The explicit purpose of inspirational self-help books is to guide people on improving some aspects of their lives. The term was coined by Samuel Smiles with his 1859 best seller title, Self-Help. As you can see, the American self-help literature is quite old, and it should not surprise us that it is so pervasive during our times. The adjective inspirational indicates the encouraging characteristic of this kind of material.

Self-help, aka self-improvement, books address all dimensions of human life, starting from physical, intellectual, emotional, and ending with spiritual. Self-help books in the physical dimension teach you how to eat, sleep, and stay fit. Those in the intellectual realm provide insight into self-esteem, how to be positive, self-improvement, understanding your own mindset, how to become an ethical leader, and so on. Self-help writings focusing on emotions instruct on self-control and discipline, using your moral compass, developing resilience, and how to handle relationships. And finally, self-improvement books on spirituality show you how to develop your moral character with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and how to find your path in life, among many other topics.

A survey of contemporary self-help literature reveals a variety of inspiring how-to topics: advancing your career, improving your character traits, how to be positive, personal development and spiritual growth, using proactivity, making friends and influencing people, and so on. Most recognizable names of self-help authors include Dale Carnegie How to Win Friends and Influence People, Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich, Steven Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, John Maxwell  Failing Forward.

Self-help books are trendy and widely accepted in today’s American culture. Millions of people read them daily and benefit significantly from their insight. However, an informed reader should also be aware of the criticism they have attracted. Detractors argue that self-help books may provide questionable, if not lousy advice, create false hope, raise unrealistic expectations, and even prevent people from seeking professional counsel. 

I have benefited greatly from self-help materials, including books, audiotapes, and video podcasts during my lifetime. For this reason, I have joined the ranks of the many authors in this field with the sincere hope of bringing value to my readers.

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