Are Self Help Books Junk? Reccomend Any?
Submitted by yuengling on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 23:36
in
I've listened to a some Napolean Hill audio books along with some Zig Ziglar, while I think they are fairly worthwhile I was wondering if anyone else had some other suggestions for audiobooks that weren't merely focused on wealth. Or do you believe this stuff was junk? do you think these tapes have benefits?
What are your thoughts on wayne dyer?
I didn't want to read any crap written by some schmuck looking to make a buck, so if you have any anecdotal evidence to suggest these books are worthwhile I'd like to hear it or the opposite view.
I remember dr. savage joking saying he didn't know a single successful person that read those books, because if you needed them then you probably weren't going to ever be well off.
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I like...
"The Greatest Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino.
From Wiki:
The Greatest Salesman in the World was first published in 1968, and re-issued in 1983 by Bantam. The 128-page book is a classic guide to a philosophy of salesmanship, telling the story of Hafid, a poor camel boy who achieves a life of abundance.
If Mandino's suggested reading structure is followed, it would take about 10 months to read the short book.
The instructions are to read Scroll I (Chapter 8) three times a day for thirty days straight. Only after completing the thirty days of reading Scroll I, should you continue to Scroll II (Chapter 9) and so forth through Scroll X (Chapter 17).
Each scroll is only 2-3 pages long, taking about 5-7 minutes to read. You read each scroll 3 times per day for 30 days, so by the end of the 30 days, the principle taught in the scroll is ingrained in your head. Each scroll contains a principle that every person should learn.
Mandino composed The Legend Of The Ten Scrolls. They are:
Scroll I - Commitment
Scroll II - Love
Scroll III - Persistence
Scroll IV - Miracle
Scroll V - Time
Scroll VI - Emotion
Scroll VII - Laughter
Scroll VIII - Value
Scroll IX - Action
Scroll X - Guidance
His primary message was to "do it now". In the marking of Scroll IX, "I will act now" is written 18 times. While his messages did have Christian undertones, it was still a message of repetitive actions to build good habits.
Actor Matthew McConaughey cited this book as having changed his life.
I like it because it's more than just a book to read. It's principles that you read about over and over until you're actually thinking about how to live your life as you go through it.
The Bible and The Revolution
The Bible, not necessarily to solve all of your financial and emotional problems but it will tell you the truth about what really ails mankind. Ron Paul's The Revolution: A Manifesto, to give you ideas about how to apply biblical principles to our current situation. Both can be easily found in audio format.
there is a book that is a true story it was written in the 1920
's It will help you in any area of your life..... It is called "The Game of Life and how to play it"
I forget the author....but you will love it
The Best Audio Book
Get the Bible (King James Version) on CD. The narrator, Alexander Scourby is the best I've heard.
Without the Bible as a basis to judge other books, you can so easily waste a lot of time and money on "scmuck" that may make you think you feel good. The more important issue is are you doing right. Remember the old saying, "Right is its own reward"? How true. Did you know that that the word "word" in the New Testament comes from the Greek word "logos"?
One cannot use logic without words. Did you know that the word "reason" in the Old Testament comes from a Hebrew word that means "to be right"? Also, the word "reason" in the New Testament always comes from some form of the Greek word "logos".
This tells us that the purpose of logic is to be right. Why reason things out if there is no right or wrong? This is proof of existence and necessity of absolute truth.
Psalm 68:11 says, "The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it."
Psalm 119:128 says, "I have esteemed Thy precepts concerning all things to be right."
The phrase "to be right"comes from the Hebrew word, "yashar", translated in other places as "reason".
So, the best Book you can ever read and study is the Bible. It will give you the foundation to keep from being deceived by other books, provided you believe it and trust the "Author" implicitly.
How I Found Freedom in an Unfree world.. by Harry Browne.
It poos on everything else.
Nathaniel Branden
I have read two of his and they were both excellent. My uncle's wife is addicted to self-help books (don't laugh, it's possible) and she has a whole library going. But Branden's the Six Pillars of Self Esteem is very good. He was Ayn Rand's boyfriend for years. It depends what you need it for. And it's obvious stuff most of it - if you live with integrity you won't have five hundred hangups.
