Can anyone recommend some good self-help books?

Napoleon Hill – Think and Grow Rich is excellent in my opinion. Very old, but definitely great.

I’m currently reading Overachievement by John Eliot. It goes against the usual social advices are given these days.
Also reading up Rich Dad, Poor Dad since my friend lent it to me.

And considering you’re depressed, reading Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk could be slightly detrimental but comforting. You’ll see things in a different light which could either be good or bad. You can take comfort with the fact that you’re eyes have been opened, but then again, the book tells you how depressing and boring “normal” life can be and how you’re nothing. But it saves itself somehow. Great quotes in that book. Not really a self-help but its a wake up call. Life sucks, deal with it.

The Litte Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I’m also a huge fan of As A Man Thinketh

Various/most works by H. Hesse

The Four Agreements proved to be insightful

There is usually a reason why you cannot get over an old relationship. If you find the reason, then you can get past it. I think John Bradshaw’s Inner Child books are wonderful for helping to ferret out these underlying problems, most of which are left over from something that occurred years ago.

Check him out at your library or just google “inner child.” There is a lot of information on the net.

Good luck

Your heart was broken. It sometimes takes longer to heal than with other break-ups. Time is the only thing to heal a broken heart. Try going out again and having some fun. You remember how!

Haven’t read one, don’t think I ever would. What do you guys/gals get out of them?

@crunchaweezy – well, help actually!

Help to what though?

@crunchaweezy – I guess you should read the question again.

Also, if you can’t afford medication and a doctor visit, you could try St. John’s Wort, which can aid depression. It is no substitute for an anti-depressant, you have to stick with it as it takes a few weeks to get into your system.

Also please research effective dosages carefully.

It’s not exactly a self-help book, but The Last Lecture is a fabulous book, and it’s really good for getting some perspective on the world and figuring out what’s important to you, and what you want to focus on in your life. I’d recommend it to anyone, but especially to someone who’s feeling a little lost or directionless.

@peedub Lurve for The Little Prince – I think that’s one of the most beautiful books ever written!

Feeling Good by David Burns is a book that will help you change your irrational thoughts about yourself and the world around you.

I loved “Live in the Moment” by Julie Clark Robinson. It’s a short little book that’s upbeat and fresh. No scientific mumbo jumbo in it so you’ll really be able to get into it and relate. It just teaches you how to find happiness in every day and stay positive through tough times. It got me through my worst break up. And I still read through it from time to time just to lift my spirits again.

Iyanla Vanzant is good for getting over relationship stuff

and a proceless tool for me when I cam out of an abusive relationship was Sarah Ban Breathnach’s ‘Simple Abundance’ it helped me find myself again…

unfortunately though I very quickly lost myself again to another abusive man… and for getting over those types of realtionships i recommend… ‘Co-dependence, the Dance of the Wounded Souls’ by Robert Burney’

for what kind of help ? legal – medical – social – political – religious – psychological – emotional – physical – supernatural – economic – educational – entertainment – real estate – electronic –
transportation – travel – employment – blogging – computers – video – research – the holy bibel – reading – studying – fluther – science – news – technology – government – history – astrology –
what kind of help do you want ? so this is my answer www.theaddictioncure.com

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

I’m about halfway through The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and can recommend it. Getting Things Done might be good too, as it gives you something to do, and when you’re busy you don’t have time to be depressed (plus, the author makes the argument that we get depressed because we break commitments we make to ourselves, so a system that forces you to honor those commitments prevents depression).

And though it isn’t a book, I derived a huge benefit from listening through the Attacking Anxiety and Depression workshop by Lucinda Bassett and doing the included activities.

The most important thing to remember about our mental states is that they are directly connected to our physical states. Depression makes us act sad, but oppositely, acting sad helps us stay depressed. If you can learn to think and act positively, your mental state will reflect this as well. It’s takes work, but it’s doable (take this cynic’s advice because I’ve done it).

Thanks everyone! This is a great start. I will research your suggestions and figure out which ones I think will help me the most at this point. Thank you again so much, I really appreciate it. Have a good weekend!

You could try the Harville Hendricks books on healing from bad relationships and figuring out what to do the next time. I think one of them is called “Getting the Love you Want” or “How to Get the Love You Want”. They should be in the library.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Stop-Worrying-Start-Living/dp/0671035975/

http://www.amazon.com/How-Simplify-Your-Life-Practical/dp/0071433864/