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Read self-help that makes sense

A rule of thumb is that wisdom should make sense. It is general and obvious advice. If it is not immediately obvious, it is rarely right.

When you hear something, ask:

Is this an obvious universal truth?
Does it make sense?
Can I apply this to a variety of situations?

If you answer "no", you are probably not dealing with wisdom.

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TJCX

How to read self-help

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MORE IDEAS FROM THE SAME ARTICLE

“…in the day to day trenches of adult existence, banal platitudes can have a life or death importance.”

David Foster Wallace

Self-help

We like reading about self-help but are skeptical at the same time. Any attempt to articulate a theory against self-help ends up sounding like self-help itself.

Knowledge and wisdom

A knowledgeable person can solve a narrow set of problems that few can, like a neurosurgeon.
A wise person knows what to do in most situations. She is able to give out general purpose, one-size-fits-all advice. Wisdom is very easy to understand. However,

Self-help through the wisdom lens

The purpose of self-help is to acquire wisdom. Self-help books are filled with wisdom.

Self-help in practice

Self-help books seem only to give high-level advice and never specifically explain how to drive this wisdom home.
However, wisdom applies to so many different situations and in so many ways, that it is impossible to go through every possibility of application.