Book stores and library shelves are full of them. They arrive on the Otago Daily Times book editor's desk in droves. Self-help books. They give advice on everything from dieting and making money to finding yourself and getting happy. Rebecca Fox wonders just how seriously we should take them.
What are your New Year's resolutions for 2014? To lose weight, get a promotion, drink less, be a better person, exercise more ...
For some, those aspirations will dissipate as quickly as the hangover but others may try to stick them, seeking out some assistance.
Why not? There are a plethora of books out there offering people advice on everything from being happy and having a fulfilling relationship to finding the perfect man/woman or advancing up the career ladder.
It is an industry worth a reported $US11 billion ($NZ13.3 billion) in the United States.
Dunedin Public Libraries alone lends out hundreds of self-help books, some up to 300 times. Two copies of Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Estes have gone out 303 times.
Its most popular self-help books are You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay - four copies have gone out 328 times - and Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People which has gone out 164 times.
Two other Louise Hay books are in the library's top 10, as is Rhonda Byrne's The Secret (six copies have gone out 257 times) and John Gray's How to get what you want and want what you have (two copies have gone out 223 times).
But are self-help books what they seem?
Dunedin College of Education positive psychology expert Dr Denise Quinlan says the quality of the books and their advice can be radically different.
''A lot of stuff out there is not tested.
''People need to read a little sceptically, look at what it is based on, what evidence or research has been done, or if it is really one person's opinion.
''I'd encourage people to look for what the person's track record is. If it's nothing more than friends writing on the back of the book, you need to question how much credence to give to it.
''It's not to say it won't work but you don't know how many it will work for, over what period of time or in what conditions.''
Even with evidence-backed concepts which have been trialled, people needed to realistic about how the research was transferable and applicable across ages, genders and circumstances.
Unfortunately, a ''one person's experience'' book, with no scientific backing, could sit on a shelf right next to books such as The Optimistic Child by Dr Martin E. P. Seligman, which was an influential book for decades, with its tools for teaching the skills of optimism used in many educational programmes.
Relationships was another area with a widely differing quality of material and it was up to the reader to sort ''the wheat from the chaff''.
Among the catchy titles are those which are evidence-based, such psychology professor and director of the Seattle Marital and Family Institute Dr John Gottman's The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. His book is based on 25 years of research and he is acknowledged as a ''brilliant man'' for his work with couples, she says.
He achieved near-celebrity status by watching videotapes of couples' behaviour in a ''lab type'' setting and being able to predict with 90% accuracy which couples would divorce.
''Again, very good work, based on research and very credible,'' Dr Quinlan said.
The advice given by these authors has been tested on hundreds, if not thousands, of people, although it can not be said every strategy will work for every person, on average it does work more than doing nothing, she says.
There are many different theories as to why people seek out self-help books.
Dr Quinlan believes it could be to do with how people are always ''comparing themselves upwards''.
Previously, people compared themselves to those in their street, or their peers at work, but now people compared themselves to Donald Trump on television or celebrities in magazines.
''Why can't I look like that, or why can't I bounce back into shape after a baby like that? There are unrealistic ideals which has us less satisfied.''
The self-help industry is designed to help people feel better, be more satisfied, more fit or more fulfilled.
''It's about improvement.''
However, it inferred that ''where we are is not where we believe we should be''.
While there is nothing wrong with people seeking to improve themselves, she questions whether that quest is based on perception, rather than reality.
It is fine to want to understand yourself and your values, to be clear about what you want in life, how to get there, to communicate effectively and have satisfying relationships, she says.
''Where it makes people feel inadequate, it's generating an industry. You have to question what's enough.
''Sometimes you could just sit down and have a cup of tea, enjoy life.''
Different types of people are interested in different types of self-help books. There is the busy type, trying to get up the corporate ladder or learn the best way to run a business. Then there are those looking for inner peace or happiness.
For many years those two ''schools'' of thought did not meet but in recent years, there has been research into the benefits of the two together.
''There was the hard-edge, bottom-line driven, having to meet in the middle with people who are spiritual and alternative.''
Neuroscientist Dr Richard Davidson, founder and chair of the Centre for Investigating Healthy Minds, at the Waisman Centre, in Wisconsin, United States, is one of the world's leading experts on the impact of contemplative practices, such as meditation, on the brain.
His centre's research had shown how those who practice mediation were more resilient and healthy.
''Fundamentally, they were nice to be around and found it easier to build social networks.''
As a result there are evidence-based books on happiness and positivity.
Google engineer Chade-Meng Tan, author of Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace), developed the Search Inside Yourself programme for fellow engineers, with the help of nine experts in the use of mindfulness at work, to develop social intelligence and leadership skills.
''It is evidence-based self-help, engineers had to see and be demonstrated that it was a proven concept.''
Research by pre-emminent emotion scholar Prof Barbara Fredrickson reveals how positive emotions can tip the scales towards a life of flourishing.
