Self-help Books.

[Victorium]

I was just wondering, has anyone of you read any good self-help books that have been insightful into your personal and spiritual problems? I have read some in the past and you really do have to take some with a pinch of salt and others I have found to be helpful and are quite enlightening. I can't remember the authors now. I have also read some great articles in the newspaper by psychologists. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to transform and change you from within, but I do enjoy reading some of these things sometimes provided they are not new age or false teaching. Anyway just wondering about your opinion on this?

 

[Klesk]

This is going to sound like an incredible cliche, but the best self-help book out there is the Bible, without question. As a student studying psychology, I can tell you that one of the biggest problems with help-self books is the fact that most of them consider the ultimate source of your happiness to be found in either yourself or other people. While it's good to have a healthy self-esteem and have good relationships with other people, a life lived outside of Christ may at times seem to grant you temporary fulfillment, but never long-term fulfillment. It's a brutal cycle. We'll never be happy trying to please ourselves or other people. It's been tried since the beginning of time and never works.

So I guess I say all of that to say that while self-help books seem good in theory, I wouldn't recommend them. However, I would recommend Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. It's not the kind of self-help book you're probably thinking about, but it's a step in the right direction.

 

[Kristen.NewCreation]

I've found the Search for Significance by Robert McGee to be helpful.

 

[Victorium]

This is going to sound like an incredible cliche, but the best self-help book out there is the Bible, without question. As a student studying psychology, I can tell you that one of the biggest problems with help-self books is the fact that most of them consider the ultimate source of your happiness to be found in either yourself or other people. While it's good to have a healthy self-esteem and have good relationships with other people, a life lived outside of Christ may at times seem to grant you temporary fulfillment, but never long-term fulfillment. It's a brutal cycle. We'll never be happy trying to please ourselves or other people. It's been tried since the beginning of time and never works.

So I guess I say all of that to say that while self-help books seem good in theory, I wouldn't recommend them. However, I would recommend Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. It's not the kind of self-help book you're probably thinking about, but it's a step in the right direction.

Your right there Klesk. You can't beat the Holy Spirit for enlightenment and guidance. None of these books will really work unless people are able to address the spiritual issues in their lives. I believe all of our self-esteem problems stem from trying to define ourselves from things of this world and seeking its acceptance, where as true self-esteem comes from righteousness - the love of God.

 

[Victorium]

I've found the Search for Significance by Robert McGee to be helpful.

That sounds like a very good book Kristen. I might have a read of that myself.

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[wesrman]

Its not a "self help" book, but i would recommend Wild at Heart by John Elderedge. It explains a lot about how the wounds from our past makes us into the people we are today, and helps explain how to allow Jesus in to heal those wounds.

Its meant for men, but he and his wife also wrote Captivating which is for women. I read and learned a lot from both.

 

[Victorium]

Its not a "self help" book, but i would recommend Wild at Heart by John Elderedge. It explains a lot about how the wounds from our past makes us into the people we are today, and helps explain how to allow Jesus in to heal those wounds.

Its meant for men, but he and his wife also wrote Captivating which is for women. I read and learned a lot from both.

That sounds interesting. So many people don't realize that their upbringing has shaped their lives. Even people who are well-adjusted. It's almost as if we they are living a total lie, well they are in essence. You can learn a lot from this.

 

[p3ac3ful]

I come from a very abusive background and these books speak to various aspects of that. I appreciate that others have pointed out the Bible but as of yet I can't pick one back up. Partly because of how it was used as a weapon against me I don't feel encouraged or uplifted only condemned. The other reason is because to read it I need to trust my judgment (intellectually or spiritually) neither of which I can/will do at this moment.

Beauty for Ashes - Joyce Meyer

So Long Insecurity You've been a bad friend to us - Beth Moore

Deceived by Shame Desired by God - Cynthia Humbert

The Shack - William Young

Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse - David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen

We Were the Least of These: Reading the Bible with Survivors of Sexual Abuse - Elaine A Heath