As you probably know I don’t like being controversial. I shy away from offering an opinion and prefer to go with the flow whenever possible.
However, today it’s time to wave goodbye to Mr Nice Guy as I lay the boot into some of the most overrated, overhyped and oversold books the self development field has ever known.
I have no doubt that you’ll have read some of the following books, I have equally no doubt you’ll like some of them. In fact, I like some of them, I just don’t like them as much as it seems everybody else does.
Get Things Done – David Allen
There is some OK material in GTD, if you’re into tickler files, to do lists and you like to be told everything multiple times.
Allen hit the gap in the market for an accessible and easy to understand book on time management. Having said that, the time you need to implement the actions he recommends means you’ll probably need 2 weeks off work just to get up and running, by which time you’ve probably been fired.
It is dry at best (if you ever see David Allen heading for the open mic at a comedy club you may want to ask for your check) and crushingly predictable.
A note of warning: It really isn’t the book to buy if you are a serial procrastinator as some people seem to believe, although to be fair, I don’t think it is sold like that.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey
Make no mistake, 7 Habits is a good book with some interesting ideas and I thoroughly enjoyed it when I first read it many moons ago. It is 10 million copies good and does it deserve the hysterical praise it often receives though? Not in my opinion it doesn’t.
What Covey does is take some very old concepts and ideas developed largely by other people and repackage them as these magical 7 Habits that highly effective people all adopt.
20 years ago when it came out it may well have been more cutting edge and it may be a tad unfair to knock it for being unoriginal and dated. But hey, I’m feeling unfair today so that’s what I’m doing.
I do like the 4 quadrants section, but like a lot of these books Covey could have delivered all the useful information in about a quarter of the space.
The Four Hour Work Week – Tim Ferriss
About 100 pages into 4HWW and I am completely enthralled. This is some powerful shit I’m thinking. Then I have no idea what happens, but it just falls off a cliff. Maybe Ferriss remembered he had a cage fighting engagement in Guatemala and outsourced the end of the book?
The premise is bullshit let’s be honest, and Ferriss has since all but admitted as much. It is marketing hype and I doubt there is a single person that is now only working 4 hours per week due to reading this book.
There is value in the book if you are looking to work for yourself or reduce your work hours, but it doesn’t deserve the fawning adulation that so many bestow upon it.
It’s a thought provoking read in places and an ok book, but a long way from being a classic in anything other than the way it was marketed and named.
Flow – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Is there a book on psychology as widely referenced as Flow? I doubt it. Is it ground breaking? Absolutely it is, and I’m glad I forced myself to read it. However, it’s dry, repetitive and the information the average person needs could be written on one sheet of a legal pad
If you are an academic type or interested in psychology, then ‘Flow’ is a must read. If you are casual observer, that’s wondering what all the hype is about I’d steer clear.
The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle
Be in the moment people.
There I’ve said it and yes of course there is more to this book than that, but not a massive amount more. My opinion of this book may be colored by the fact I listened to it an an audio book and Tolle has the kind of monotone voice that could send you to sleep if you were being chased by a swarm of machete wielding killer bees.
Oprah loves the bearded one (although I’m not sure what good it’s done her) whereas I haven’t got a clue what he’s talking about half the time.
The Road Less Traveled – M Scott Peck
Another interesting and massively read book with some good material contained within. In fact, until about half way through I was enjoying it. Then Peck decides to go overtly Christian and almost evangelical. He insists people have a duty to straighten out friends and relatives who have slipped off the correct path in life.
Not in my map of the world they don’t Pecky . If we start imposing our beliefs and values on other people we not only demonstrate a stunning lack of respect, but we also presuppose we know what is best for them, and more importantly, that they don’t.
How high and mighty is that?
Excuses Begone! – Wayne Dyer
It’s official (at least in my head) Wayne has run out of anything new to say. This is the same ole, same ole, rehashed stuff that he’s been delivering for the last 5 years or so.
Wayne Dyer has written some great books and I am not knocking him. He does piss me off sometimes when he starts playing fast and loose with scientific proof. Overall though he inspires in his own inimitable way and usually delivers.
There is only so much anybody can say I guess and if you have more than one or two of Dyers earlier books, you wont need this one.
I also doubt very much it will help you to change your belief system, but that’s another story.
Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus – John Gray
Men are different to women you know.
