Self Improvement Books: Valuable Guides Or Dusty Doorstops?
Quite often, when someone decides to make positive changes in
their lifestyle and personality, the first thing they'll do is
head for the nearest bookstore and start looking through the
self improvement book section. Although their desire to become a
better person is honorable, there are some things they should
know before selecting a self improvement book to help them on
their course. If you are one of these people, please read on.
First, not every one of these books is filled with advice that
will be helpful for you. Sure, the cover may be flashy, the
title intriquing and the write-up on the back may hold promises
of the many secrets to be revealed within. Please don't fall
prey to this type of gift-wrap marketing though. Take the time
to actually crack open the book and read through the contents
and a few random paragraphs or pages within.
Secondly, ask yourself if the course of self improvement being
offered in the book is information that you already know. As you
skim the book, you may find yourself agreeing with what the
author is saying. That's a good sign that you already know this
information. In this case, what you need to do is take action
with the information you already have, not procrastinate by
purchasing another book on the topic.
On the other hand, if you find yourself having lightbulbs go off
in your head as you browse through the book and saying to
yourself, "Hey, I never thought of things that way!", you might
be onto a good find. Self improvement books that make you think
on your own and motivate you to take action on your new ideas
are often a worthwhile investment.
Finally, if you do discover the perfect book, don't buy it right
away. Being frugal is one of the first steps to
self-improvement, so you might want to consider leaving the
bookstore and checking your local library to see if the title is
available for free. Another option is to comparison shop at
online bookstores to get the best price available.
Keeping these book buying tips in mind will not only save you
time and money, they may also help you further along your path
to personal perfection.