For a touch of cynicism, a dab of sarcasm, and a big dose of humor, read this article from Mail Online. From "Things can only get better - right?":
New Year, new start, brand new you. Yes, I’m afraid so. Its that time of year when the relentless message pumped out by the publishing industry is that whoever you are and whatever you are doing, it simply isn’t good enough.
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Even glancing along the self-help shelves would shred the confidence of a minotaur. There are books for depression, anxiety, nerves, therapy, personal skills, motivational skills, hostess skills, life skills and how to look good in a tulip skirt skills - even if you can’t unless you are Kate Moss. There are manuals on how to be rich, how to be thin, how to be a better you. There are books that drip with emollient homilies, titles that are rich in emotional wisdom, everything for everyone who ever suffered from a twinge of doubt.
Several books are reviewed (or skewered). Here's the review of one of my least favorite books of any genre and of all time:
The Secret is based on the theory of the law of attraction - everything you get in life, you are attracting. If you want something badly enough and think about it sufficiently, you will attract it to you. Now if that were true, I would be sitting on Javier Bardem’s knee eating caviar on hot toast - and I’m not.
Bonkers spiritual tome, loved by Noel Edmonds, parodied on The Simpsons, dissected on Oprah and read by millions. Despite being a load of old rehashed, positive thinking mumbo-jumbo. Yes, parts of it are curiously gripping, but only in the way that talking to a mad person on a bus can be gripping. Most of it just makes you want to get off before your stop. Printed on pseudo parchment, heavy with mystic portent, this is the book for Harry Potter in rehab.
Top Tips: ‘Do what you love. If you don’t know what brings you joy, ask “What is my joy?” As you commit to your joy, you will attract an avalanche of joyful things because you are radiating joy.’
Click to read the other reviews.
Image credit: Mail Online.
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