Men like to withdraw when they have problems, whereas according to the good doctor, women prefer to bang on about their issues to anybody and everybody prepared to listen. Gray takes stereotyping to a whole new unhelpful level because women and men aren’t all the same any more than all Leo’s are the same and all want to rule the world (I do though).
The fact he is a trained therapist may mean he only ever interacts with people that have issues and that could be slanting his judgment.
There are threads of behavior common to a lot of men and women due to the fact that mens brains are marinading in testosterone and womens in estrogen during critical periods of development.
However, if he he came to our house he’d be in for a shock. I love to talk about problems, I wear pink and my wife is better than me at DIY. And I’m not even going to mention the underwear drawer.
Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway – Susan Jeffers
Feel the fear and do it anyway. That’s it really, and yes it is as glib as the title suggests.
If you really want to understand fear and not be beaten to death by platitudes, check out Embracing Fear by Thom Rutledge and The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker. Both are far superior to this book. As is Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman if you want to know the true power of optimistic thinking and how it can help you in your life.
Who Moved My Cheese? – Dr Spencer Johnson
Some mice in a maze find a huge supply of cheese. Then somebody moves it or they eat it, I forget which now. A couple of the mice sit around fretting and moving from peckish to hungry to ravenous whilst the other two go looking for new cheese. Amazingly enough, they find it too!
It’s a while since I read the book and I can’t remember if the 2 simpleton mice die of starvation or get saved by the other mice, and quite frankly I don’t really care.
Basically, change and adapt or die, sums up this blog length book that has sold about a trillion copies.
So I know you’re just itching to tell me what a half-wit I am for panning a book you love. So be my guest, tell me why I’m wrong in the comments.
I did also start making a note of the heavily hyped books that I personally think deserved the praise and another 10 that didn’t get hyped, but probably should have been. If you’d like me to run another post and list those let me know and I’ll be happy to oblige.
Haha! Another great read. I agree with the ones that I’ve read (some of them I haven’t) – except… dum dum dum… the funny bearded one Tolle.
I don’t know what it is, but I never found it repetitive. I didn’t understand it the first couple of times I read it years ago, but every now and again I do pick it up and flip thru it and I always get something new from it. He has contributed tremendously to my life. That said, I liked him a lot more before he plastered his face everywhere :D
While I think the books you listed here may be received differently at different times in our lives, I applaud you for pointing out that the emperor has no clothes. I normally just write about books I like and ignore the ones I don’t, no matter how popular they are. You may have emboldened me to speak out about some of the snake oil sellers who have invaded the personal growth arena–and set personal growth back a few decades.
I haven’t read any of these books! Now is the time to confess I never know what you’re talking about when you talk about these people.
I just always had this feeling in my head that I didn’t like self development so instead I read those books about serial killers, so as to be able to recognize one when I met one. You can’t tell me that wasn’t a good use of my time. In fact, before I met you I used to tease my friend T about her passion for self help. Obnoxiously and often.
So I am very happy to agree with your assessments.
BTW, can anyone tell me if Eckhart Tolle is that guy who talks to dead people? His name sounds like he does, but then people who aren’t totally stupid tell me they like him, so I’m thinking I might be wrong. I dunno, if my name were Eckhart Tolle you bet your bippy I’d be pimping myself out as a psychic.
This is pretty funny. At first I kept saying “what?!” but then had to agree – although I’ve read most of these books, I could sum up the gist of each of them in a few sentences. At the time I read them, I remember thinking they were fairly helpful to my situation. I don’t think I’d be as into these particular books anymore.
I for one would be interested in a list of books that you do find helpful and warrant attention.
I LOVED this!
I sometimes think I am the only one who has lost all faith in the self-help overinformation thing that is going on
I have been an avid reader of Eckart and loved it, But I went to see him live, sitting there for hours listening to him rabbit on about nothing in particular and giggle,
Having to watch him on the giant screen and sitting beside my sister who ….fell asleep…..during the talk just wasn’t inspiring.
I am afraid I completely lost the faith…..
I have read a few of the others you mentioned, they are all good, but they only contain a small nugget of good info and a lot of repetition and filling up of space and hype.
thanks for helping me feel not so alone!
Heh… I loved the 7 Habits. Don’t know if it’s overhyped or not, but he specifically states he has only repackaged what others have found over the years.
GTD: I was really shocked by the content. I was like “That’s it?”
