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Help!: How to Be Slightly Happier, Slightly More Successful and Get a Bit More Done
by
How do you solve the problem of human happiness? It's a subject that has occupied some of history's greatest thinkers, from Aristotle to Paul McKenna. But how do we sort the good ideas from the bad ones? In the last five years Oliver Burkeman has travelled to some of the strangest corners of the 'happiness industry' to find out.
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Paperback
Published
January 1st 2011
by Canongate Books
(first published December 12th 2010)
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Start your review of Help!: How to Be Slightly Happier, Slightly More Successful and Get a Bit More Done
The thing about self help type books, like writing advice books and management books, is they tend to have basically one genuinely useful nugget of advice and the rest of the £7.99 book is there as scaffolding for it. This book is all the nuggets of advice, no scaffolding. As such it's actually crammed with really useful thoughts, and extensively annotated so you can do some further reading for the points where you want depth. (Which you will not get here--it's an overview.) It's very funny at p
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Essentially, this book made me feel better about myself. I know the rest of the planet is stumbling around in much the same way as I am. As a life style choice it has its drawbacks particularly if you're searching for a thumb tack, but the worst case scenario, for which you won't even be around to listen to all the bitchin' amd moanin' is from the poor sod who has to clean out you apartment.
And, to make matters much, he's probably still reads 'Noddy' books so will have no appreciation for your ...more
And, to make matters much, he's probably still reads 'Noddy' books so will have no appreciation for your ...more
Lots of references to other material that I have read which I found very interesting to begin with. After a while though I realised the book itself contained far too many references to an abundance of different material in the self help field but with very few insights from the author. This left me with the feeling that there was nothing new to be gained.
I couldn't quite give it a fourth star, but it was an enjoyable read. Mainly, I like the snarkiness of the author. Maybe not as obnoxious as Simon Cowell, but in the same spirit. Here's an example:
THE ANTI-SECRET
The Secret, a self-help book that is one of the most extraordinary publishing successes of the past decade, argues that there is a single, overwhelmingly powerful secret known to all the greatest humans through history. It has ‘utterly transformed the lives of every person who ever knew ...more
THE ANTI-SECRET
The Secret, a self-help book that is one of the most extraordinary publishing successes of the past decade, argues that there is a single, overwhelmingly powerful secret known to all the greatest humans through history. It has ‘utterly transformed the lives of every person who ever knew ...more
Lessons:
Accepting a situation means acknowledging the reality of what's here, including any negative feelings. It does not mean resignation.
The real benefit isn't eradicating something, but becoming more conscious of what you let in.
Recognise bad moods generally arise from HALT (Hungry, angry, lonely, tired)
Different levels of need for connectedness lead to different level sof loneliness.
Just paying attention is enough, no need to analyse if the action was 'right'.
Ideas currently in the world ar ...more
Accepting a situation means acknowledging the reality of what's here, including any negative feelings. It does not mean resignation.
The real benefit isn't eradicating something, but becoming more conscious of what you let in.
Recognise bad moods generally arise from HALT (Hungry, angry, lonely, tired)
Different levels of need for connectedness lead to different level sof loneliness.
Just paying attention is enough, no need to analyse if the action was 'right'.
Ideas currently in the world ar ...more
Not your usual self-help book, thank heavens! This book is like Burkeman's own literature review - he looks at the evidence for various popular theories and systems, combining this with his own opinion and trials and errors. He has a wonderful wry humour and relates well to the material, trying it out for the reader and offering us his view / experience - whether this is a bestselling rule book with a shouty title and lots of exclamation marks or even dabbling (slightly) in Scientology.
I finishe ...more
I finishe ...more
I’m not much of a fan of the self-help genre and I believe that most self-help books do little for their readers other than inducing a greater sense of self-loathing and diminished self-worth when those readers fail to convert themselves into better people overnight. How many copies of ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ are sitting on the shelves of friendless and uninfluential people who can’t quite remember how they ever thought something they paid a few quid for was going to change the
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It's time to admit that I don't want to keep reading this book any longer. DNF @44%. It has its merits but it's just repeating the same things over and over again (particularly "Just chill out and don't expect results immediately in any endeavor, don't believe those "[Do thing] in 4 hours!!!" self help books") and I don't care for that.
