Dr Petra Boynton (left), the sex and relationship psychologist, provides some useful criticism of self-help books in response to an article in the Guardian Weekend. She points out that the authors of these books are often not qualified in the relevant field, rely on anecdotal evidence rather than the established research and their advice can actually prove harmful.
But there are some good self-help books out there so how do you sort the wheat from the chaff? Check the author's credentials and read on for Dr Boynton's suggestions...
Self help or self harm?
The science of creativity
As Pablo Picasso once pointed out, all children are creative; the challenge is to remain creative into adulthood.
Unfortunately public education systems around the world seem designed to crush creativity in favour of rote learning and test passing. As the years pass a fear of being wrong takes over from our natural creative tendencies.
Unlike mathematics, languages or the humanities, we are rarely taught about creativity, despite its importance to our lives. Yet the information is out there, waiting to be used.
If you would like to be more creative at work and at home—and that has to be most of us—the insights in this ebook will be useful.
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