Power Of Now: Title seemed like a good summary to me :)
Men Are From Mars: Sounded like it’s selling on the Man Vs Woman never ending debate. Didn’t waste my time on it.
Thanks for the list :).
The best shelf development(good one) book I’ve ever read, without any question whatsoever is “Awaken the Giant Within” by Anthony Robbins.
I read it recently and am reading it again, now. I used to stare clear of him because I thought (inaccurately so) that all he talked about was business motivation. Boy was I wrong.
This book is by far the most useful and potentially life changing personal development book I’ve ever read. In two word: practical and inspirational.
I also recently read “Excuses Begone!”. While there were many good and useful insights in this book, there is one area which really started to take a toll on me after a while. None other than the “law of attraction.”
Dr. Dyer is really into it, and you can’t seem to go more than a few pages without him reminding you that this is the way it is. Well, according to your beliefs it is, but to me it’s a downer. Because I don’t believe the world works that way; that the world is much more complex than that; and instead just tell me how to use my mind effectively.
One great thing I immediately noticed from Anthony Robbin’s famous book is that he talks about how important it is to believe in yourself. But he explains that the reason this is is because by having belief you’re dipping into resources that a lack of belief simply wouldn’t. That’s practical. That’s real.
The whole “LOA” that Dr. Dyer can’t get away from just doesn’t resonate with me. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of his books. I think Anthony Robbins is far, far better. And I need to use my time as wisely as I can.
Anthony Robbin’s book is transformational and gets to the root of the problem. It gets your mind to alter its ways.
“Excuses Begone!” can certainly be helpful but it will, in my opinion, never reach the profound potential that “Awaken the Gian Within” can in personal transformation.
Ok, these people have written their books, sold a motza of copies, and done the talking tours, tapes, video’s, guest appearances etc. Having read most of them, I put them down and thought, ‘What have I missed?’
Particularly with Covey’s book. The zeal which my management team took to this book was astounding to watch, and the buzz continues to flow round the workplace some years later. If I someone say ‘synergise’ or ‘sharpen the saw’ again, I will nail that persons’ ears to the back of a speeding truck.
But, what didn’t ‘do it’ for me, has obviously worked for someone else, so who am I to criticise?
Then (and I hesitate to write this because the guys got a lot of overzealous disciples) there’s my like/detest thing with Tony Robbins. Some of his scribbling is quite good, down to earth, and practical. But I personally wouldn’t want the bloke walking through my front door. For some reason he projects ‘Shark in a Suit’ to me. Again, just my perception, please don’t kidnap my pets… well, at least take the dog that sheds lots of hair.
Good post Tim… call me when you decide to half the price of your book again!
Cheers,
Gb
I read a lot of books, but the only one on this list I’ve read in the 7 Habits… and I agree about about the spirituality bit. It’s hard to find life or biz management information that doesn’t include the writers belief that we’d all be better off with a spiritual belief. Imagine my happiness to find this blog.
Wow. Has it really been 20 yrs since 7 Habits?
I read “Who moved my cheese” during a time of huge change for me. While it is a simple idea, reading it during this scary time of my life, helped me suck it up and step into the maze to look for the cheese. So for me, it was worth the push it gave me.
@ Albert – Great to see you here my man. I know I’m being harsh on ET and I do think his voice is much of the problem for me. Maybe I should buy the book? BTW, had you ever considered his initials before? I hadn’t, but he is a tad extraterrestrial in looks!
@ Barbara – Nicely done! I even had the emperors new clothes in my original draft, I love that expression, but couldn’t be bothered to explain it. Thanks.
@ Tracy – Yes Eckhart is that man. Unforunately, they never started off that way he just bored them to death.
@ Robyn – Ok I’ll do it because I’ve already had 3 e-mails from people asking me to. I just didn’t want to go to any more self-indulgent and bore people.
@ Brigid – Why am I not surprised to hear that story! Poor Eckhart ;-) Don’t lose faith because there are great books out there.
@ Bashar – I actually loved 7 Habits when I read it so that may make me comments now a tad unfair. It was the only book on the list I actually agonized over. Well maybe not agonized, but paused for thought for a few seconds.
@ BF – Spooky, ATGW was a maybe on my list of books that are overhyped and deserve it. I’m on the fence with Tony Robbins, but he did a great job with that book.