Left unrated because, again, it has its merits so I don't want to lower its rating because it may genuinely help someone, but I (obviously) didn't enjoy it all t ...more
Left unrated because, again, it has its merits so I don't want to lower its rating because it may genuinely help someone, but I (obviously) didn't enjoy it all t ...more
Whilst often very funny, this is not as good as Burkeman's other book The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking due to its format - it reproduces his brief Guardian columns, meaning that each section is brief and tends to finish just as it gets interesting. Also, whilst he points out why positive thinking or self-help can actually make things worse using evidenced-based research, he doesn't always suggest evidence-based alternatives that *do* work and this too is bette
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Oliver Burkeman writes the column 'This Column will Change You Life' for the Guardian/Observer in the the UK. This book reads like a collection of this columns, broad sections (Work, Productivity) broken down into 2-4 page topics. He goes about debunking and hilariously ripping into much of the self-help literature and the motivational gurus out there (Messers Dyer and Robbins will you please stand up) whilst offering up the bits and pieces that he's encountered in his research that make sense t
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This is a brilliant overview of the utter bile to the useful theories of self-help books. Burkeman looks through a diverse range of current hyped-up self-help books and gives a clear-cut, personal and humorous review of what is and is not evidence-based techniques to improve your life.
It doesn't claim to make your problems go away overnight, but that is exactly why it is so refreshing. I would recommend it to anyone who isn't still stuck in the positive thinking bile.
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It doesn't claim to make your problems go away overnight, but that is exactly why it is so refreshing. I would recommend it to anyone who isn't still stuck in the positive thinking bile.
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Embarrassing to read on the tube but brilliant and sensible, very funny too.
Restored my sanity after one too many self-help books. I am now in recovery... Oliver Burkeman also has a very entertaining column in the Saturday Guardian. 'This Column Will Change Your Life!'
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Can a book that criticizes self-help books be one of the best self-help books out there?
Yes, it can.
Now, the common target of this book isn’t the self-help that’s back by research. Rather, it’s the pop psychology, New Age guru kind of self-help, though he also targets those that oversimplify the research. In fact, this book is packed with researched self-help. Mr. Burkeman breaks his book down into different categories (work, personal life, etc.) and then provides a paragraph to a page to the di ...more
Yes, it can.
Now, the common target of this book isn’t the self-help that’s back by research. Rather, it’s the pop psychology, New Age guru kind of self-help, though he also targets those that oversimplify the research. In fact, this book is packed with researched self-help. Mr. Burkeman breaks his book down into different categories (work, personal life, etc.) and then provides a paragraph to a page to the di ...more
A collection of Guardian’s self help columns on a variety of topics ranging from e-mail management to friendships. This was an ok read, I’d recommend reading a few chapters on topics that interest you the most, but not necessarily the whole book.
Something about Oliver Burkeman’s writing just doesn’t work for me. The sarcastic approach to humans’ quest for self improvement definitely made me laugh out loud a few times, but gave the whole book a bit of a negative undertone. It was a bit like talki ...more
Something about Oliver Burkeman’s writing just doesn’t work for me. The sarcastic approach to humans’ quest for self improvement definitely made me laugh out loud a few times, but gave the whole book a bit of a negative undertone. It was a bit like talki ...more
This is a delight: the anti-self-help book we all needed! Oliver Burkeman critiques practically every self-help manual known to man. Funny, smart and insightful, I loved every page. Be sure to buy a couple of copies so you have one to pass round to your friends. Oh, and best to read it when you’re on your own or you’ll find yourself doing that awkward thing where you keep interrupting your companions with impromptu readings each time you find something so good it must be shared!
Compilation of the author's newspaper articles which provide a useful summary of some of the more helpful offerings of the self-help industry, and some of those to avoid!