But really the best 'self-help' book around is Harry Browne's How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World. It is the only libertarian self help book I know of.
"What does conservatism today stand for? It stands for war. It stands for power. It stands for spying, jailing without trial, torture, counterfeiting without limit, and lying from morning to night."
Lew Rockwell
I don't know if this book comes as an audiobook...
but it is also a movie. It's called "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne and it's the most fascinating thing I have ever seen. Basically, it talks of how you attract things to you. If you think about something hard enough you'll get more of it -- whether it be good or bad is essentially up to you because the Universe conspires to bring it to you. It's really a great read and I highly recommend it. If you want more information their website is www.thesecret.tv
Historic moment at Washington State Convention can be seen at minute 4!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4cVL_TdwZk
Feeling hopeless?? Click here!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01kcqKd2Tag
What are you fightin' for?
Caught in the middle?
Freedom is only for those with the guts to defend it!
Im prepared to start a chip in send me a couple thousand
Ill be more than glad to write a book to make you all feel good about yourselves. Ill tell you the "secret" of how I overcame my struggles
________________________________________________________________
"let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it's realized that our freedoms & wealth are in jeoprady"
Ron Paul
__________
Freedom. Watch this video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mhmbzE1TR0s
Pls donate here Ron Paul can still win
http://www.dvds4delegates.com/
I love Norman Vincent Peale
"The Power of Positive Thinking," etc. If you have absolutely no belief system, then they might not help. But, if you have a general belief system, they will work wonders. The guy is awesome. I always go to him for a "pep" talk. He also has a book "Enthusiasm Makes the Difference" and others close to it. I am sure you will get something out of them. My agnostic son did and very devout Christians do, so it shouldn't offend.
Healthnut4freedom
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
Healthnut4freedom
The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment...Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are His delight. Prov 12:19,22
If someone is looking to make a buck, he/she is a schmuck?
I actually made quite a bit of money from a man you might think is a schmuck. The problem is, most people can't/won't follow the advice, take a chance and DO something.
___________
Lisa C.
http://www.women4ronpaul.com/
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."
-Dale Carnegie
Ron Paul "Sign Wave Across the USA" -- November 5th!
no I don't have a problem
no I don't have a problem with people making a buck, but if they're selling false hope and phony ideas I shall call them a schmuck. I just wanted to avoid some of the bogus books and trust the opinions on this site as opposed to amazon reviews or random stuff on the internet. the folks on here are much more informed. This is such a huge section in any bookstore that I didn't want to waste time reading the wrong thing or put the wrong thing in my brain.
don't people now get paid to do positive amazon reviews?
Or if they sell crap like
Or if they sell crap like Suze Orman who can't decide if she wants to help people with their finances or fiance's. God I hate her, anyway, any info can be benefitial but to rely on them for your decisions can become too much a crutch. People have to learn to trust themselves and follow through is priceless. Anyone can tell you how to live your life but it means nothing without you gettin er' done.
"...the most memorable concern of mankind
is the guts it takes to
face the sunlight again."-Charles Bukowski
no I don't have a problem
no I don't have a problem with people making a buck, but if they're selling false hope and phony ideas I shall call them a schmuck. I just wanted to avoid some of the bogus books and trust the opinions on this site as opposed to amazon reviews or random stuff on the internet. the folks on here are much more informed. This is such a huge section in any bookstore that I didn't want to waste time reading the wrong thing or put the wrong thing in my brain.
don't people now get paid to do positive amazon reviews?
What kind of help?
help with what exactly?
google the name of ANYONE or ANYTHING
that is for sale...especially miracle diets- you will see plenty of comments that reveiw the product and tell you exactly what your getting into -"shipping takes too long- otherwise good" "be warned all you get to eat the first week is boiled zucchini", "transcendental meditation astral travel turned out to be hopping around on this little pillow- my ass hurt after 3 minutes" -whatever. If youve thought about buying something- google it. there WILL be tons of people who are relating their experience.