@ Gb – People often write LOL without laughing out loud. I can honestly saying reading your comment I did laugh out loud with the nailing the ear comment. I think you’re a tad harsh on Tony, but hey, what do I know.
@ Con – Frightening though it seems (to me too) it really was 20 years ago. Thanks for the kind words.
@ Laurie – I am 100% sure that every one of the above mentioned books has helped people. That wasn’t really the point.
Good thing you aren’t particularly controversial :). But one thing you stated seemed a bit one sided, and so of course I’ll take issue with it:
“Not in my map of the world they don’t Pecky . If we start imposing our beliefs and values on other people we not only demonstrate a stunning lack of respect, but we also presuppose we know what is best for them, and more importantly, that they don’t.”
Let’s see … seat belt laws, gun control laws, helmet laws, smoking, socialized health care, and the list goes on.
Of course, if you agree these types of laws and agendas “demonstrate a stunning lack of respect” along with the presupposition “we know what is best for them”, we are most certainly in agreement!
Great post!
Marvin
@ Marvin – Excellent point that does kind of throw up a paradox.
I think Government that is elected by the population imposing measures to help people, is altogether different that one individual deciding what they know is best for a friend or family member irrespective of what they want.
But I do take your point and maybe I should have qualified what I was being flippant about ;-)
Awesome! I’m reading this thinking, “Yeah! Let’s go!”
OK. First….Stephen Covey. You know? The reason it seems ‘old’ is because it’s 20 years old. (Don’t let me remind me how old that made *me* when it came out….or you, Tim. Cuz dude. Seriously. ;-) )
There was some good stuff in that book. Begin with the End in Mind, for example. Which, I know, people often say that’s a bad idea because you get too attached to outcomes. But that’s not the point of ‘begin with the end in mind’ and maybe something he didn’t explain well enough. (It’s about getting to your values. So, you know, if ‘in the end’ you want people to say you were a great family man….maybe you don’t work 100 hours a week or cheat on your wife and you show up for soccer games.)
It’s a very useful exercise.
Also, I liked that he explained that going for the ‘superficial answers’ are still, essentially, superficial and not only won’t get you what you’re really after but will really lead to being manipulative. (Are you ‘thinking positive’ and ‘seeking to understand first’ just so you get what you want? Uh huh. Yeah. I’m just sayin)
I don’t love everything about Covey. But back in the day, it was stuff no one else was saying and went deeper to values and principles (I wish it explained more that *you* get to define what those are for you, but…..)
What amazes me are some new “up-and-comers” who are recycling his stuff, especially in the area of time management. It never occurred to me people hadn’t heard it. (ha) “Everything old is new again” huh?
Eckart Tolle? Well….okay….see, I like Byron Katie’s four questions. (How does that relate? Hang on….) But essentially, they both go for the same ‘answer’ in my book. That answer? Nothing is real. It’s all perception and nothing is real.
Look. I’m both spiritual and religious (to an extent), it’s not meant to be a crutch and it’s not meant to avoid reality. You have to pay your mortgage. “Staying in the moment” can help you deal with problems you’re facing with that, but going too far just means they come take your house.
And rejection? Rejection sucks. You can’t ‘stay in the moment’ and act like the person you’ve loved for years didn’t just walk out the door. There are ways you can cope that will be ‘clean’ and ‘clear’ and help you deal better and move on quicker — to a brighter tomorrow. But not by just acting like it doesn’t matter. Nope. I’m not into avoiding reality at all. (I’m extremely hopeful and optimistic. But avoiding stuff just gets you into major trouble.)
I could write about the other books but let’s go to this one:
Seriously. There have been blogs that I followed until they started talking about the wisdom of the 4-Hour Work Week. Seriously. Maybe it’s my corporate background, maybe it’s that I just ‘get it’. I don’t know. But if you’re looking to make millions with a 4-Hour Work Week? Buy the DVD version of the Secret. It’ll save you time. And it’s all about saving time, yeah? (hehe)
As I get (and I know you do, Tim) feedback at times about posts being too lengthy (or deep), this type of thing just gets to me. There are other ‘A-listers’ (I won’t name them) who everyone just….well….let’s just say that as Kelly Diels wrote last week, I’m amazed that people don’t pull back the curtain and see there’s just an old guy with white hair pulling levers who owns a hot air balloon back there.
