Re: Self-Help Books -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 18:30:37 05/04/08 Sun
Author: Jfish
Subject: Re: Self-Help Books
In reply to: Caitlin 's message, "Self-Help Books" on 19:48:25 04/13/08 Sun

Incidentally, almost every self-help book is written in the attitude of "help yourself, be like me." Every route to success is made by these authors explaining how this route has helped them become something greater. It is the most direct appeal to imitation that I know.

But that beg's the question, why do these people consider themselves worthwhile models? Why do they want to populate the world with images of themselves? Is this another Narcissus myth? In some way, I think so. These people consider themselves successful because they have been told by everyone around them that they are successful. Once they undergo a significant amount of envy and flattery, the sky's the limit.

But you see, what's the number one way these people become "successful" in the first place. It is to act like you're successful. If you act like you're successful, people will think you're successful. If people think you're successful, you'll think you're successful. So your success ever depends upon other's assent to your success. Self-help books are awfully manipulative.

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Replies:

Re: Self-Help Books -- JD Reed, 18:55:17 05/04/08 Sun