Can books give that to us?
Rojan Shrestha, sales assistant at Ekta Books, Thapathali, believes they can. He is an avid reader of non-fiction as well as motivational stories. He believes these kinds of books are like little perks when life becomes difficult or dreary. They create positive vibes in the air otherwise charged with negativity. How much people gain from them depends upon the individuals but reading such books opens one’s mind, develops leadership qualities in them and broadens their perspectives. His own favorite is Robert Kiyosaki who gives a rough idea on what a business foundation should be like and what are the obstacles that might come up in the beginning as well as later. [break]
“The titles themselves are so catchy that you want to read them. When you see something like ‘The Habit of Winning,’ you certainly want to turn the pages,” he says.
Self-help books can be on several topics, ranging from recipes on how to make better pancakes to the tips on how to establish a business empire of one’s own. The kind of self help books also depends on the age and background of the readers. One might always find self help books to be more interesting if they learn to choose exactly what they are looking for. For instance, if a person is related with the corporate world, s/he may find the handbook to managerial success a rather useful one. And if a person is simply suffering from some kind of stage fright or confidence-related issues, books on how to be a good orator can be helpful.
Radha Sharma Rai, store-in-charge at the same Ekta Books, informs that the sales rate of self help books in quite satisfactory. After fiction, these are the books that have the highest sales rates.
BIJAY GAJMER
Rojan Shrestha is fond of reading self-help books.
Like Rojan, Radha too believes that the changes that are witnessed in a person depend upon the individuals themselves. However, certain self help books like those prepared for organizational trainings and professional developments can prove to be quite beneficial. Especially with the advent of Kindle, I-pad and audio CDs, reading self help books has become a quicker and more convenient affair.
“Self help books add new color to the ordinary things. After reading them, there are chances that the readers start seeing the same things with a completely different perspective,” she says.
Change in perspective is the main idea behind self help books. However, it is also true that nobody has got a definite recipe for success and happiness.
Blair Henry, a Canadian citizen who is currently working with an NGO in Kathmandu, is really appreciative of spiritual books, self help guides and inspirational biographies. Blair, who has also attended a seminar on personality development and self help techniques, is a big fan of Jim Collins.
“You have to live your life the way you think is right. There is no fixed way to do anything. It differs all the time,” he says.
In addition to self help books, there are people who are quite fond of spiritual texts by legends like Osho and Ravi Shankar.
Suman Tamang, a student, has felt a change in himself after reading Osho. He has become calmer and more contemplative. It is as if the things and the events are the same as before but he has started viewing them in a different way that is much more positive and meditative.
“You need no self help books when you have Osho on your bookshelf. It’s the epitome of spiritual text. Whether it is education, love, death or life, these books talk about everything under the sun. You learn so much,” he says.
Self help books have different kinds of effects on different individuals. Some people benefit a lot from them while others remain untouched. However, their popularity cannot be denied all over the world. They are like a helping hand in a world full of uncertainties and ambiguities. They might not show a concrete path but they do provide a rough sketch of a life that one wishes for. And after all, at the end of the day, it would be fun to read the ten steps to success and the ways of being the happiest person on earth.
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