And finally, on a (hopefully) more fun note……
I was living in Boston. My dad, after going back to school at 40 and years and years of schooling, was going to ‘walk for graduation’ for the first time. (In Orlando, by the way.) I couldn’t be there but they were broadcasting it via internet. (Which was a new thing to do when he ‘walked’.) So my friends came over to celebrate with me and watch my dad walk……for his PhD. (I’m still so proud.)
The guy speaking suddenly started talking about ‘moving cheese.’ And we all looked at each other asking, “Why on earth is he talking about moving cheese?” (Only we were more vulgar.) The speaker was awful. The book? More so. (Once I found it. Because I had no idea why this guy was talking about cheese when my dad was about to get a friggin’ PhD! haha)
Oh. Yeah. I finally started ignoring the speech and attempted calling my mother to see if I could get her cell phone to go off during the ceremony and hear it over the internet. (HA! Yes. I am my father’s daughter.)
So the cheese thing? Makes me cry and laugh at the same time.
Great post!
Loved it!
All the best!
deb
Is that so?
Great to see an honest review. Don’t think you’ll be making many affiliate sales through these. Lol!
I thought the 4-Hour Work Week gave some very practical advice on how to automate and outsource parts of one’s life freeing up time. However, I realised that the 4-Hour Work Week title was not real and was just a marketing move.
You’ve peaked my interest to read “Flow”. Never heard of it, but I want to learn a bit more technical psychology.
I think “The Answer” was a pretty decent book. Have you read it? Maybe you can do a review on that in future.
Not a comment about your list; I’m not much of a “personal development” person, more of a “I have a specific problem/issue/question” so I look for books that deal with that.
I am commenting to disagree with your response to @Marvin – in general the government is the WORST vehicle to get people to make positive changes – it simply becomes a crutch that some use to exploit others (I am not against all government, just most of it!)
On the other hand, the ones that are closest to us who know us best and actually give a damn are the ones who SHOULD be speaking to our lives, with kindness and love. And the fact that we love them means that we may take the advice or leave it and usually still be able to sit across the Thanksgiving table with them (not to mention support each other during the hard times). I have a very close extended family (like over 40 cousins never mind our children and on and on…) There are quarrels and misunderstandings and we help one another and love one another and take care of each other. Those are the people who should be helping us and talking to us, and yes within the parameters of their value system! (I’m a big girl; I can handle it!)
Right there with you about those overhyped books. I’d love to see those other lists you mentioned.
Haha, yea he does look funny… I still remember your “funny little beard” comment from an old post. Cracked me up. Do try his book, you might like it. ;)
Books are valuable to me if they either give some new information I didn’t know or if they open up a drill on my head. Ferris book it’s of the first category, because it opened my eyes to delegation and outsourcing, your book instead is in the second category because it made me change inside.
Hear! Hear! At last, someone who agrees with me about John Gray and that bloody book! And that’s all I’m going to say on that.
As for Feel the fear and The road less travelled, well it’s been about ten years since I read those and that’s long enough for me to have effectively forgotten the content but not the guilt inducing non acceptance reading them seemed to instill in me.
To be fair, most self help books seem to instill a sense of “you’re rubbish, you’ve got problems and you should be able to fix them in two minutes following my magic formula” in me, so mostly I steer clear from them and focus on self acceptance rather than self improvement now.
Great article!
I guess this is one reason why I find the whole personal development market so bloody fascinating. Some people seem to do so well out of Stating the Bleeding Obvious or selling thin air! I borrowed the Covey book from the library and never finished it – zzzzzzz! I flicked through the “4 hour work week” in the bookstore and snorted so loudly I put it back on the bookshelf to strange stares from other shoppers – are people out there really that clueless?
It never ceases to amaze me how people can endlessly recycle the same old guff and make huge profits doing it – or blogs that have practically zero useful content do brilliantly (I won’t name names), but others out there that I think are the work of a genius that have practically zero following… I really don’t get it.
On the plus side there are books out there that really hit home – at least for me – Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez springs immediately to mind, or Is the American Dream Killing You by Paul Stiles. Or how about Po Bronson’s What Should I do with My Life – I know people whose lives have been changed radically by that one book. Or Working Ourselves to Death by Dianne Fassell. These are all books that have the potential to fundamentally change lives – and I love it that they can do that!
Sometimes what seems to really grab people leaves me feeling perplexed as to why they are so successful (and yes GTD is a great example of that). Funnily enough I once watched a presentation by the guy behind GTD and within 5 minutes I was in a coma – so I can agree with you there.
