Self-help literature

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term self-help literature (also advice literature ) includes script media that are intended to serve the independent development of solutions to problems. These can be real or perceived personal problems .

The spectrum ranges from medical and esoteric content to management advice . In the latter field in particular, ideologies are presented, as they are also disseminated by motivational speakers , management consultants and consultants , who often appear as authors at the same time.

For special occupational groups, numerous publications in which it comes to find optimize the productivity and job satisfaction goes for programmers z. B. the Personal Software Process .

The modern phenomenon of self-optimization - with the help of modern information and communication technology - can be seen in connection with this concentration on one's own self .

history

So-called stain artists were already expelled in the baroque period .

From a niche position, the market grew strongly in the second half of the 20th century.

One of the first books in the genre is the then bestseller “Self-Help” by Samuel Smiles from 1859. Self-help books are partly in the tradition of the classic etiquette books that existed from the late Middle Ages to the 20th century. While the embedding of the individual in his or her social environment takes precedence there, today's self-help books concentrate more on the individual as such, often associated with promises of happiness ("more happiness / success / wealth through ...").

In post-war Germany there was a transition phase of emphasizing externally visible (living) style , taste and cleanliness as the basis for a good life ( living more beautifully , the good marriage, the basics of good tone ).

criticism

Self-help literature rarely offers scientifically sound or technically sophisticated instructions. Rather, it concentrates on ways that can be achieved with home remedies ( autosuggestion , meditation , behavioral therapy methods) and is therefore often clearly differentiated from specialist literature , even if both are not clearly classified as non-fiction in bookstores . Particularly in the case of psychological methods, the quality spectrum is very wide and the risk of setbacks, which is not always pointed out, is high.

In contrast to self-help groups , written guides are communicative one-way streets; the author provides the ideas, the reader perceives and follows the instructions. A constructive exchange is usually not possible.

Propagated methodologies

As part of the individualization of society can often read encouragement, strange set "to overcome borders", "breaking rules" o. Ä. This is a kind of counter-movement or a counter-the-current swimming suggests, even if the books, of course, address to the largest possible audience.

Possible efforts on the way are indicated with the tip that you have to move out of the “ comfort zone ” in order to be able to start something new (e.g. a “new life”).

A new, post-modern approach to rituals is very much in vogue with advisors, which apparently contradicts the de-spiritualization of the everyday world.

A number of guides - often self- published - indirectly propagate entry into pyramid schemes in dialogue or direct marketing as a guide for success. For obvious reasons - the reader should enter the system as a contributor - the methodology is not named directly, rather the potential individual happiness is brought to the fore; here, too, risks of the method are concealed.

Some books are supplemented by (fee-based) offers for further interactive seminars , workshops, etc., so they are to be understood as teasers and an introduction to an initially lucrative business model for the author.

Some publications are based on larger - also esoteric - world views and philosophies, so that the author does not report exclusively from his own perspective. The larger non- or pseudoscientific movements with numerous literature include u. a. Theosophy , Positive Thinking , New Spirit Movement , Human Potential Movement , Dianetics , Neurolinguistic Programming . Even behind serious publications there are often implicit schools, especially when it comes to psychological advisers, i.e. In other words, the proposed (self) therapy is grafted on in a blanket manner and not necessarily adapted to the reader and his specific problems.

Sub-areas

Relationship guides like John Gray's works reach millions of copies. Among those authors who emphasize focusing on the ego to overcome self-doubt , e.g. B. a positive egoism , falls u. a. Josef Kirschner, who died in 2016 . Werner Tiki Kassenmacher (" Simplify your life ") has become successful in Germany with various guides on general simplification of life . Alternative medicine and self-healing are advertised intensively, especially in relation to topics such as cancer , burnout syndrome , aging, etc. Fighting messie syndrome or disorder is a recipe for success of the Japanese author Marie Kondo . Stress management is a big topic that people like to address with simplification and time management methods. Paths to general and professional success became very successful u. a. advertised by Dale Carnegie . Works that propagate positive thinking , self-discovery , self-management and self-realization as well as the ways to get there can be regarded as a less special form of advice .

