Self Help Books

[nailit]

Anyone read a 'self help' type of book thats actually helped?
I have read quiet a few over the years (I read everything) that have been recommended or that ive come across and thought it looked interesting. On the whole I've thought that while some looked promising at first glance, they delivered very little. One example was Alan Carrs 'easy way to stop smoking'.
All the book boiled down to in the end was smoking is bad for you so stop it.
Another example was 'Feel the Fear and do it Anyway'. The author then spends a couple of hundred pages waffling just to tell the reader to feel the fear and do it anyway....
Anybody read a life changer?

[Baldric]

We have an excellent one, it's just the right thickness to stop the Coffee Table wobbling!

[boxtops]

I've read a few - mostly about women i succeeding in management, gaining confidence etc. Tbh I've not found much which actually gave me anything new.

[Old_Geezer]

I could tell you, but that would defeat the object.

[carolegif]

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. How to leave the bad things in the past and not let them affect the rest of your life. The best bit is how to clear your mind if you can't sleep. Switch off the things swimming round your head and be in 'the now'. Works every time with me, asleep in minutes!

[sunny-dave]

When I was (quite a lot) younger this book probably saved my life - it certainly saved my sanity

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Help-Your-Nerves-overcoming/dp/0722531559

[sunny-dave]

This is very good too :

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[nailit]

I read The Power of Now not so long ago and have to admit I struggled through it, it was like reading a telephone directory for me.

[nailit]

They're two Ive never heard off dave. How exactly did it help?

[sunny-dave]

The first one helped me come to terms with absolutely crippling anxiety attacks - helping to understand them & devising some practical strategies to cope with (and eventually eradicate) them. It was a long haul, but the book was a critical factor in getting there.

The second one is much lighter stuff - but it does help 'get you going' when life seems stalled for some reason.

[nailit]

will have to have a look at them dave. Im currently having a course of CBT for anxiety related issues, thanks

[nailit]

and if theyre no good I'll give them to Baldric for his wonky table ;-)

[sunny-dave]

I hope they help - either you or Balders :)

[pastafreak]

My answer is the same as sunny Dave's... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Help-Your-Nerves-overcoming/dp/0722531559

Several books by Claire Weekes gave me my sanity back.

[nailit]

will check her books out Pasta, thanks.

[kevanswerbank]

Hi nailit, I'd like to suggest 'Mood Mapping' by Dr Liz Miller. Actually written for people with Bipolar disorder, it discusses the 5 areas of your life which must be addressed, so you may find yourself so busy with it that you don't have time to worry about anything else! (You should find it in your local municipal library). Best wishes. Kev.

[woofgang]

The only life changing book I have read is "You'll get over it" by Virginia Ironside. Its about the reality of bereavement.
IMO any self improvement book that has "Easy", "Simple" "xxx Steps", "Secrets" or any kind of snappy maxim in the title is not going to be worth the paper its printed on or the battery power used to read it if its an e book.

[kevanswerbank]

Agreed woofgang. Anything Virginia Ironside writes is worth a look I think. A couple of years ago she gave some good advice to anyone thinking they might be drinking too much alcohol which helped me.

[Peter Pedant]

There are certain books Gray's Anatomy - I am not suggesting you dissect yourself - where there is a fact on every page - often more than one !

There are others - the -ologies exceed in this - where the books has a Big Idea. and once you have got that you can stop reading it.

If you are used to type A then type B books come as rather a shock

and self help books come into the One Big idea category

Trachtenberg speed system of Maths I found good for mental arithmetic. Art of Memory .... improved my memory

I hesitate ( joke alert Nailit ) to recommend Keep Out of Jail books - there must be quite a few ....

[Peter Pedant]

Boxie I found 'The Unblocked Manager' not bad
but to be honest I was a pretty crap manager....

I liked hands on doing things - ( less likely to be fired.... even in the NHS ! )

[nailit]

Thanks guys some good suggestions.
Dont need any keep out of jail books PP....experience is enough........