Damned if I can figure it all out.
I guess we are all different and different things connect to different people differently.
I’m now off to write my next bestseller – A Different Kind of Difference! ;)
An excellent article, Tim!
I agree with your evaluation of all the books, even the ones I haven’t read! (Yes, this means you’ve reached the status of Guru-hood.. congrats! :P)
I believe we each have our own issues to deal with and our own sore points. What may seem obvious to one person is divine revelation to someone else. For almost my entire life I believed that pleasures on earth are evil and a distraction from nobler, “other-worldly” ambitions. To believe that happiness on earth is a noble and achievable pursuit was a new idea for me. This may seem odd to some, but given my background, the idea was revolutionary.
Self-help *does* appeal to the clueless more than it appeals to the competent… That’s because they need more help!
While I love the whole GTD process and a lot of the principles behind the book, I believe it was very poorly written. David Allen’s second book: “Ready for Anything” was even worse! I think I understood only 10 sentences in the book, in total.
Looking forward to your follow-up posts!
Fascinating post, Tim! I’ve read about half the books on the list.
I think 7 Habits is overhyped (I think MOST things are overhyped), but it’s probably the one I enjoyed the most. I did find it quite long-winded.
4HWW I have mixed feelings about: for me, it was one of those books where I found some hugely helpful bits and pieces, and some parts that left me cold.
The Road Less Travelled was a good read though a bit grim/challenging in parts. I found it bizarrely interesting to learn about what psychotherapists do, though! I started re-reading it recently but only got halfway through, and have forgotton if he got too evangelical for my liking or not…
I think there’s a more general problem with hype in that (in my opinion!) there’s no perfect personal development book because everyone’s different. I’ve found that some things which work for me don’t help my boyfriend, and vice versa. I get something from most personal development books – especially when the author writes in an enthusiastic and non-patronising way (you and John get a thumbs up!) – but I find that it’s usually a case of trying things out and seeing what actually fits well for me.
Would love to see some lists of books you think do deserve hype … though I should probably re-read How to be Rich and Happy before I go buying anything else. ;-)
Why yes, I would like to see the list of books you personally think deserved the praise and another 10 that didn’t get hyped, but probably should have been
;)
@ Gordie – Nah you could be right on affiliate sales.
@ Anne – We’re talking at cross purposes I think and I really don’t want to shoot off at a tangent. I’ll say this and leave it.
At an individual level we always have our own agenda when we try and chnage other people, it’s impossible not to have.
We all have different values, even close relatives. Therefore we are trying to change somebody based on our values and beliefs. Now if they ask for help to change that is one thing, but us deciding they need it is an altogether different matter.
Justin – You got it!
@ Albert – Yeh maybe I should read the book although I bet I read it and hear his voice in my head which wouldn’t really work at all.
@ Doug – Touche!
@ Deb – Nice guest post! I did say 7 Habits was 20 years old and I did say it may be unfair to judge it based on what I know now, but jeez there is a great example of a padded book.
It did have some great ideas, but Covey took way too long explaining them imho.
@ Oscar – Thanks a lot for that.
@ Wormy – I know one book that’s nothing like that.
@ Tony – Oh man, please don’t take me down the blog path. It’s all about marketing and getting your face known. I once said on here content is no longer king, and I still believe that. Feel free to name names although I couldn’t possibly comment ;-)
@ Haider – That’s what I’m looking for round here, blind allegiance. I want a cult where people tell me they agree what I say about the books they have never read!
@ Ali – I agree there is no prefect book, except maybe How To Be Rich and Happy. It’s the same thing with anything, you can never appeal to everybodys taste.
After all I went o see Phantom of The Opera not long after it came out in London and thought it was crap! My sister thinks I’m a Philistine.
@ Weezie – Ok, I’m going to run it, probably next Monday.
Finally, someone who agrees with me! Would be interested to see which ones you think deserve their praise – might read them.
Fabulous, Tim, as ever. I think I once referred to “Getting Things Done” as hardcore pornography for chronic and incurable procrastinators.
Great reviews, and very interesting.
Oh Great Honest One….I loved the list. And I totally agree. I have read all but 2 of these, and that is because I haven’t read anything by Dyer in over 10 years. Too much of a recycle of his own and others info. And the bearded one. I was given one of his earlier books and vowed never to waste my time again.
