'Self-Help' Books Are Nonsense. Here's Why

Self-help books are not mere motivational mumbo-jumbo. They (often) sleazily conceal a political point-of-view that reinforces the political establishment. Here's how.

References:
9. Film: Che (2008)
10. And, obviously, used the Marx-quote on religion from the Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right. Obviously.

There are already some videos dissecting self-help from a Marxist POV. If you're interested, watch Jacobin's videos on self-help and the hustle culture. Thsoe videos, too, served as references when I was making this video (in a more accessible and jargon-free way, obviously).

The example for "clean up your room before you go out and criticize the world" is a nod to the Zizek-Peterson debate.

Also, the books shown in the intro are just examples of books. Not that I necessarily endorse them. While I do acknowledge the contribution of New Atheism, I find their overall analysis to be ahistorical and mostly idealist in nature (contrary to the Marxist analysis of similar societal structures).

4:00 - I illustrated the example of the D-P-R-K because that's far more accessible as an example. My views have since changed on the D-P-R-K and, while I do have my reservations about some of their policies, I would refrain from criticizing them along the "free speech" line. I find their policies far less objectionable (in total) when compared to the policies enacted by the so-called "free world".

[massimo]

Finally someone who is calling on the BS of modern Self-Help. Good job!

[martianpop]

"It gives you the false pleasure of achieving something, without actually accomplishing anything"

This hits home!

[Josep_Hernandez_Lujan]

As a psychologist I loathe these kind of books that deal with mental health because generally they do more harm than good.

[JoJo-is-the-name]

A HUGE red flag for me when I was falling into the self help video genre was the fact that everything included making a start up or starting a business (sometimes vaguely MLM stuff). Maybe I'm crazy but reselling chinese knock off products on amazon or selling my own 'courses' online doesn't sound up my alley lol

[viiviviviiv]

has anyone attempted to make a self help book that guides actual systematic improvements? Like Step 1: Join a union. anyway i really liked this, the way you broke things down was extremely easy to follow, you addressed some big issues here in a very relatable, frank way.

[nickanthropocene]

I'm glad someone finally talked about this. I'm glad someone finally made the connection to self-help and conservative politics instead of blindly defending these grifters to the death.

[Skydreww]

Everyone in this country believes that he is just temporary-poor millionaire and that is why social changes or socialism are very unlikely

[Aditya_Pandey]

Just like Tyler durden said
"Self improvement is masturbation, now
Self destruction"

[hyberkonawa]

A lot of self book often feels ridicules and almost as scam.

Is like back in the 80's we use to play outside as kids, riding our bikes and eating mud.

Now 2023 there are books that says "How to play like a kid outside". Or "how to talk to another person", Or "how to make friends" OR "how to talk to a woman".

Back in those times non-of this books didn;t existed

Because Humans we ALREADY had this ability in our BLOOD is just... we never developed because of Technology and lack of community and collaboration.

Like I know how to play tennis outside, the problem here nobody wants to come out of their house and play with me, Not even say hi to me and they pretend that they didn't saw anything because they are cold people.

[themanwhoknewtoomuch]

Imagine someone comes up with a genius concept of 20 minutes online timer or a digital flashcards that will boost your productivity by oh wait.

[nischalbhattarai]

This guy said everything clearly and it resonated with me to a great extent. I have been engulfed into self help plethora from past 6-7 years and today I am a anxious person who cannot project his true self and try to put on a facade that has been provided by the self help industry. I think I have lost my individuality and I try to live like a machine trying to optimize every minute of the day. I was so much into self-help making myself better that I ignored my relationship completely and I live like a fucking computer. i think I have lost my emotional self and it's fucking eating me from inside.
And anything that's responsible to make me feel inadequate, unworthy is the consumption of the self-help content. I wish I never tried to optimize my life, learn multiple boosing techniques but unfortunately I did and I never could form a meaningful relationship with any person in a long time.

[trubleSum]

You're on to something here. Keep up the good work. Thank you!

[funaccount-vrqo]

I literally used to clean the neighborhood not just my room then a few weeks after elections (which I had avoided and didn't even vote) 2 government agents came and harassed me and told me they were going to ruin my business(all this because I look different from the majority of the people). This is a 100% true story and worst part is my neighbors came to help them instead of helping me. I was left with a cut hand and torn boxer underwear plus PTSD that had me waking up scared at night for a few weeks thinking they have come for me. I still try to clean up but sometimes I feel too depressed and down.

[sarbajitpaul]

Damn. People waking up at 5 AM to hustle and become successful is just inviting a false sense of accomplishment. The whole video resonates with what modern society as a whole thinks is the way to become rich. Smh.

[Alanspiderkipz]

This video confuses me. What is your alternative? We are all a part of this system, at the end of the day the only person who can make a change to your life is you.

[monawoka]

I think the whole "pillar responsibility on the individual rather then the society" argument has to be approached with a bit of tact. There likely are massive structural problems that propagate major issues in our society. We can and should address these without sluffing off responsibility onto individuals. But as an individual myself who want's to improve my own life today I cannot simply change the government or the larger economy that I am subject to. I can control myself. I can learn to work within an unfair system to do my best for me and my family. IMO taking responsibility for the things you actually can control doesn't somehow make you complicit with an unjust and unfair society. Self help, as corny and sometimes unhealthy as it is, is ultimately predicated on taking responsibility for yourself and your actions. I don't think that's implicitly bad.

[leon]

In an atomised society, who better to help you but yourself; and thus the wheel turns and the system remains.

“You cannot live in society and be free from society”

Self-help is the perfect example of people being manipulated to the point of delusion

[Novanetics]

One group cracked the self-help code, making it suddenly "work" for people.

[dav]

I don't like "self improvement" because it's similar to masturbation which feels good but actually achieving nothing. But to be real, I got the momentum to change myself through self improvement activities such as waking up early and workout. It felt good because I was doing something that most of the people won't. So I don't criticize it 100% but the point is, self help will slightly sometimes drastically change your mindset, but if you don't apply it to the real world it's nonsense. And the most important thing is that you need to know what you're doing and why you're doing it.

[njtrooper]

There’s room at the top for anybody but not everybody