8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403100865&sr=8-1&keywords=sumo


This is straight talking with a dollop of humour.

Cotta

Sorry I didn't mean to appear abrupt - just interested in what has aided people.

susieq87

depends on what you need help with in particular

Counting_Pennies_2

three shoes one sock and no hairbrush


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Shoes-One-Sock-Hairbrush/dp/0304354295


Not quite a selfhelp book, but for someone considering whether having a second child is right time for them, reading this book will help. If you have a panic attack reading it you are probably not ready for number 2!

Cotta

Anymore takers?

BigAunty

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

It is unfortunately not the easiest of reads, its gets a bit new agey and Spiritual in parts.

However, it contains some really good nuggets about why people worry and how to live more fully in the present moment rather than dwell on the past and fret about the future.

He introduced me to the concept of 'chronological' and 'psychological' time, namely the difference where your head it as (in the past or future) as opposed to being in the 'now' and why the separation between these modes of times causes anxiety. He also explains quite well about critical and negative voices in the head and how to challenge them.

Because I found out that some of this theories chime with Buddhism, meditation and mindfulness, I then started exploring them (just the secular side of Buddhism, as a philosophy, best principles to live your life, not as a religion) so I would also read 'Mindfulness in Plain English' -

http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html

I haven't read the following book by Cheri Huber but I love the title and the concept - she wrote a book called 'There is nothing wrong with you' which I think is a great title, even if I'm not familiar with the content.

WantToBeSE

'Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway' was incredibly helpful to me. I read it at a time in my life when was miserable, but scared of doing anything different.
I read and re read it, and definitely felt the fear and did it anyway! Best book if you need to change something but fear is holding you back.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feel-The-Fear-And-Anyway/dp/0091907071/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403192283&sr=8-1&keywords=feel+the+fear+and+do+it+anyway

juliebunny

Depends what you want help with? Money, relationships, general direction in life, mid life crisis?

Hermia

WantToBeSE wrote: »

'Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway' was incredibly helpful to me. I read it at a time in my life when was miserable, but scared of doing anything different.
I read and re read it, and definitely felt the fear and did it anyway! Best book if you need to change something but fear is holding you back.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feel-The-Fear-And-Anyway/dp/0091907071/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403192283&sr=8-1&keywords=feel+the+fear+and+do+it+anyway

I totally agree with you. I think most self-help books are nonsense, but this one really can help if you follow the exercises in it. I read it ten years ago, but it still pops into my head when I am facing something scary.

As juliebunny says it does depend what you want the book for and what sort of style of book interests you. For example, I am not a Buddhist, but find Pema Chodron's books amazing, but I would not recommend them to everyone as they can be more philosophical than normal self-help books.

dandelionclock30

Louise Hay, "You can heal your life" is supposed to be quite good. 35 million copies sold worldwide so it must have some good pointers in it.