No nonsense self-help books

This year, I learned of an institution in London called The School of Life, which was founded by one of my favorite writers, Alain De Botton, I've always wished that they have satellite campuses all over the world. Or that they'd offer online courses at least. 

In a world where even ordering a cup of coffee is getting more and more complicated (venti white chocolate mocha with soy), we definitely need to go back to the basics sometimes. And that's why I love the philosophy behind The School of Life.

Based on their website, the institution's programmes "address such questions as why work is often unfulfilling, why relationships can be so challenging, why it’s ever harder to stay calm and what one could do to try to change the world for the better." And I am just blown away!

So when they decided to come up with a series of self-help books, I just got to have them! Good thing that a local bookstore has them in stock. I immediately got two!

These aren't your usual self-help books. For one, they're very well-written. And another, philosophy is a key element in these books. Also, the covers are love! Now what should I get next?

Reading to lose weight

This better work.


Of course, I could just get my lazy ass off my reading armchair and do stuff like... what do they call it again? Oh yes, exercise.

How do overweight bibliophiles lose some weight?

These are real self-help books

If there's one particularly genre I don't read much, it would be self-help books. I've always been vocal about not being a big fan of these books, as I get plenty of help from people around me -- both solicited and not. I believe there are even subcategories for self-help. There are inspirational, religious, business management, interpersonal, relationship advice, financial advice, beauty, fashion, nutrition, and exercise self-help books, just to name some of them. Judging by the continuous renewal of stocks in bookstores, I think there's good money to be had selling them.

Here in Manila, the effects of the economic crisis aren't felt by many yet (although some people are probably still in denial), so financial advice books don't seem to be kicking off as of the moment. What's popular here are those YOU series by Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen. I even have one -- YOU: On a Diet. I still haven't read it though, as I'm really enjoying Eat This, Not That! which I think offers more practical advice on healthy eating. Also, I really haven't tried going on a diet, and the idea of me on a diet causes me to cringe.

Then there are the bookstore staples such as Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, and How to be Happy. I always see this Who Moved My Cheese? on display. I never bothered to pick it up since I'm turned off by the title. Why would I move your cheese? Why, of all the things that I can possibly choose from, choose cheese to move? And if I do decide to move some cheese, why would I choose YOUR cheese? And if I did own cheese, why would I be concerned as to who moved it? I still found it right?

Why are self-help books so popular? Are we really ruining our romantic relationships? Do women need tips on what shade of lipstick to wear? Have publishers tapped all the kinds of people that "need" help? Apparently, yes. I was just surfing the web when I stumbled upon these ridiculous but very, very real self-help books. Get the complete weird list here.