I have found that the people who benefit most from these books are just enetering the work force or the world in a real way. They haven’t read much, or had much expeience, pressure, or responsibility. So, they still have a lot to learn. If nothting else they can broaden their horizons and be better judges of the next hype out of the box.
I will be very curious to see your list of helpful books. I do believe there are still some good books around.
One that comes to mind is a sort of light but oh so fun read: “How to Be Happy dammit, a cynic’s guide to spiritual happiness.” It never fails to make me laugh and to remind me of some of the most simple life lessons.
Thanks for your thoughts.
As usual I love your post. I often get in trouble with friends by unwittingly criticizing their favorite self help book. I can hardly get through most self help books because I get board of the repetition. What every happened to verbal economy?
One of the books that might be added to the list is “Feeling Good” by David Burns. I have known people who were seriously depressed who have become homicidal as well after reading a few pages of this best seller. I believe cognitive therapy to be helpful but all those exclamation points should have gotten his editor fired. Besides the picture they put on the jacket is really creepy. I do have more legitimate reasons for thinking this book sold WAY more copies than it should have, however as with the books mentioned in the post I am sure it helped some people.
I also am looking forward to the list you believe is worth the read.
Thanks
People don’t need no stinkin’ books to tell them what to do. If they have a good coach and a desire to change they can figure it all out. When I coach people I always tell them: Sure there are books and plans and methods they can buy to change but the bottom line is this. Everyone’s mind is so different there is no way that anyone can tell them what will work for them. Only they know. The people who “connect” with a book or a method? Well that is just how their mind happens to work at that particular part of their life. And I guarantee it will change over time.
Reading these comments only proves this to me. People picked and chose what worked for them at that specific time of their life.
When someone reaches an impasse about how to “change something” I will suggest some books or ideas but caution them to take only what works for them and throw the rest out. I suggest they take what connects with their mind and create something that works for themselves.
I haven’t read any of them except 7 Habits – which I really liked. And I think lots of books are over-rated, but then many are under-rated as well.
It’s kind of interesting that sometimes many people can say the same thing to you time and time again and it just doesn’t want to get into your head. Their words of wisdom are entirely lost on you. And then you read some silly book, or someone completely insignificant (for you) says the same thing and all of a sudden it’s ‘Wow. What an unbelievable truth’ and suddenly that little piece of wisdom is yours.
That’s how it is with books, I think. One man’s drudge can often be another man’s ‘Wow’. It’s difficult to foresee how and when an ‘aha’ moment will hit somebody or what vehicle will be necessary to get the job done.
Sometimes a perfectly overhyped book will be just the ticket.
Different packages for different people repackaged differently by different people…….
I enjoyed the concise outline of each title (whilst having a little chuckle)…. sometimes in life the info is relevant, some times it is not.
I have seen GTD completely transform a colleague who had a super messy desk and always struggled to keep track of project tasks (despite being an incredibly intelligent and inspired individual) into a productive fireball complete with clean desktop…. he raves about the process …. for me interesting but did not work…. which takes me back to my opening ….. different packages for different people….
Look forward to some more cutting reviews :-}
@ howardsend – Watch this space, they’ll be up on either Sunday or Monday.
@ Joely – That one word ‘porn’ had you in my spam folder. It was funny though, I like that expression.
@ YDQ – One of the things I personally fall victim to is forgetting that new people are constantly finding this stuff and it’s ‘new’ to them. I have cringed in the past saying something I thought was cliched to a client and they have lit up like I explained the meaning of life.
@ ZH – That’s interesting because I haven’t read that book, but have toyed with buying it a few times. Burns does have quite a good reputation and I do totally believe in CBT.
@ Maureen – I largely agree with that, but having just published a book that we deliberately went out to make sure was different for each person, I have to have some reservations.
@ Lisa – Wow, I know where you are coming with that one! My wife ignores anything I say to do with self development, but laps up stuff that comes from elsewhere!
@ Mick – Agreed mate, I do know that every one of those books will have been life changing to somebody, it’s a judgment call as to whether that was because they are truly ‘great’ books (whatever that means) or they were just in the rigtht place at the right time.
And yet I read your blog!!!!
Now stop messing around on the Mac and get you’re chores done!!!
This is why I love you Tim!
I couldn’t agree more on The Power of Now, Flow, and Feel the Fear, and 4 hour work week.
