What's a Self-Help Book, Anyway?
The short answer: Any book that has useful or helpful information that a reader can use on their own to improve their lives.
The more nuanced answer: A book that has useful or helpful information, usually about psychology, relationships, mental health, holistic wellness, or counseling.
You might hear the term self-help and think of books that deal with improving one’s mental or emotional state, like:
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
If you’re in an industry that doesn’t deal directly with mental or emotional well-being, then you might not think that the book you want to write is actually “self-help.” And depending on the bookseller, you may or may not be correct.
But a self-help book doesn’t have to only focus on improving ones mental, emotional, or physical state. It can help your reader improve their finances, their career, learn a new hobby or skill, or how to write a useful book.
You may or may not be convinced that the book you’re thinking about is self-help. You think it’s more of a “how-to” book. I invite you to keep reading.
The Difference Between Self-Help and How-To
What’s the difference between Self-Help and How-To?
That’s usually up to the author, the publisher, and the bookseller.
A how-to book usually deals with more concrete instructional material such as management, car repair, gardening, or doing your taxes. These books will usually be categorized or shelves according to the skill they teach. You’re not going to find a book about PHP programming in the home repair section.
Books like this include:
- Write Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick
- Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child
- How Not to Die by Michael Greger
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
- Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
- The Complete Photo Guide to Soap Making by David Fisher
- Most of the For Dummies books
Of course, you want to have a clear idea of where you want the bookseller to shelve your book once it’s published. Keeping the specific genre in mind will help you stay focused and organized.
But remember that you’re writing your book to help people.
Why I Say "Self-Help"
Ultimately, if you’re writing a book of any kind that aims to help people learn something—about themselves, their relationships, starting a business, or creating weekly meal plans—you’re writing a book that will help someone help themselves.
That’s self-help. It’s a mindset that I encourage writers to adapt while drafting their manuscripts.
You are writing your book to help people. Specific people. Specific people who really need to know what’s in your book.