• Is the author qualified by training and experience to write about the topic?

• Is the book clearly focused on the issue you are addressing?

Does it offer a detailed description and explanation of all the facets of the topic? Beware of books that claim to help you solve everything. For a Self-Help book to be most useful, it needs to clearly address the problem or issue you are facing.

• Does the book offer a solidly researched program that is related to the work that has already been done in the field?

I don’t think a Self-Help book should be a research report from the National Institute of Mental Health, but it is reasonable to expect the author to relate his or her work and findings to that of other practitioners and to provide footnotes, bibliographies, and lists of resources for further study and comparison.

• Is the book encouraging without promising magic cures?

Does it offer comfort and support as you grapple with a significant life issue? Does the book offer hope without guaranteeing an unrealistic outcome? None of us is going to live forever, nor will we ever achieve perfection in any endeavor. But it is reasonable to expect that a good Self-Help book can be a reliable guide to a part of our journey.

• Does the book provide solid grounding in the topic?

Does it offer adequate explanation, with step-by-step guidance on how to proceed? A good Self-Help book will point out potential problems, with suggested solutions or responses. Self-assessment tools are highly useful to help you see your progress along the way.

• Have other people found the book to be useful in their lives: has it “worked”?

Just as I prefer to find a doctor or plumber or mechanic via referral from someone who has used that person, I prefer books that come with recommendations from someone who has benefited from reading them.

• Does the book speak to you?

Is there something about the title or the book’s description that gives you the feeling that this author is trustworthy, and is addressing your needs directly? A highly-ranked book that approaches an issue in a way that is not compatible with your sensibilities will be less than useful. Within the context of the other guidelines, I believe it is important to trust your intuitive sense about a book.

Self-Help books are tools – and a tool is only useful when it is suited to the task at hand. We believe that the Self-Help books we are recommending in The Guide to Self-Help Books will be useful and helpful to you – providing you with information, guidance, and encouragement as you work to solve problems, build better relationships and create the life you want to live.