Self-Help
By Deborah Bigelow, Director, Leonia P.L., NJ -- Library Journal, 02/15/2010
Birnbach, Lawrence & Beverly Hyman. How To Know If It's Time To Go: A 10-Step Reality Test for Your Marriage. Sterling. Mar. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 978-1-4027-6643-5. pap. $14.95. SELF-HELP
Psychoanalyst Birnbach and organizational consultant Hyman team up to present a guide to gauging how serious problems are in a marriage, what can be done to resolve them, or whether it's time to separate and divorce. Each chapter covers a relevant topic and closes with self-assessment questions. The authors see divorce as a last resort but provide a concrete plan for how to prepare and carry it out so it's as painless as possible. Excellent support for those who feel trapped in an unhappy marriage.
Brett, Regina. God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours. Grand Central. Apr. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-446-55652-1. $21.99. SELF-HELP
In this incredibly moving and inspiring essay collection, Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Brett recounts 50 hard life lessons. Overcoming a troubled childhood, being a single parent, and surviving cancer lead her to maintain that while "life isn't tied with a bow, it's still a gift." She speaks convincingly of believing in miracles and forgiving everyone everything. While autobiographical inspiration can be self-serving and tedious, this example of the genre is hard to put down. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/09.]
Eddie, David & Pat Lynch. Damage Control: How To Tiptoe Away from the Smoke Wreckage of Your Latest Screw-Up with a Minimum Harm to Your Reputation. McClelland & Stewart. Mar. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-7710-3041-3. $24.95.
McGrath, Helen & Hazel Edwards. Difficult Personalities: A Practical Guide to Managing the Hurtful Behavior of Others (and Maybe Your Own). The Experiment. Mar. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-1-61519-013-3. pap. $14.95. SELF-HELP
Eddie (Chump Change) and Lynch, who collaborate on the advice column "Damage Control" in the Globe and Mail, write in the style of Car Talk as they present recovery rules for saying/doing stupid things to family members, office mates, or potential dates. Their basic premise—that most people are ready to forgive as long as the offender is humble, hubris-free, and human—is delivered with guy humor that readers will either find entertaining or coarse.
Clinical psychologist McGrath and writer Edwards discuss 11 difficult personality types and offer coping strategies. For every type (e.g., bossiness), they provide key words, typical behaviors, reasons behind the behaviors, and approaches for dealing with the bossy person (e.g., using humor) and ways to change one's own behavior (e.g., use courtesy). While Damage Control can help after the fact, Difficult Personalities gets to the heart of the matter and offers a real plan for change and coping.
Fuentes, Daisy. Unforgettable You: Mastering the Elements of Style, Spirituality and Allure. Atria: S. & S. May 2010. c.336p. ISBN 978-1-4165-6301-3. $24. SELF-HELP
TV personality, model, and entrepreneur Fuentes takes the tone of an older sister in this guide on becoming more aware, enhanced, and happier. Besides the usual beauty and style tips, readers get a great chapter titled "A Woman Should…" Here, Fuentes lists things that a woman should know (e.g., the names of national leaders), should know how to do (e.g., balance a checkbook), and should own (e.g., a fantastic yet practical piece of luggage). A wealth of life-navigation information for women of all ages.
Hall, Kathleen. Uncommon H.O.P.E.: A Powerful Guide to Creating an Extraordinary Life. Sourcebooks. Mar. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 978-1-4022-3606-8. pap. $18.99. SELF-HELP
For Hall, CEO and founder of the Stress Institute, having a sense of H.O.P.E.—Honesty, Perseverance, Optimism, and En-Joy—is to have a lighthouse beacon during turbulent times and to experience a deeper physical sense of well-being. She draws the lessons collected here from a variety of spiritual leaders (e.g., Jesus, the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu). While the format is conventional, the book could genuinely improve people's lives.
Hewitt, Jennifer Love. The Day I Shot Cupid: Hello, My Name Is Jennifer Love Hewitt and I'm a Love-aholic. Voice: Hyperion. Mar. 2010. c.208p. ISBN 978-1-4013-4112-1. $24.99. SELF-HELP
Just for fun comes actor and self-proclaimed "love-aholic" Hewitt's book on letting go of idealistic childhood romantic fantasies in order to embrace strong, realistic, and mature relationships. Using her experience, she contrasts old school and new school dating, talks about surviving a breakup, and offers consolation on broken diets and varicose veins. Single young women will find a kindred spirit, while older readers will discover what's happening in today's dating world.
