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/lit/ - Literature

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2393137 No.2393137 [Reply] [Original]

What is /lit/s opinion on self improvement books?
What are some good titles?

>> No.2393146

>>>/reddit/

>> No.2393151
File: 39 KB, 764x578, Tegan&sara43.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2393151

>>2393137
>opinions
They are terrible and worthless.

>Good titles:
How not to suck dick at life by sucking dick to get ahead.

>> No.2393165

"How many of you have self-help books? Okay, that's your first problem. You can't help yourself, because your *self* sucks! "

>> No.2393168

The only self improvement books worth reading involve neurolinguistic programming, AKA the NLP method, because that has fairly solid science behind it. The rest can ride my dick

>> No.2393173

guys is 10:30 too late to make a pizza?

>> No.2393183
File: 52 KB, 500x500, anaCeatspizzarealgood.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2393183

>>2393173
No. It's never too late for pizza.

>> No.2393190
File: 57 KB, 291x400, 16.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2393190

>>2393173
time doesn't really factor into the making of the pizza.
if you are eating a pizza close to your bedtime, it's unhealthy. if you are eating pizza for breakfast, you are Cobra and therefore badass and I give you my blessing

>> No.2393202

>>2393168

Hope you're joking. It is pathetically easy to spot people who try to use NLP practically in social situations, and trust me, it does NOT work.

>> No.2393214

Every book is a self improvement book

>> No.2393224

>>2393190

Cobra cuts his pizza with scissors.

>> No.2393227

>>2393224
when he uses his gun, or screams at it to cut itself the neighbors complain

>> No.2393231
File: 100 KB, 640x480, delicious_doktorka.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2393231

>>2393183
>>2393190

It's nighttime but fuck it man, life is short.

>> No.2393237

Stopped reading at your image. Yeah, I didn't even read the thread.

Fuck you. Get the fuck out of my /lit/

sage
hide

>> No.2393244

>>2393231
Somebody is putting a fork into that pizza!

>> No.2393246
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2393246

>>2393231

don't forget to degrease with kitchen paper, bro :3

>> No.2393247

>>2393231
>life is short.

no consciousness transferred into cybernetic anatomy for you!

>> No.2393248

>>2393246
omg are u zack wiener?

>> No.2393255

>>2393244
socialism! death of the american way of life!

>> No.2393257

>>2393231
are you 12?

>> No.2393258

>>2393257

12 and a half

>> No.2393259

>>2393257
he's just an autistic retarded tripfag
he was spamming some shit on /v/ earlier because noone would pay attention to him

>> No.2393262
File: 69 KB, 464x654, dfw5.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2393262

>>2393259
get out of here, /v/irgin

your kind isn't welcome here

>> No.2393268

>>2393262
get out of here, tripmendousfaggot

your kind isn't welcome here

>> No.2393270

>>2393258
no seriously, whats with the lack of facial hair?

>> No.2393271
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2393271

>>2393257
>>2393259
LEAVE TRUMAN ALONE

>> No.2393286
File: 109 KB, 640x480, Photo on 2012-02-09 at 23.14.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2393286

>>2393271

hey bro

want some pizza?

>> No.2393291
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2393291

>you will never eat pizza with truman

>> No.2393302

>>2393286
needs more grease

>> No.2393305

>>2393286
fucking disgusting

vegetables DO NOT BELONG ON A PIZZA

>> No.2393308
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2393308

>>2393286

>that fucking picture of DFW in the background

You're alright trumie.

>> No.2393310
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2393310

>>2393286
>DFW is looking so loningly at your pizza.
Give him a slice.

>> No.2393315

Self-improvement books are the shit of the earth. Really, you are better off killing yourself than relying on those pieces of crap.
Anyone that's been depressed knows that sometimes, something "clicks" and you feel a need to overcome that, a will to do something about, thing is: this almost always fades away and is useless. But, here's the catch: it feels good as fuck.

