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My wife and I visited a popular book fair in South Mumbai. Like the circus, we look forward to the book sale whenever it comes to town.
The book sale was held in a large assembly hall where hundreds of thousands of books—fiction and nonfiction, paperbacks and hardbacks—were tightly stacked front to back with their spines up, in rows upon rows that stretched longer than a bowling alley.
The place was bustling with all kinds of readers, and perhaps even non-readers. There were book browsers simply flipping through titles, old-school readers savouring the feel of physical books, curious ones exploring new genres, serious readers looking for their next great read, collectors hunting for rare editions and first prints, and casual readers browsing for something light and entertaining.
One particular row of books caught our attention—the self-help section—which was the busiest at the exhibition. Whether it was an elderly person looking for ways to age gracefully and calmly, a teenager checking a guide on mindfulness or a young professional browsing a book on time management, it seemed like everyone was on a quest to become better versions of themselves—mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
What is driving this interest in self-improvement and personal growth? Why are more and more people, especially youngsters, turning to these books to help them manoeuvre life’s ups and downs?
Let’s turn the page and explore five reasons why readers might be gravitating towards self-help books.
Growing mental health awareness
There has been a growing awareness of mental health issues, especially since the pandemic, and people are seeking ways to manage everyday stress and anxiety. Self-help books offer practical advice, coping strategies, and techniques to stay calm and focused in both their personal and professional lives. For many, reading these feel-good books serves as a form of therapy: it provides guidance and comfort without actually going to a therapist.
Pursuit of personal growth
Many individuals, particularly young adults, are motivated to improve their lives, both in and outside the workplace. Reading self-help books gives them the direction they need to set goals, build confidence, develop positive habits, and eventually fulfil their dreams. Beyond professional success, these readers also seek a deeper sense of purpose and well-being—whether by becoming more resilient, having meaningful relationships or facing life’s challenges. In this pursuit, self-help books serve as a great source of inspiration.
Influence of social media
Nowadays, social media—Instagram in particular—is full of stories and reels about self-improvement. This is offering people a fresh perspective on life, encouraging them to explore and practice a healthy and positive lifestyle through motivational videos and self-help books. The content is not just relatable but also makes it easier for people to embrace positive changes in their daily lives.
Beyond simple curiosity
Not everyone finds self-help books helpful. Many read them out of curiosity or a cursory interest, often giving up after a book or two. They do so because the advice or the tips in self-help books can sometimes feel too common, lacking both imagination and a fresh perspective. People also give up reading the books once they’ve found the answer to whatever problem they were facing. But the fact is that those who have explored self-help books before often revisit the genre because they found some good it in and recognise its potential to shape their attitude toward life for the better. This might explain why the section on self-help had so many people crowding around it.
Navigating the tough times
We often read self-help books because we think they have most, if not all, of the answers to our problems. We are not wrong in our thinking. There’s probably a self-help book on navigating all of life’s challenges—whether it’s eating right and staying healthy, practicing mindfulness and overcoming stress, managing relationships, choosing our career paths, improving productivity, achieving personal goals, work-life balance, or that most elusive of all pursuits—finding happiness.
In turning to self-help books, we aim to shift our focus away from material possessions and career success to prioritising our personal well-being and taking control of our lives—perhaps hoping that this cultural shift will help us find true fulfilment from within.
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