The world of fiction is enticing and the never-ending possibilities keep us hooked until the very end of a book. However, sometimes life hits us so hard that we need to seek help. The help I am writing about isn't found by talking to someone or by scrolling on the internet. A lot of it is found in a good old self-help book.
Over the years, there have been plenty of opinions and writings on the purpose of self-help books. While some believe it's highly useful, others dismiss the idea of reading them. However, the right way to look at it is that if you pick the right self-help book, you will surely benefit from it. In this article, we will take a look at three such self-help books:
#3. Getting Things Done by David Allen
This book, Getting Things Done, was published in the year 2001. Written by David Allen, the book is considered by many to be one of the best self-help books ever written. The book, in short, is a productivity and time-management guide. The main idea of this book is to record everything that requires your attention (tasks, projects, commitments) and process it into an understandable, actionable system.
The author of this book, David Allen, is a well-known author who has written two other books and is known to be a productivity consultant. In short, Getting Things Done is a book for those who are struggling to handle their responsibilities and want more efficiency in life.
#2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Another book that is spoken about a lot when it comes to self-help books is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, which was first published in 1989. The book serves as a manual for both professional and personal effectiveness, emphasizing the development of values and character over band-aid solutions or superficial methods.
Covey presents it as a comprehensive way of living that aims to assist people in achieving their objectives, living honorably, and fostering better relationships. Here are the seven habits mentioned in the book: Be proactive, Begin with the end in Mind, Put first things first, Think Win-Win, Seek first to understand & then to be understood, Synergize, and Sharpen the Saw.
#1. On The Shortness Of Life by Seneca
Now On The Shortness Of Life by Seneca is not a self-help book in the typical sense. I mean, did the concept of self-help even exist back in 49 AD? Not really. However, when one goes through the content of this book written by the Roman Stoic, one will understand why I placed it at number one on this list.
In this book, or rather the essay, Seneca considers how people fail to live meaningful lives and waste their time. He contends that rather than life being brief by nature, we shorten it by wasting it on pointless activities, diversions, or chasing after unimportant goals.