Howdy, howdy! How’s everyone doing this lovely Wednesday? Things here are good. Quiet. Turkey Day is going to be a small thing. Just family. Are those of you who celebrate ready? Anyway, I still don’t have much to ramble about, but I somehow ended up reading a self-help book and need to word vomit about my hatred of such things. I only did it because the friend I do a kind of book club with wanted to read it for our craft book month. This particular book was Atomic Habits by James Clear, but the following thoughts apply to the other handful of self-help books I’ve had to read over the years (mostly while I was in school).

1. Why are these books so repetitive? Like, my dude… why is your book 300 pages when it could’ve been 75? And every self-help book I’ve read, including the majority of craft books, are the same way. I can understand repeating the important stuff once or twice in different ways in case some people don’t understand the first explanation, but why are you saying the exact same thing 50 times? You don’t even try to explain it a different way. Sure, you use a different scenario, but the explanation of your process is just copy and pasted from the first scenario. I either got it the first time or I’m still confused the fiftieth time. There’s no in between. Please just edit your work.

2. Uh… duh? Every self-help book I’ve read takes something that is absolutely common sense and frames it as something genius. It’s always along the lines of “Today, I’m going to share something with you that changed my life. There’s plenty of science to back it up. For the mere cost of $15 for this ebook, you too can learn this amazing secret!” Then, the book is 300 pages of “I learned to put my socks on before my shoes” and the science is a Wikipedia article. Dude, no. Just no. The habits book… I’ve done just about everything he suggests because duh. Repeating tasks turns them into habits? You don’t say. It’s easier to keep up with habits that are simple and fun? No way. I can increase the difficulty of a habit over time by gradually increasing what I’m doing? Mind blown. Seriously though, tell me something I haven’t learned just by existing in the world.

3. Who are you? If I’ve never heard of you and you quote things like Twitter, Reddit, and Wikipedia at me, I’m definitely going to doubt your authority on any given subject. Looking at you, Clear. Same goes for craft books. If I’ve never heard of you and you start using your own books (none of which I’ve heard of) as examples of how to write, my automatic thought is that you’re just trying to sell your other books. Yes, I’m a jerk. Yes, I expect self-proclaimed authorities on whatever subject to prove themselves. No, I won’t take your word for it. Especially if you’re supposed to be using science to back up your claims. What can I say? I’m a very skeptical person.

I think that’s enough rambling and rant. Self-help books are not my things. I’ll read them if I have to or someone I love really wants to read one together, but otherwise I avoid them. I do know people who enjoy them, though. If you find them useful, more power to you.

What do you think about self-help books? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and questions and comments here or on my social media pages!