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Skeptic seal of approval self help books?

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Skeptitron:
I understand this is a category generally frowned upon, and for good reason, in our community but that being said I'd like to see some of your favorites in this category, particularly pertaining to sales, negotiating, self confidence.

341gerbig:
In on this, Ive always wondered if there is a nugget of gold in the pile of crap that is self-help books

Zytheran:
Possibly useful if you are the last human on the planet, otherwise get what you want from a trained psychologist if you want to change an aspect of your personality.
The one-on-one contact is simply a better way to do things and humans learn better from other humans, it's what we evolved to do.
None are favourites, even though I know most (some) authors are well meaning, I'm yet to come across any empirical evidence that they work at all, let alone approaching what a trained professional can do.
IMHO trying to change an aspect of ones own personality without an independent judge (or judges) to give objective feedback is going to be ....challenging...to put it politely.
...and I'm sure there will be anecdotes of blah blah who did so well after reading blah. However I'd suggest blah blah might have done even better with a different approach involving independent experts in the field.
Although it might seem so empowering to be in control of changes in your life, the real subconscious you is always in control to a large extent and is given you the fake illusion of being in control. You (and me and everyone) is not overtly aware of this which is why you need that not-you objective opinion which can only come from others.

Tatyana:
http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/books/59-seconds-think-a-little-change-a-lot/
59 Seconds exposes self-help myths, and presents scientifically proven techniques that help you achieve your aims and ambitions in less than a minute. From mood to memory, persuasion to procrastination, and resilience to relationships, 59 Seconds presents the new science of rapid change.

Guillermo:
I have never been able to get through a self help book. I find them interesting at the beginning, and then I get really bored reading them. It's like they tend to tell me things that I already know, or stuff that I don't care about, or am not interesting to follow.

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