Most critiques of "self-help" books ring hollow if you've actually read any of the lampooned works. I feel that authors of such critiques are mostly trying to m

Most critiques of "self-help" books ring hollow if you've actually read any of the lampooned works. I feel that authors of such critiques are mostly trying to make themselves feel superior to those hapless plebs who are ready to throw themselves prostrate in front of this year's fad guru. Count me on the side of the plebs. I've read numerous "self-help" books, including many of the ones named in this piece. And nearly all of them have useful information that has aided me. I recognize myself as deeply flawed. I would be a fool to not look for information on how to deal with that from those who have learned something about it. Are there charlatans with bad information? Sure. Does that mean I should disregard everyone with something potentially useful to share? No.