With graduation right around the corner, I feel like I’ve been bombarded with all sorts of advice—from what financial moves I should avoid, to suggestions of books I should read when I have more free time, such as “The Power of Habit” or “The Mountain is You.” And while appreciative of the advice, I can’t help but notice that most of the books that have been recommended to me by my post-grad friends fall under the self-help category.
The self-help industry, in the Western context, is understood as an industry that “provides products and services to help people improve their lives.” The self-help industry, and more specifically the publishing genre, came into popularity through the 1859 publication of Samuel Smile’s book “Self Help,” which gave rise to the genre's name, and was later revived in the
1935 publication of Napoleon Hill’s best-selling book “Think and Grow Rich.” The book's publication coincided with the Great Depression and famously suggested that if one had the proper habits and followed certain principles, anyone could become successful.
The self-help industry today pedals much of the same idea, only rebranded and remarketed. It is estimated to be a $13.2 billion-dollar industry with dozens of new books and courses released daily. The subject matter in self-help books can range from anything to do with romantic relationships to one’s relationship with their coworkers, but the one consistent thing across the genre are the self-titled gurus and expert authors who regularly aim to help make people become more disciplined, productive, and successful by offering advice. Many have credited the advice imparted by self-help books for helping them form better relationships with others, gain a new perspective, and get their life back on track.
Others, however, have argued that the self-help industry promises unrealistic transformation and thrives on people's insecurities by suggesting they do and be more to prove their worth as humans. Others go further and critique self-help books for being highly individualistic and for rarely noting the systemic and societal factors that make it difficult for someone to “succeed,” as one cannot simply budget themselves out of poverty, nor can they be disciplined or productive enough to keep mental health issues away.
Both sides of the argument can be heard if one visits any social media platform long enough, but neither truly addresses the question behind why people are drawn to such books. Perhaps the reason is more philosophical in nature and has to do with the fact that, despite having all the material comforts available one could imagine, humans are still unable to answer what the purpose of life is.
Regardless of what camp you belong to, self-help books continue to play a substantial role in contemporary society, particularly with the Millennial and Gen Z demographic, as many struggle to come to terms with who they are and the world around them. Self-help books, however, can serve as another form of escapism that encourages people to retreat rather than find strength in community. This is what I find particularly concerning, as we don’t need to learn how to be more productive; we need to learn how to be in community with others and be more empathetic towards others. Please understand, I am not critiquing one's desire to improve and grow. I am simply saying that we should acknowledge the limitations inherent in self help books and seek to understand that what drives us to seek out self help books in the first place isn't a desire for more material possessions, but a desire to be seen and recognized in community.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.