POPULAR HOW TO BE THE GREATEST BOOKS AND PROGRAMS
Inspirational, confidence-building books sell by the million. None have ever been objectively evaluated to see the results, but people buy them, probably because they do motivate us, at least for a day or two. They are often written by successful business or sales people or by ministers. Psychologists write in areas related to motivation: assertiveness, self-acceptance, and self-direction or self-instruction, but these writings deal with learning skills, not just getting inspiration.
The popular "success" books take four main approaches:
1. Confidence building. The common belief is that you can't sell a product or love someone else until you believe in yourself or love yourself (Amos & Amos, 1988; Zigler, 1987). So, these books essentially tell you to recognize your strong points and to tell yourself you are the greatest.
2. Setting goals and utilizing time effectively (Lee, 1978; Lakein, 1973). While these are important skills and have been discussed in this chapter and chapter 2, the goals need to be more than vague hopes and an occasional motivational speaker. Some seminars or longer programs about goal setting, however, involve lectures and tapes costing several hundred dollars (Meyer, 1988).
3. Inspirational. These books give many illustrations of exceptional people and unusual successes (Simonton, 1994; Ferguson, 1990; Waitley, 1983; Stone, 1962). Michael Jordan's I Can't Accept Not Trying is a good example. Other writers emphasize the "power of positive thinking" (Peale, 1952; Schuller, 1973). The techniques involve fantasizing about being successful (like in achievement training), modeling and rehearsal, repeating hopeful beliefs (called affirmations), giving your self pep talks, and so on. Of special psychological interest is Lillian Rubin's (1996) Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight which tells stories of people overcoming horrible childhood experiences. I find the caring stories in Canfield & Hansen (1991, 1993, 1995, 1996) to be heart-warming; they make me value goodness and look for it in others; they help me be good.
4. Understanding human needs. Some of these books explain how to present products and ideas so that they meet people’s needs and, thus, sell (Dichter, 1971). Many other books describe how to influence or motivate others--usually for your benefit (Carnegie, 1936).
These popular books are based on one person's experience or hunches, not on research. Don't neglect these books but read them with a lot of skepticism.
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