She discovered experiencing positive emotions broadens people's minds and builds their resourcefulness in ways that help them become more resilient to adversity and achieve what they once could only imagine.
''With positivity, you'll learn to see new possibilities, bounce back from setbacks, connect with others, and become the best version of yourself,'' she says.
On the other side of the argument is Dunedin clinical psychologist Chris Skellett who, as self-help author himself, is an enthusiastic supporter of the industry, especially those books that seek to provide a simple transitional insight for people, what he calls the ''aha'' moment.
He turned the ''wisdom'' of 30 years of one-on-one clinical psychology experience into his first self-help book two years ago and is now working on his second.
''You develop this wisdom over that career path, self-evident truths which may not be evidence based but are generic principals for living life well.
''After years of one-on-one, its fantastic to think a few words can change the lives of thousands of people.''
While there were extremes in the industry from spiritual, inspirational books to the academic research based tomes, it was the books with simple themes which resonated with people, he believed.
Good self-help books had a catchy title and a message people could readily taken on board and were not prescriptive, in his opinion.
''There is a huge value in them in preventative health. It is much better to read a self-help book than drift on.''
He was quick to point out self-help books are not the solution to serious clinical problems.
His message was based on people finding a balance in their lives between pleasure and achievement.
''It's a simple concept ... an idea which evolved in my clinical work when I found I was saying the same thing.''
While his book was written for adults, he had anecdotal evidence of teenagers picking the book up, he believes because that age group was struggling with a ''live in the moment'' culture.
''Kids are drifting.''
If it pushes a child to realise they do need to get going with their lives and to find that balance, he is happy.
The popularity of the industry is growing as a lot of people have a ''huge thirst'' for self-improvement and self-awareness, he says.
''People are constantly looking for simple transformational moments.''
Yes, much of it is common sense but sometimes people need to see the message written down in an easily delivered framework.
''A book can be like holding up a mirror to you, to see the error [of your ways].''
It is the same with financial planning, he said.
''You know it's common sense to spend less and save more, but you still go to an accountant or you pick up a Martin Hawes self-help book.''
In the age of information being available without critical appraisal or it being applied to people's own life, people are seeking quick and effective access to personal insights.
''How many of us sit eating crisps while watching a cooking programme?''
Any good self-help book should provide an interesting read, enabling people to reflect and make positive change in their own lives, he says.
The lack of recognition of the genre in both the media and within the publishing world in New Zealand bugs him.
''It's not valued in this industry. There is some sort of prejudice. There are no awards.''
Admittedly, the sweeping generalisations made by some in the industry do not help and draw strong reactions from many, he says.
He puts people into two groups in his book - achievement-orientated people and pleasure-orientated people, and asks readers to do a quick survey.
''There is no analysis. The survey is a generalisation and a research psychologist might question that.
''I don't care. It's a useful concept which people can pick up.''
A new scheme launched in Dunedin last month aims to encourage people with mental health problems to use self-help books, alongside therapy and drugs, to help them get well.
Led by the Southern Primary Health Organisation, Books on Prescription provides access through local libraries to evidence-based books reviewed and recommended by mental health professionals.
Health professionals and social service agencies are encouraged to ''prescribe'' some of a list of approved books to their clients. The client is then encouraged to go to the library and get the book out.
PHO health promotions and projects co-ordinator Katie Jahnke says the scheme is working well in other Otago areas and some books are being borrowed 26 times a year.
As the books have been vetted by health professionals, they come with no ''side effects'' and are thought to often work quicker than some drug therapies.
''There is clinical evidence to suggesting these books can be effective.''
Reader's Digest 10 most famous self-help books of all time
Getting ahead at work
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen Covey
Take-home message: Integrity is the key to success in business and life.
Embracing the every day
The Power of Now
Eckhard Tolle
Take-home message: You are not your mind, not matter what you might think.
Tapping into your best self
Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Cultivating love and spiritual intelligence in your life
Lama Surya Das
Take-home message: For spiritual enlightenment, connect to the bigger picture.
Enjoying success in the world
The Secret
Rhonda Byrne
Take-home message: How the world happens with you, starts with you.
Understanding yourself better
Intimacy and Solitude
Stephanie Dowrick
Take-home message: Understand yourself and acceptance will follow.
Interacting with others
How to win friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
Take-home message: Honey generally works better than vinegar.
Finding serenity
The Road Less Travelled
M Scott Peck
Take-home message: Life is a series of thorny problems. Get used to it.
Living a fuller life
Feel the fear and do it anyway
Susan Jeffers
Take-home message: Is what you are afraid of honestly that scary?
Embracing your partner
Men are from Mars, women are from Venus
John Grey
Take-home message: Learn to embrace the gender differences.
Loving the single life
He's just not that into you
Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
Take-home message: Read the signs better (and earlier) and say goodbye to dead-end relationships.
Source: Reader's Digest