Self-help books induce this state of "will to overcome depression" by saying positive things that don't really help. This is way housewives buy these by the dozen: they never really help you, but they make you feel good for a while, just like some drug.

>> No.2393316

My last girlfriend asked me to read The Secret, so I did. Fucking mistake.

>> No.2393317
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2393317

>>2393286
>mfw there's cum on your tshirt

>> No.2393319
File: 89 KB, 640x480, Photo on 2012-02-09 at 23.28 #2.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2393319

>>2393310

eat up davey, you're the weakest.

>> No.2393321

>>2393317
wat?

>> No.2393324

>>2393317

I don't see it ...

>> No.2393326

>>2393214
Quite the opposite actually. The time reading that book could actually be used helping others, performing REAL labour, and doing honourable deeds.

>> No.2393328

>>2393319

tru are you fucking high tonight or something

>> No.2393330
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2393330

>>2393324
it was a joke. i was trying to make him feel self conscious and i tried to use that fact that he's probably a chronic masturbator to do it.

>> No.2393333

>>2393330
i think he's too young to masturabte

>> No.2393336

>>2393333
Quads tell the truth.

>> No.2393337

>>2393330

To be honest, I'd be suprised if there were 10 people who post on /lit/ who aren't chronic masturbators.

>> No.2393339

>>2393326
yeah thats called helping other, we're talking about self help.

even if you read a shit book you learn a little more about yourself. even if it's just 'i hate this book'

>> No.2393343

>>2393328
high on life, anon.

>>2393330
my sister made this shirt for me. what kind of animal cums over their own clothes?

>> No.2393345

>>2393339
By helping others you help yourself to being a better a person.

>> No.2393349

>>2393339
Oh and REAL labour isn't just helping yourself. Besides one should only read good books, bad books are intellectual poison.

>> No.2393346

>>2393337
are you always such a buzzkill?

>>2393333

i have no idea what age he is. he could be lying about the 12 and a half thing.

>> No.2393352

>>2393345
still not necessarily self help. the most we can say is it's 'other people help'

>> No.2393358

>>2393346

on litclub he said he was 18, the rest of his face looks older. maybe someone screencapped him.

>> No.2393361

>>2393349
define good and bad.

>REAL labour isn't just helping yourself.
yeah its helping other people more than yourself.
its 'other people help' gtfo this discussion

>> No.2393368
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2393368

>Truman comes in and makes this terrible thread fun
That's why TC is the best.

>> No.2393377

>>2393368
If you don't mind a serious inquiry: what do you get out of samefagging like this?

>> No.2393386
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2393386

>>2393377

i don't samefag. pretty sure that's the SLAFman.

>> No.2393381
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2393381

>>2393361
>define good and bad.
Virtuous, judged that way by critical analysis.

>yeah its helping other people more than yourself.
What? So WORKING (consequently getting money and supporting your lifestyle as well as doing something for society) is not helping yourself, but reading shitty books is?

>> No.2393387

>>2393231
>corn
>fork
>white wine

>> No.2393389

>>2393377

>doesn't recognise SLAF

>> No.2393391

I don't really have much of an opinion as my experience with such books is limited. I guess the closest thing to a 'self-improvement' book I've ever read were the works of Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca, all of which I'd recommend.

>> No.2393400

>>2393381
subjective conception of good, mate

and we were talking independent of money. obviously if you bring financial gain in then thats helping yourself. without it, work is exhausting and distracting. 'self help' is commonly considered to be education and introspection which is found in books, not work.

>> No.2393404
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2393404

>>2393377
He gets cuddles and free pineapple slices.

>> No.2393415

>>2393400
>subjective conception of good, mate
What? Is my definition subjective, or is the judgement of when something is 'good' subjective according to my definition. If it's the former; explain, If it's the latter, then you're wrong.
>'self help' is commonly considered to be education and introspection which is found in books
Not bad books kiddo.
And that's a pretty shitty common conception, for neither really helps oneself.

