My wife and I visited a popular book fair in South Mumbai. The book sale was held in a large assembly hall where hundreds of thousands of books—fiction and nonfiction, paperbacks and hardbacks—were tightly stacked front to back with their spines up, in rows upon rows that stretched longer than bowling alleys.
The place was teeming with all kinds of readers, and perhaps even non-readers. There were book browsers casually flipping through titles, old-school readers savouring the feel of physical books, curious ones exploring new genres, serious readers in search of their next great read, collectors hunting for rare and first editions, and casual readers looking for something light and entertaining.
One particular row of books caught our attention—the self-help section, the busiest at the exhibition. Whether it was an elderly person looking for ways to age gracefully and calmly, a teenager checking out a guide on mindfulness, or a young professional browsing a book on time management, it seemed that everyone was on a quest to become better versions of themselves—mentally, emotionally, and perhaps spiritually.
What is driving this growing interest in self-improvement and personal growth? Why are so many people, especially the young, turning to books for help navigating life’s ups and downs?
Here are five possible reasons why readers are gravitating towards self-help books.
Growing mental health awareness
Awareness of mental health issues has grown steadily, especially since the pandemic, prompting people to seek ways to manage everyday stress and anxiety. Self-help books offer practical advice, coping strategies, and techniques to remain calm and focused in both personal and professional life. For many readers, these books serve as a form of informal therapy, offering guidance and reassurance without the need to actually go to a therapist.
Pursuit of personal growth
Many individuals, particularly young adults, are motivated to better themselves both within and outside the workplace. Reading self-help books gives them direction—helping them set goals, build confidence, develop positive habits, and eventually fulfil their dreams. Beyond professional success, these readers also seek a deeper sense of purpose and well-being, whether through becoming more resilient, building meaningful relationships, or learning to face challenges. In this pursuit, self-help books are a powerful source of inspiration.
Influence of social media
Nowadays, social media—Instagram in particular—is filled with stories and reels centered on self-improvement. These offer fresh perspectives on life, encouraging users to explore and adopt healthier, more positive lifestyles through motivational content and self-help books. Such content is not only relatable but also makes it easier to adopt positive changes in everyday life..
Beyond simple curiosity
Not everyone finds self-help books helpful. Many pick them up out of curiosity or casual interest, often giving up after a book or two. This is partly because the advice and tips can sometimes feel too familiar, lacking imagination or a fresh perspective. Others stop reading once feel they’ve found an answer to their problem. Yet, the fact remains that many who have explored the genre return to it, having found some value in it and recognising its potential to shape their outlook on life for the better. This perhaps explains why the self-help section had so many people crowding around it.
Navigating the tough times
We often turn to self-help books because we think they have most, if not all, of the answers to our problems—and we are not entirely wrong. There’s probably a self-help book for navigating nearly every challenge life throws at us, whether it is eating right and staying healthy, practicing mindfulness and overcoming stress, managing relationships, choosing career paths, improving productivity, achieving personal goals, maintaining work-life balance, or that most elusive of pursuits—finding happiness.
In seeking out self-help books, we strive to shift our focus from material possessions and career success to personal well-being and taking control of our lives, perhaps hoping that it will help us find true fulfilment from within.
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