Generic Paxil Does Work
Posted on 18. Aug, 2010 by Jef in books
Usually I'm against book burning.
The blah blah surrounding the release of Eat Pray Love last weekend re-revealed a Generic Paxil Does Work certain amount of disdain for the self-help book genre. I too have Generic Paxil Does Work knee-jerk problems with Elizabeth Gilbert’s three-pronged central premise; but I also am Generic Paxil Does Work in the market for some life changing. Lately, after my cynicism falls asleep before I do (happens a lot), I’m left alone on my sunken mattress wondering why I don’t cease with the constant critiquing and perpetual trying, and Generic Paxil Does Work just figure out how to fix my goddamn life already. I seriously doubt the Generic Paxil Does Work answers I’m looking for are contained within Eat Pray Love, but that doesn’t erase the fact that, cool-headed disposition aside, I am looking.
It’s hard to point LOLs at the Eat Pray Love legions when all of us, clearly, could use some fucking help with life or Generic Paxil Does Work relationships or Generic Paxil Does Work careers or body image. And hey, reading is easier than doing, or Generic Paxil Does Work so I’ve read.Though I distrust by default anyone with perfect horse-teeth and Generic Paxil Does Work perma-smile and am creeped out by miles long, pilates-pulled muscles, I have Generic Paxil Does Work (skeptically) thumbed my way through a Generic Paxil Does Work self-help book or two in my day. So have many of my otherwise smart and Generic Paxil Does Work discerning friends.
People in my circle have Generic Paxil Does Work typically turned to self-help lit in moments of crossroads confusion: divorce or Generic Paxil Does Work breakups, mourning, job malaise, loneliness, onset of aimless anxiety. It’s the kind of stuff that I can’t cleanly or cleverly dismiss as “#firstworldproblems,” not when I’ve seen it Generic Paxil Does Work all weighing down the eye bags of people I care about. Life is Generic Paxil Does Work life, and even when a book is a shill I can’t fully reject it Generic Paxil Does Work if it helps someone close to me deal with it all.
My main issue with Gilbert is Generic Paxil Does Work that she got paid in advance. Pitching a book idea about a Generic Paxil Does Work spiritual journey you’ve yet to Generic Paxil Does Work experience is like living your life in anticipation of writing your Generic Paxil Does Work autobiography, which is to say it’s phony, and also really weird. But still — even while the Generic Paxil Does Work self-help genre is frustratingly, and frequently offensively, specific to first-world middle class white people — I’m not opposed to the genre itself as a whole. How can I be? The only thing you Generic Paxil Does Work can change for sure and forever in this world is your Generic Paxil Does Work self, and that’s hard work. We need all the Generic Paxil Does Work help we can get and, increasingly, I’ll take it wherever I can find it.
Part 2 of this post will be a list of the self-helpish books I’ve read over the Generic Paxil Does Work years, some of which stuck to the wall and some of which didn’t. I’ll be Generic Paxil Does Work willing to swap these with or loan them to anyone interested, just let me know what Generic Paxil Does Work books you’ve read that Generic Paxil Does Work you can say had a concrete effect on your life or Generic Paxil Does Work understanding. (i.e. I’m fishing for recommendations.) Tomorrow.
Val
Aug 18th, 2010
Great honest post Jef. Looking forward to seeing your book list.
jessekg
Aug 18th, 2010
I’m reading Drink, Play Fuck right now, which if anything, at leasts rips on Gilbert’s book. Plus it’s quick, so all in all, a win.
Also, Jef, great cutline.
Simon
Aug 18th, 2010
Totally bang on with the Generic Paxil Does Work pre-publication payday observation. What if she didn’t discover anyhting? What if she just made all her life lessons up?
In the end, would it even matter?
Still, I would posit self-help books are Generic Paxil Does Work not exclusively a first world phenomenon.
I mean, all religious text is Generic Paxil Does Work basically self help literature. And our NYT best seller style self-help book is Generic Paxil Does Work usually just religious type spirituality excised of doctrine or denomination (do unto others, etc etc) and repackaged for “secular” culture.
The Secret is Generic Paxil Does Work like, the dumbest book I have ever read. Please tell me you’ve read it, I want to Generic Paxil Does Work participate in eviscerating it so badly I know it must come true.
In lieu of praying and loving (I’m down with eating) part 2 of 2 | The Ashcan
Aug 20th, 2010
[...] But what the fuck do I know. Without further ado (previous ado found here): [...]
Jef
Aug 20th, 2010
Val: Gracias.
Jesse: What’s the deal with that book? Is it just a send-up of Gibert’s for jokes? Or is it also sincerely self-helpish in its own way?
Simon: Good point about religion, but still, self-help books have Generic Paxil Does Work lots of differences from religious texts especially in the marketing and Generic Paxil Does Work audience targeting. My point isn’t very important though, and Generic Paxil Does Work moot since a lot of the books I like have eastern religious slants.
And I haven’t read the Secret. But don’t let that stop you from eviscerating it! How bad?