Helping Me Help Myself: One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus, and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort Zone
- ISBN13: 9780061710735
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Beth Lisick has had a lifelong phobia of anything slick, cheesy, or that remotely claims to provide self-empowerment. But on New Year’s Day 2006, she wakes up finally able to admit that something has to change. Determined to confront her fears head-on, Beth sets out to fix her life by consulting the multimillion-dollar-earning experts. In Chicago, she gets proactive with The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In Atlanta, she struggles to understand why “women are from Venus.” She gamely sweats to the oldies on a weeklong Cruise to Lose with Richard Simmons on the high seas of the Caribbean. Throughout this yearlong experiment, Beth tries extremely hard to maintain her wry sense of humor and easygoing nature, even as she starts to fall prey to some of the experts’ ideas—ideas she thought she’d spent her whole life rejecting. … More >>
It starts out slow. But builds and becomes funny in spots. But not consistent. Somewhat whiny.
This book may save you thousands in self-help fees, and allow you a deliciously voyeuristic peek into the world of self-help gurus.
It’s great fun to travel along with Ms. Lisick to self-help conferences, listening in to the latest gurus, and having a friend to dish with about the other attendees. The author tells her story well, and draws the reader in.
In the end, though, it’s a bit sad, watching this woman – and those she observes – seek help in coping with daily life.
This book is witty and I liked the author’s style. I did read the whole thing. I wanted to like it a little more, finding her somewhat hard to relate to, which surprised me. I didn’t think she went very deep.
What a fun, funny, engaging, WELL written gem of a book! Couldnt put it down! I can just tell Beth would be a very easy person to get to know in person! I highly recommend this book! I think a lot of us have been ‘guilty’ of seeking out all kinds of “self-help” and that in itself can become a “problem” but Beth handles it in a delightfully honest, self-effacing way!
Beth Lisick is a talented observational writer who works well with her medium using the self-help industry as a foil for her craft.
The idea of a new Self-Help program every month coupled with the observations of the presenters and conference participants, yielded several laughs for me as well as some wry smiles along the way.
While much of the material is humorous, there are some insights to be gained along the way and in the end she actually manages to draw it together to a conclusion that yields an opportunity for a little thought and introspection.
Be aware, there is a some rough language in the book. The lampooning of religious people may cause some a little discomfort. For most however, taking the book in a light vein will yield an enjoyable read.