>> No.2393418

>>2393404
do you just save random facebook photos or something?

>> No.2393423
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2393423

So, because no one has actually provided any recommendations...

'7 habits of highly productive people' - stephen covey
'getting to yes' - robert fisher and William ury
'how to win friends and influence people' - dale carnegie
'art of war' sun tzu

(disclaimer: i have not read any of these myself, and not all may be technically self-help books. but they all come highly recommended from, in my opinion, highly reputable people.)

>> No.2393425

>'art of war' sun tzu
Yeah if you're either mentally retarded, OR from a dozen centuries ago, this might help you.

>> No.2393426
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2393426

>>2393418
>this guy doesn't know the people I post
confirmed for uncool.

>> No.2393429

>>2393415
no you overcomplicate it. good book means many things.

>>Not bad books kiddo.


a relatively uneducated person benefits immensely from reading mediocre thrillers. Just because it's not wittgenstein doesn't make it bad

>> No.2393431
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2393431

>>2393387

sophisticated pizza for sophisticated bachelors such as myself.

what kind of animal eats with their hands?

>> No.2393435

>>2393431
Where's the knife?

>> No.2393434

>>2393431
>what kind of animal

thats twice you've said. please learn some new phrases. read a book.

>> No.2393436

>>2393431

I don't think eating by your computer is very sophisticated, mate.

>> No.2393438

>>2393426
subjective definition of cool, mate.

>> No.2393439

>>2393429
>a relatively uneducated person benefits immensely from reading mediocre thrillers.
Does he now? Immensely even? Maybe he'll learn a couple of words but that's it. An uneducated person benefits a lot more from an education.

>> No.2393440
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2393440

>>2393137

how to serve man

>> No.2393441
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2393441

>>2393431
>what kind of brute drinks red wine with pizza
Sorry Truman bb, but red wine just ain't for pizza, that's a white wine meal.

>> No.2393445

>>2393439
I think I've argued with your pedantry before...

>> No.2393449

>>2393441
>white wine with pizza
Pleb detected

>> No.2393451

>>2393441
red wine isn't good for anything. people only prefer because it's more manly but white is sophisticated drink

>> No.2393454

anyone who drinks wine is a faggot

>> No.2393455

>>2393451
>>2393449
>>2393441

not mixing your sweet berry wines together into a pinkish melange is suck. it also gets you way drunk

>> No.2393457

>>2393434
>>2393435

what kind of animal doesn't appreciate irony?

>>2393441

sorry bro, wine is red.

>> No.2393458

>>2393449
if it's a light vegetable and chicken then yes white should be drunk. if any other kind of pizza, have a beer.

>> No.2393459
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2393459

>>2393439
HE also learns to become a detective.

>>2393449
Nah, bro, u wrong.

>> No.2393467

>>2393459
>>2393458
>>2393455
>>2393451
>>2393441
At least match the strength of the meal's taste to the wine's taste. Whites are delicate, reds are stronger. Pizza, because of the cheese, tomato and toppings, has an overpowering taste for white. The sauce (tomato) and cheese also compliment reds well. Basic shit.

>> No.2393465
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2393465

>>2393337

I wank so much, dust is coming out of the end. It's like tutankhamun's jizz or something.

>> No.2393473

LE REDDIT HUE HUE HUE IAMA PERSON AMA

>> No.2393475

>>2393465
I was like you, but then got a job where it is socially unacceptable.

>> No.2393476

>>2393467
No red is shit. Honestly, people only drink it because it has connotations of 'strength' beyond flavour. they feel that because it has a stronger flavour, it says something about their ability to consume vast quantities of alcohol. They have no appreciation of the flavour. If they did it would be white wine all the way and any time a red was demanded by the accompanying food, they'd opt for a beer.

>> No.2393479

>>2393467
seafood, chicken, vegetarian - white

pepperoni and other vileness - red

>> No.2393485

>>2393476
Since you like white, you probably mean lager, since both are for pussy babies. Ale is a real man's drink, but oh no it'll hurt your shitty palate.

