AlteredState01:

I'm a long-term reader of self-help material. I started getting interested in this area in the 1960's and decided it was an area that academic psychology took little interest in. I found some good stuff. But I did and do still agree in general with academics--a lot of stuff in this area is nearly worthless. Some writers think writing a book is the way to fame and money; some think their life story should be read by everyone or their solution will work for everyone. The result is over 2000 new books and many thousands of articles every year! Most of which are ignored by practicing psychologists.

The problem is that very helpful ideas and methods are in a few of the very best self-help books or in the applied and research literature. The ordinary person can't tell what is a good source of self-help information. I see my main contribution to be providing a guide to the best self-help information and methods, as indicated by research and the basic knowledge of how change happens.

When you are buying a self-help book (if you can't find free information or article) look for the source of information the author is making use of--how many books and journal articles are cited? Does the author recommend good readings in this area or does he/she just sell his/her book? Is the author just giving his/her opinion or story? Have they looked for the outcome research and reported it to you in an understandable way?

There are many, many good sources of self-help information. There is sound, useful, well researched methods. There are not sure-fire methods for everyone and for every problem. Google the topic; look up books at Amazon by topic; read for recommendations by experts in the field (rather than buying the book in the area of interest being advertised in the book store ads today.

Come here and share the good material you have find and see if others agree with you. There are gems out there that should be in every school library and classroom.

drclay