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Witty, well researched, irreverent. Wise
Didn't finish it. Just couldn't get into it at all. To be fair it is really well written but who is it written for? Not me!
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Well researched, delivered with a healthy sense of humour. Plenty of resources to explore.
I am not sure what this book is meant to be. Quite amusing, well written and with a few nuggets that were of interest and help. But would I recommend it? Probably not.
The author is a genius. The best fusion of logical thinking and humor I've ever seen.
...more
Help is unlike any other self-help book I've read before. Its criticises the conventional cliches of other books of the genre, and explores which tips are life-changing, and which make little difference. The book also references other books the author did find useful and why, which I will definitely check out in the future.
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It was like talking to a friend. Felt light, funny and engaging. I like how unlike most self-help books, this one does not make any big promises and simply states the author's opinions supported by facts and research.
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In this book British journalist Oliver Burkeman, a self-confessed cynic and sometime grump, sets out 'to solve the problem of human happiness.' He explores man's quest for happiness,from ancient philosophers to the booming modern day self-help industry. The book is written in the form of short columns on each topic as published in his weekly newspaper column.
Consequently each topic is only dealt with superficially, and this is my only complaint about the book - that I would have liked more deta ...more
Consequently each topic is only dealt with superficially, and this is my only complaint about the book - that I would have liked more deta ...more
Fun and instructive at the same time. Burkeman provides plenty of well deserved, and frequently hilarious, mockery of the self-help genre, whilst acknowledging where psychology has shown how to be effective in helping us be 'Slightly happier, slightly more successful and get a bit more done'. Mainly this involves, small steps and realistic expectations, but is no less useful because of the minor scale most of us should be focusing on. Not only do small steps make sense, but it's also necessary t
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While not as enjoyable to read as Burkeman's other book, The Antidote, this one does have its moments.
Essentially it examines many of the popular self-help themes out there, and offers arguments from other sources to support, debunk, or just plain laugh at them (I'm talking about The Secret for the last one there, and I'm laughing along).
I am grateful for some of the techniques I learnt via this book, like the Pomodoro Technique of distraction management. But many of his interpretations are als ...more
Essentially it examines many of the popular self-help themes out there, and offers arguments from other sources to support, debunk, or just plain laugh at them (I'm talking about The Secret for the last one there, and I'm laughing along).
I am grateful for some of the techniques I learnt via this book, like the Pomodoro Technique of distraction management. But many of his interpretations are als ...more
Great book that made me feel a lot better about my general pessimism, lack of organisation and cynicism regarding all things that fall under the self-help genre of writing or thought. He debunks all the so called 'advice' found in self-help books and shows how concepts prevalent in the self-help world are massively flawed and could have serious negative impacts upon well-being and attitudes towards others in society whilst also writing about the studies and ideas that are more likely to be helpf
...more
There is a lot of good stuff here. Burkeman is very pragmatic about things that work and is prepared to challenge many popular assumption in modern culture that have seeped in from the 'self-help' industry.
E.g "Start Where You Are is the (very sensible) title of three different books on happiness, but the real point isn’t that you ought to start where you are. It’s that you have no option: you are where you are."
and
"About 50 per cent of your happiness is due to genetics, says Sonja Lyubomirsky ...more
E.g "Start Where You Are is the (very sensible) title of three different books on happiness, but the real point isn’t that you ought to start where you are. It’s that you have no option: you are where you are."
and
"About 50 per cent of your happiness is due to genetics, says Sonja Lyubomirsky ...more
I've never read a "self-help" book before, but this one doesn't seem that helpful, it just mentally pats you on the head telling your problems are OK, for example, it says the fact that you are constantly worrying about terrible things happening to you or your friends means that you have a great imagination and feel good about it.
Some of his solutions seem absolutely toxic and want distract you from your problems instead of helping you with them.
I'm quite aware no book can magically fix your pr ...more
Some of his solutions seem absolutely toxic and want distract you from your problems instead of helping you with them.
I'm quite aware no book can magically fix your pr ...more
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