>> No.2393489

>/lit/ hating on self-help books
>not realizing that all philosophy is essentially self-help
>not realizing that in fact all non-fiction is in a sense a self-help book since they empower the reader with knowledge
>not realizing all meaningful and worthwhile fiction also partly serves this purpose
>not realizing anything that isn't a self-help book is useless entertainment
>self-help book or the literal equivalent of MTV
>pick one

Other than that, people who exclusively drink white wine and no red tend to be young girls with no discernible taste. People who only drink red have better taste since they actually tolerate the heavier flavors. People with godlike pallet know to enjoy both in their own time, as well as a large variety of liquors and beers.

>> No.2393491

>>2393479
>seafood, chicken, vegetarian - white
Only if the pizza has no cheese, no mushrooms and maybe no tomato sauce. The whole "white for white meats" doesn't work if a slab of meat isn't the main dish.

>> No.2393496

>>2393476
>"people"
being pretty vague

>"... has a stronger flavour, it says something about their ability to consume vast quantities of alcohol"
speculative, ad hoc argument

also, when one pairs wine with food the idea is not to get drunk. you get franzia if you wanna get shit hammered.

>> No.2393500

This whole rules about combining drink and food thing is for pretentious snobs anyway. Combine what tastes good, whether it be a fine pasta with a glass of red or a bowl of cornflakes with a mason jar of Jim Beam.

>> No.2393513
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2393513

>>2393500
>drinking whisky
>not drinking Rum like a boss.

>> No.2393522
File: 74 KB, 800x600, rakia-borisovka-in-kapatovo.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2393522

>>2393513
>40%
>drinking spirits diluted due to tax regulations
You poor thing.

>> No.2393528

>>2393496
obviously its my opinion. im not stating fact. idiot.

>>2393491
cheese, mushrooms and tomato don't say anything about the wine.

>> No.2393530

>>2393500
deeply unsettling synonym error aside, I applaud you for eating your corn flakes soaked in the finest bourbon america has to offer.

>>2393513
gtfo jack sparrow

>> No.2393535
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2393535

>>2393522
You can tell that man never washed his hands while making that homemade alcohol.

>>2393530
>upset that Latin America is better at making alcohol that you yanks.

Even your beer is piss.

>> No.2393540

>>2393528
>cheese, mushrooms and tomato don't say anything about the wine.
Unsophisticated binger detected.

>> No.2393541

>>2393535
>You can tell that man never washed his hands while making that homemade alcohol.
He washed them in alcohol...

>> No.2393542

>>2393535
>You can tell that man never washed his hands while making that homemade alcohol.

The shine sterilizes his hands. So you might find a chuck of shit in your shotglass but it won't kill you.

>> No.2393544

>>2393528
just breaking down your opinion, which is ill-informed. obviously you weren't using facts. if you used facts you would know white wines top off at about 12-13% ABV and reds start at about 11% and can go up to as much as 20%, FACTUALLY making red wine stronger in most cases.

also don't call me names.

>> No.2393548

I'm sorry Terra Nova, but the old world produces the best drink of all time.

>> No.2393559
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2393559

>>2393541
Oh Schnapp

>> No.2393642

best drink when reading?

>> No.2393660

>>2393642

Gin and tonic.

Quinine to prevent malaria.
Lime juice to prevent scurvy.
Gin to prevent all manner of waterborne illness.

It's basically a health drink.

>> No.2394426

>>2393642

scotch, single malt.

>> No.2394430

>>2393642
Water. It keeps you hydrated.

>> No.2394436
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2394436

>>2393431

>dfw eyes in the background

>> No.2394443

>d*ck-head

sagesagesage


Fuck off back to reddit, nigger.

>> No.2394534

Here is a good place to start.

http://lesswrong.com/lw/3nn/scientific_selfhelp_the_state_of_our_knowledge/

I haven't read any of the books mentioned tho.