-
4 votes
-
Any self-help/motivational books that don't focus on an individualistic perspective?
Just wanted to preface this by saying that I don't know much about self-help lit and do not mean to offend anyone who enjoys it as a genre. I've been talking to a friend of mine who primarily...
Just wanted to preface this by saying that I don't know much about self-help lit and do not mean to offend anyone who enjoys it as a genre.
I've been talking to a friend of mine who primarily reads self-help literature (a genre I've never really delved into), and what struck me was the highly materialistic/individualistic focus that a number of these books seem to have (most being focused on becoming an entrepreneur who drives a Lamborghini and retires by 40 living off of their crypto/stocks/real estate investments). The failure of the individual to achieve these goals can apparently be overcome through positive thinking, changing one's mindset, etc, and the focus seems to be largely on material goods and the general definition of "American-style" success. My general feeling is that a large part of self-help as a genre is focused on the failings of the individual rather than societal ills (or, the Jordan Peterson style of motivational thinking), and that got me wondering if anybody had some books that differ from the mold somewhat, possibly talking about improving yourself not only as an individual but also as part of the community, perhaps offering some sort of a leftist perspective that touches upon commodity fetishism, etc.
If anyone had any suggestions, I'd love to take a look at them.
15 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
12 votes -
Building a galaxy: The story of the Star Wars Expanded Universe
5 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
14 votes -
Children books and short stories about death
I need to read some fiction children books about death (for research) -- any age group preferably for young children. Stories both realistic and fantasy/fantastical that doesn't gloss over the...
I need to read some fiction children books about death (for research) --
any age grouppreferably for young children.Stories both realistic and fantasy/fantastical that doesn't gloss over the suffering and pain children can experience, possibly with dark overtones.
Stories featuring Death as a character would be great too.
Thanks!
6 votes -
Have a flick through Isaac Newton's notebook
4 votes -
E.M. Forster: "The Machine Stops"
3 votes -
The real reason no one has made a better Goodreads
17 votes -
MMAcevedo
4 votes -
Oldest and fatherless: The terrible secret of Tom Bombadil
24 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
11 votes -
Notes from "Don't Shoot the Dog"
4 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
12 votes -
The Far Side - The Daily Dose - Friday, March 26, 2021
15 votes -
Picture Book Lust - Vanishing Asia by Kevin Kelly
5 votes -
English translation of Finland's epic poem, The Kalevala (1898)
12 votes -
Nawal El Saadawi, Egyptian author and women’s rights icon, dies
7 votes -
Why I am obsessed with the forbidden Seuss
11 votes -
The Beigeness, or How to Kill People with Bad Writing: The Scott Alexander Method
31 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
12 votes -
Want to borrow that e-book from the library? Sorry, Amazon won’t let you.
18 votes -
Fifty very bad book covers for literary classics
26 votes -
Ars’ plea: Someone make this into a series
8 votes -
What happened to Jordan Peterson?
16 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
10 votes -
The current New York Times Best Sellers list for combined print and e-book fiction, scaled according to demand for the e-book at a selection of US public libraries
6 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
6 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
15 votes -
Empowering picture books with Black characters
5 votes -
Virtual meetings spur sales in books for backgrounds
4 votes -
An understanding of Orwell's 1984 from someone who has never read it
6 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
8 votes -
NPR's Planet Money performs The Great Gatsby
10 votes -
HG Wells fans spot numerous errors on Royal Mint's new £2 coin
9 votes -
Goodreads is dead. What now?
8 votes -
The most expensive books and manuscripts in history
4 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
14 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
8 votes -
Explore Indigenous futurisms with these science fiction and fantasy books by indigenous authors
8 votes -
I compared all the Goodreads alternatives so you don't have to
33 votes -
Washington’s secret to the perfect Zoom bookshelf? Buy it wholesale.
18 votes -
NPR's best books of 2020
13 votes -
What were the best books you read this year?
The question is NOT limited to 2020 releases (though they are certainly included). What were the best books you read this year, and why were they standouts?
18 votes -
Tome raiders: Solving the great book heist
5 votes -
Five good books for a lousy year - Bill Gates' holiday book recommendations
6 votes -
What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
13 votes -
On colonial nostalgia and food in fantasy writing
4 votes -
Legendary science fiction author Ben Bova has passed at the age of 88, due to Covid
10 votes -
Penguin Random House to buy Simon & Schuster
5 votes