The others, either I’ve read them and got some nuggets out of it… or I’ve yet to read them. Hmm, now I’m not sure if I should. ;)
Thanks this was a great laugh and I really felt like we connected on this one!
Nathalie
If you’ve never read it, give “Secrets of Closing the Sale” by Zig Ziglar a try. It may be written from a sales perspective but it’s still one of the best books ever on persuasion techniques and understanding how other people think.
Great list,
I am sure you expected this, I agree with you on some of these titles and disagree with you on others. Some are excellent books and others I could have done without. But I think that is the point. Everyone has their own views and beliefs about everything and that is what makes life so great.
Love your blog!
Tim,
Great assessment of the books I have actually read. Don’t know much about the others.
I thought Covey’s Habits was a great initial framework, as it was a sort of “jumping in” read for me. After digging around a little bit and looking through my personal lens, I agree that it could have been about 200 pages shorter and had the same effect. Also, the cult following is a bit unnerving.
I did like the 8th habit, but put it down after skimming most of it.
To this day, I think it all boils back to the “Think and Grow Rich” framework. I saw more value in finding the secret in that book than I have found anywhere else. I use everything else to help put that secret to use.
Also, as a good perspective piece, “The Resiliency Advantage” by Al Siebert was a good reference work as well.
Most self help work is downwind of the actual problem as I see it. Google building confidence and read the top 3 or 4 returns. Nothing of substance. Plenty of generalizations and fluff, but nothing that gets to the core of the issue.
I thought your work with HTBRAH was spot on and had real substance and tools. As I haven’t read your follow up post yet, I am sure your book is worthy of mention there by it’s readers.
FWIW, and Tim knows this, I don’t give praise too easily, and I would just as surely go to guns on him if I didn’t agree. My comment on his book is coming from a platform of neutral review. I found the deep study and reflection of values as a jumping off point, coupled with a real vehicle for assessment a useful tool for implementation.
Wait a second, I’m a leo too, and I totally aspire to world domination! I think you’re on to something…
Really good post though. I started reading The Power of Now, and just put it down after a few dozen pages, because the guy keeps droning on and on about the exact same thing. I’ve read a few of the other books you mention, too, and I generally agree with you.
@ Nathalie – Hope I’ve saved you some cash! BTW, nice wtiches hat on the video.
@ Steve – Heard it praised many times and never read it. I have read tons of sales books, is this more sales/self development or purely sales?
@ SM – Yeh of course you’re right. I’m being provocative just because I can ;-)
@ Mike – I have maybe been tough on Covey. But I’m sure as he charges $150,000 for a keynote speech he’ll learn to live with it.
@ Vlad – Let’s conquer the world together. You round up an army and I’ll make the sandwiches.
Hi Tim — I always enjoy your style. Just a note about The Power of Now. Eckhart mentions in the beginning that finding the book boring is entirely likely, because the mind is always hungry for more stimulus and information, no matter how useless that information is. But the idea of the book, I think, is not so much to provide new information as to help the reader to let go of that hunger and sense of incompleteness. As we read the book, I think it’s helpful to observe that inner voice that says “oh, God, enough, bring on the next list of 552 super iPhone hacks” and recognize that the voice is only part of who we are. What we are is actually something infinitely greater and more intelligent. Anyway, just offering a slightly different way to see the book.
Everyone has a story to tell, not everyone has a story listened too.
Long live the story tellers.
Whats with the Rams?
@ Chris – Have you just summed up the book in one paragraph?
@ John – Let us never again talk of the Rams.
Loved the post. I have read a couple books mentioned in this post and I was really motivated by their ideas and their narrative style. But, when I give it a second-read, I was very skeptical and the ideas and tit-bits mentioned are mere common-sense.
[...] Overhyped and Overrated | Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone : [...]
I would give 4 hour work week more credit then that. I would agree with you, the title is just a title for marketing.
What the book represents is quite amazing. I went from being a one man show reading this in early 2008 to taking 2 month long vacations in 2009 based on methods in this book.
one tip, email checking. When I was on my first trip, Monday morning for 2 hours, no more work. My second trip, I did not check email for almost 2 weeks.
Get this, first Monday I did check email, I had 1800 emails, only 6 required responses and ZERO were urgent.
Give Tim a little more credit for this one, however it is all up to the person and how they take it.
Cheers,
Mukul