wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Joshua from Irvington, NY July 13, 2007 - 11:55AM

  The Happiness Myth by Jennifer Michael Hecht.. self-help for thinking people.

  
  
• [2] Eleanor July 13, 2007 - 11:59AM

  I bought "The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything," by Melissa Kirsch, for my 30-year-old daughter, and both my husband and I found that this book was full of advice that she would not only find indispensible (relationships, finances, jobs) but we couldn't put it down and got a copy for ourselves. The advice is really practical: how to say you're sorry when you know you're right, or how to find meaning in your job no matter what you're doing. It's a great book for new grads or young women (and men) but it's also been very useful for my marriage and my own professional life.

  
  
• [3] Kathy from Glen Cove, NY July 13, 2007 - 11:59AM

  I don’t know if this qualifies as a self-help book but my favorite is an audiobook entitled “A Passion for Life.” It is information culled from a PBS special entitled “A Quest for Life,” and has four different sections: Conscious Living, Conscious Aging, Conscious Dying and Authentic Success. It has a lot of fabulous authors like Richard Carlson (“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”), Stephen Covey (“The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”), Thomas Moore (“Care of The Soul”), John O’Donohue, etc.

  It is a great dialog about life and priorities. There's some great minds exploring different philosophies.

  I highly recommend it.

  
  
• [4] Judith from New York City July 13, 2007 - 12:00PM

  The Creative Habit: Learn It And Use It For Life, by Twyla Tharp. A remarkably commonsensical guide to a rich and meaningful life.

  
  
• [5] jjlevine July 13, 2007 - 12:00PM

  Tuned in late, not sure if mentioned:

  "Getting Things Done" by David Allen.

  Multi-tasker's Bible.

  
  
• [6] Courtney from downtown July 13, 2007 - 12:01PM

  When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron

  -practial yet profound Buddhist wisdom for giving yourself room to err and non-judgement of self and others.

  
  
• [7] Brad from NYC July 13, 2007 - 12:01PM

  For all those parents whose universe revolves around their kids I recommend "The Three Martini Playdate" by Christie Mellor.

  On the other hand, parents with teens and tweens there is "Promise You Won't Freak Out" by Doris Fuller and Natalie Fuller.

  The self-help book I've given away the most over the years is "ESO, Extended Sexual Orgasm" by Brauer & Brauer -- helps make a better lover out of anybody.

  
  
• [8] Justine from New York, NY July 13, 2007 - 12:01PM

  Just before I turned thirty, a friend turned me on to a book called "Surviving Saturn's Return: Overcoming the Most Tumultuous Time of Your Life", by Stefanie Iris Weiss and Sherene Schostak. It saved me from the feeling that I was losing my mind. It's really the only book on the quarter-life crisis that actually had a direct impact on my life, taught me a lot and made me feel better. Highly recommended for anyone between around 26 and 33.

  
  
• [9] J Eiche from Queens, NY July 13, 2007 - 12:04PM

  When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics) by Pema Chodron

  Basics of Buddhist philosophy. And any other books by Pema Chodron.

  
  
• [10] Rosalyn from New City, NY July 13, 2007 - 12:08PM

  Sisters of the Yam: black women and self-recovery by bell hooks is an excellent book. On point about a lot of subjects black women struggle with.

  
  
• [11] kp from east village nyc July 13, 2007 - 12:12PM

  "how proust can change your life" by alain de botton. a great "non self help" self help book. and I hate to admit it, but "He's Just Not That Into You" is a great one. i have recommnended it MANY times. rip off the cover and read it at the beach. you will not regret.

  
  
• [12] O from Brooklyn/Manhattan (work) July 13, 2007 - 12:22PM

  As silly as it sounds I do recommend Mars and Venus on a Date. It really has some lovely advice for women on negotiating the dating scene and the inherent differences between men and women. Only problem is that it really only works if read by both sides. This segment was interesting to me and as I missed it Wednesday, I was not sure what the thrust was, but did feel Mr. Lehrer was somewhat tongue-in-cheek about it all. Of course one will only find the true answers to life once one has one's nose OUT of a book and one's eyes firmly forward, but sometimes these books can be quite helpful and I have made a list from some of the other callers' suggestions (Martha Rules going at the top). Less useful self-help books: He's Just Not That Into You. Self-help books I wish I'D written (thus making millions as well as going on Oprah): He's Just Not That Into You. Ladies, believe me sometimes men don't call because they get freaked out and really like you, not because they hate you. Grey's book offers more complex advice and doesn't vilify every single man out there. Also watch the What the Bleep Do We Know (DVD not book). Brilliant and changed my outlook on my life.

  
  
• [13] perri July 13, 2007 - 12:30PM

  I just ordered Seneca's "Letters from a Stoic." Intially, I was interested in learning about the philosophy of stoicism, but it's been described as something of a "self-help" as well, so I'm eager to read it.

  
  
• [14] Jackie from Long island July 13, 2007 - 12:37PM

  The Four Agreements (Ruiz). Really easy to read and understand. Really hard to consistently follow.

  
  
• [15] Ellen July 13, 2007 - 12:41PM

  When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chodron.

  http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/pema/

  The only book that has ever truly helped me and my loved ones.

  
  
• [16] Karen July 13, 2007 - 01:34PM

  Before I met the love of my life I read "He's just not that into you." It helped me cut out and drop "interesting" guys or guys "with potential." No BS advice. What we all already knew really but didn't want to acknowledge.

  
  
• [17] Seth from New York July 13, 2007 - 02:11PM

  Can anyone recommend a book on how to discipline your children birth to 4yrs old?

  
  
• [18] Erik from Montclair, NJ July 13, 2007 - 11:54PM

  To Seth:

  1-2-3 magic has helped us a lot:

  http://www.amazon.com/1-2-3-Magic-Effective-Discipline-Children/dp/1889140163/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3886661-4367060?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184385168&sr=8-1

  
  
• [19] Richard from Tenafly, NJ July 15, 2007 - 03:33PM

  Great show. Suggested reading:

  Getting Things Done by David Allen

  The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama

  A Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything by Melissa Kirsch

  New Rules, by Bill Maher