Is buying self-help books a better personal growth strategy than attending seminars or working with a coach?
I was just reading an interesting post at clicknsave.com on this very topic. The author makes the bold statement that self-help books have a definite advantage over seminars, counselors, or coaches.
It really got me to wondering…are books better?
Obviously I’m a fan of books, but given the tens of thousands of dollars I’ve spent at personal development seminars, I’m a fan of them, as well.
On the surface level, the answer to the question would have to be “it depends”. It depends on you and how you process information. If you aren’t a reader, then buying all the self-help books in the world isn’t going to help you, other than giving you a quick boost of optimism and inspiration.
You have to actually USE the book in order for it to serve you – and if you do, then there are some definite advantages you get.
And when I say USE, I don’t mean using it to pick up people at the local coffee shop by leaving it out where people can see it! And I definitely don’t mean using it to prop up all the other self-help books piled beside your bed.
The point of the article I was reading is that books provide the best advantage because they are the only form of personal growth that can really accompany you wherever you go – whether in paper form or on your Kindle, iPhone, or other electronic device.
I like the idea of portable self-help and the advantage that gives.
But there are a couple of problems:
- only a tiny percentage of books purchased are ever read past the first chapter.
- not everyone likes to learn by reading – some prefer to listen or experience.
- how do you know which of the thousands of self-help books on the bookstore shelf is a good one for you, or will effectively address the particular issue you are dealing with right now?
The truth is, you don’t. Which is why so many books never get read…and so much potential personal growth goes un-nourished.
Quite honestly, that’s why I started PersonalGrowthPrincess.com.
What if you could have a top-notch book summary that you can read in 15 minutes, or the audio version you can listen to in just a few minutes more?
What if you had some additional easy-to-use materials, like worksheets, checklists, or journal exercises, that helped you begin to apply the personal growth actions right away – in a manageable size?
You can glean all the primary elements of the book – and begin applying the author’s concepts immediately.
That way you can experience personal growth in shorter intervals of effort.
And, of course, if you do decide to buy the book, you will know with 100% certainty that it will be what you need. (Which means you don’t waste money or time on books that aren’t right for you.)
So are books better a better form of self-help?
I’d have to stick with my answer of “it depends”, with a big hats off to the concept of books being the only experience you can take with you anywhere. And of course, with the book summaries from PersonalGrowthPrincess, you get the best resource in the best method of delivery.
So what do you think about the idea of self-help books being an advantage when it comes to your personal growth?
Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.
p.s. If you haven’t downloaded your free sample book summary from this site, make sure you fill our the easy form in the sidebar. It’s definitely worth checking out. You’ll receive one of most popular personal growth book summaries, plus some additional goodies to help you use the information right away!
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