Hope, Babe. Pretty Plus: How To Look Sexy, Sensational and Successful, No Matter What You Weigh. New Horizon. Mar. 2010. c.249p. ISBN 978-0-88282-317-1. pap. $14.95. SELF-HELP
Having struggled with weight issues her entire life, Hope, a national Plus-Size Fashion Examiner for Examiner.com, wants to help her plus-sized sisters look sexy, sensational, and successful. Her guide includes suggestions for purchasing quality undergarments, building outfits that accent one's frame instead of weight, and selecting accessories that highlight one's best feature. While her instructions for building essential wardrobe inventory cards may seem a bit over the top, her tips on body language can be put into practice immediately. Positive, practical advice for the thousands of women who do not fit the fashion industry's ideal; destined to be a hit.
Kingma, Daphne Rose. The Ten Things To Do When Your Life Falls Apart: An Emotional and Spiritual Handbook. New World Library, dist. by Publishers Group West. Apr. 2010. c.240p. ISBN 978-1-57731-698-5. pap. $14.95. SELF-HELP
Kingma (Real Life, Real Love) writes for readers whose lives are being wrenched apart by sudden job loss, the death of a loved one, financial ruin, or a dire medical diagnosis. When any of these things happens, either separately or simultaneously, Kingma offers a list of ten ways whereby readers can eventually learn that their difficulties have meaning and purpose. A particularly helpful lesson urges letting go of coping strategies that no longer work. For those lost in the turbulence of life, Kingma offers a genuine hand through.
Ohashi, Zen & Zono Kurazono. WOW: A Handbook for Living. One Peace. Mar. 2010. c.170p. ISBN 978-0-9785084-8-7. pap. $14.95. SELF-HELP
In this deceptively simple book, management coaches Ohashi and Kurazono offer 31 phrases and accompanying exercises designed to empower the lives of readers. One such lesson includes the phrase "Say it with how" and instructs people not to state the why of a problem but how it will be remedied. The book's layout is particularly appealing. Perfect for busy people who want to get to the heart of the matter fast.
Pierre, Summer. The Artist in the Office: How To Creatively Survive and Thrive Seven Days a Week. Perigee: Putnam. Feb. 2010. c.112p. ISBN 978-0-399-53564-2. pap. $13.95. SELF-HELP
Instead of putting in time at work until something more interesting comes along, Pierre, who created The Artist in the Workplace zine, encourages readers to bring their creativity to work. Step one: list the ways in which the job provides positives in one's life; then, stop complaining and gossiping. To fill that void, Pierre recommends activities like going on lunchtime adventures. Budding artists, as well as their not-as-creative counterparts, will find this book fun and uplifting.
Schaefer, Gerald J. & Tom Bekkers. The Widower's Toolbox: Repairing Your Life After Losing Your Spouse. New Horizon. May 2010. c.274p. ISBN 978-0-88282-345-4. pap. $14.95. SELF-HELP
With the help of professional grief counselor Bekkers, Schaefer writes about his experience of losing his young wife to breast cancer. His aim is to ease the pain of men in similar situations; to accomplish this, he provides 41 activities, e.g., reach out to others and honor their spouse's memory. Since men are hesitant to pick up self-help books, this could be safely given as a gift or used by a social worker or religious counselor.
Stengel, Richard. Mandela's Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love, and Courage. Crown. Mar. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-307-46068-4. $23. SELF-HELP
Stengel, managing editor of Time and collaborator on Long Walk to Freedom, is clearly enamored of South African liberator and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela. Stengel distills Mandela's leadership style into 15 lessons, whereby readers learn about Mandela's life and discover how this complex man led from the front, saw the good in others, and had the courage of knowing when to quit. What raises this inspirational book a step above the others is that its 91-year-old subject has walked his talk and can serve as a positive role model. In this day of fleeting pop stars, that says a lot.
