Advantages and Disadvantages of the Self-Help Literature

The self-help literature is a complex and abstract topic, which goes beyond reading books, having new knowledge and using them in a practical way. In this approach prevails a learning process to “be and stay in the world”, in order to face the problems and solve them if it is possible. Even more, there are five premises that mold self-help:

1. The principles and moral values are flexible, according to personal and cultural criteria.
2. Resistance to change is a natural tendency of the human being.
3. Extraordinary results require enormous efforts.
4. People always must be optimistic (no matter what happens).
5. As human intelligence and creativity have no limits, personal improvement is an endless process. Therefore, it is necessary to make small investments to be continuously updated and no one can claim that there is nothing left to learn.

Although self-help has advantages and disadvantages (exposed in biased radical opinions), the richness of some self-help books confirms the innate capacity of people to explore new frontiers, and contribute to the progress and development of humankind.