Authors

Non-exhaustive selection of authors who have become known primarily or exclusively for self-help books
author job Well-known book target direction
Rhonda Byrne The Secret New Spirit Movement
Richard Carlson No problem! The book for those who don't want to be driven crazy easily paperback (1998) Stress management
Dale Carnegie Motivational speaker How to Make Friends success
Robert Collier Where there is a will ...
Marie Kondo Magic Cleaning: How proper tidying up can change your life Order, simplicity
Raphael Cushnir author Joy in life. Strategies for dealing intelligently with crises. enjoyment of life
Wayne Dyer psychologist The sore point. The art of not being unhappy. Twelve steps to overcome our emotional problem areas Self-discovery, joy of life
Timothy Ferriss Entrepreneur The 4-hour week Time management, success
John Gray psychologist Men are different. Women too. Men are from Mars, women are from Venus Relationships
Jürgen Hargens psychologist Please don't help! It's hard enough as it is: (Not) a self-help book Relationship, miscellaneous
Louise Hay Author Heal your body: Mental and spiritual reasons for physical illness and a holistic way to overcome it cure
Napoleon Hill jurist Think and Get Rich (1937) Success, wealth
L. Ron Hubbard Author (science fiction) Dianetics (1950) Success, wealth
Spencer Johnson psychologist The Mouse Strategy for Managers (1998) Motivation, self-help
Josef Kirschner journalist The Art of Being an Egoist (1976) Self-discovery
Werner Tiki coast maker Pastor Simplify your life Simplicity, joie de vivre
Robert Kiyosaki Sales representative Rich Dad Poor Dad, Cash Flow Quadrant Success, wealth
Peter Lauster psychologist Love: psychology of a phenomenon Relationship, miscellaneous
Dan Millman Gymnast The path of the peaceful warrior Success, self-discovery
Bärbel Mohr Business economist, editor Orders to the Universe (1995) Joy of life, spirituality
Anthony Robbins Limitless Energy (1986) success
Hans-Werner Rückert No more procrastination (2011) Time management
Bodo Schäfer Money - or the 1x1 of money wealth
Lothar J. Seiwert Economist More time for the essentials. In this way, you determine your success yourself through consistent time planning and effective working methods Simplicity, time management
Wallace Ward Chemist success
Reto Wyss Social work, psychology Relieve pain: Treat chronic pain yourself with tapping acupressure Stress management, pain therapy
Eva-Maria Zurhorst Journalist, PR Love yourself and it doesn't matter who you marry relationship

Parodies

Advice literature was often the subject of parodies. The author, designer and conceptual artist Rafael Horzon based his first book The Third Way (2002) on the style of business advisors. The writer Heinz Strunk referred in his Titanic column The Strunk Principle to the style and rhetoric of motivational authors like Jürgen Höller . In the book version of his column published in 2014, references to real works of the advisory literature are listed in a bibliography.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ A. Müller, RW Schlecht, Alexander Früh, H. Still The way to health: A faithful and indispensable guide for the healthy and the sick. 2 volumes, (1901; 3rd edition 1906, 9th edition 1921) 31st to 44th edition. CA Weller, Berlin 1929 to 1931.
  2. ↑ F. König (Ed.): Counselor in healthy and sick days. A textbook on the human physique and a medical treasure for all cases of illness, taking into account the most successful natural healing methods and other healing methods. 16th edition. Dr. Karl Meyer, Leipzig undated
  3. ↑ designwissen.net
  4. ↑ Self-help literature: Seriousness put to the test . August 2009.
  5. ↑ Sabine Hockling: Success is achieved by breaking rules . In: ZEIT , August 21, 2014. “Always implementing new ideas and being open to suggestions from employees: This is how Mike Fischer became a millionaire. The entrepreneur has now written a book. " 
  6. ↑ bernd-slaghuis.de
  7. ↑ uni-erfurt.de
  8. ^ Dorothea Lüddeckens (2004), New rituals for all situations. Observations on the popularization of the ritual discourse, in: ZRGG 56, 37-53
  9. ↑ David Hugendick: Marie Kondo: Clear! Here! On! In: Zeit Online. March 4, 2016, Retrieved April 20, 2016 .