Who is qualified to give advice like this?

[Natalie Charlene]

This is a really great question, and I don't know that there is a perfect answer for it. People feel compelled to write what they feel, and he felt the need to share his experiences and world view. Like the original post said, he isn't forcing anyone to read it.

I think it really is a case-by-case issue with self-help books. There are a ton of authors out there who have been through a lot of difficult times and have come out ahead, and they want to share what they know with others. There are some, though, who are in it for the money. Personally, I tend to avoid self-help books, but that is just because I am terrible at taking advice!

[gfowle]

I really like the topic you have thrown up for discussion because this is exactly what I have wondered every time I see a book of this genre. What makes someone think that their life is so perfect that they can tell others how to live theirs. And how is it that they are so confident about what they need to do in a given situation when most of us are assailed by doubts and uncertainties.
To be fair I think that people who write these have had experiences which have made them wiser or maybe they have put in a great deal of study into human behavior and they think that their experiences can actually help guide a few people in similar dilemmas.

I also had similar feelings about this book. At the end of the day, what worked for him might not actually work for anyone else. In my opinion, the purpose of books such as these should be to inspire, by showing how one MIGHT achieve success. I found this to be one of the biggest weaknesses of this book: it did not accept that there might be other ways to achieve the same level of success and satisfaction with life. I did not inherently dislike the book, but I felt that a level of personal connection was missing from it.

[Kaven_Crimble_the_witless_71]

I can absolutely understand where this question comes from. I guess it comes down to the business end, yeah? The writer clearly has a body of life experience, and whether they know how many people will listen, they have an intent to share and its up to the consumer to decide if its worth it. Some writers are just gifted with endless decrees of wisdom based on their insight, and a frightful few ever get to be recognized for it.

But the question brings up an interesting idea of credibility. Is a fiction writer more qualified than another fiction writer because they got a degree in "Being as Un-grounded in Reality as Possible?" That's an exaggeration, but I do find it interesting, as a book reader, to see how books and authors are viewed from the outside. A woman in Cold Lake, AB named Irene Cabay once wrote a book that I picked up, and it was an unapologetic compendium of Wisdoms and Affirmations (The title of the book, in fact). It's really under the control of the readers whether these genres have significance, or if they are a spin-off of the novelists in a way. Interesting, all the same

[Amy+++]

In my opinion, some of the best advice comes from people who have experienced what you are going through. And their experiences can maybe help you through your own.

[Lucas Kalinic]

Any person is qualified to give such an advise. A friendl could advise a friend and siblings could advise one another. Its about living the correct wat.You cannot always be an offender an expect to be at the front in delivering motivations.

[EvaDar]

I understand questioning an author's creds for writing a self-help book. I think, in the case of Mr. Wdowiak, he found a no-nonsense way of navigating challenges, and it worked for him. It is our job as readers to decide if the advice is sound or not. Presentation is half the battle with book writing. This author did a pretty good job of presenting the information in a format that is useful and accessible. I don't agree with the author in all cases, and I think he misses the boat on discounting thoughtfulness, but he wrote a decent book about self-responsibility.

[kdstrack]

Good news is something we naturally want to share. I think this author has shared life experiences that were difficult. His life could have been a disaster. He found a way to overcome his difficulties and succeed. It seems like he wants to share, with as many as people as possible, what worked for him. His advice helped him and can be of use to others. He offers it to all. That is admirable and brave.

[kemp1kor]

I’ve heard many times that it’s easiest to write what you know. By writing about their past experiences and dispensing advice that has helped them to improve their own lives, I believe many of these authors are looking to help others to avoid making the same mistakes they have made in the past.

[Franc93]

I think in a way you have missed the point. The author's perfection isn't what inspired the writing of this book. It has more to do with an innate need for a human being to express his or herself and in so doing, pass along a unique message that people with the same mindset can relate to and learn from.

[Theresa Moffitt]

I think once someone has struggled with something and overcome it, they want to help someone who is struggling with something similar. If you are facing an obstacle and are unable to get past it, it’s helpful to hear from someone who faced something similar and was successful in getting past it. I don’t think the author was saying his life is perfect. I think he is saying this is how I changed my life or way of thinking for the better, maybe it could help someone else.

[Anju_9]

I think people who have experienced things like this just like to share their story and give us a way to solve our problems in a way they would have if someone had given them the same advice. But at last, it depends on people whether they want their advice or not.

[Ksharmilla]

There are many books like this one out there. I own a few self-help books myself, the main ones being the secret series. They all have that basic theme: overcoming the self-imposed challenges or lack of belief in self.
I doubt that all of them are qualified in the sense of educational background. I believe what makes them qualified to give advice is their experiences. The authors are writing from their perspectives; what went wrong in their lives, what made them realize that it was a never ending downward spiral, and what they did to fix it. Their strategies worked for them and so they wanted to share it with the world so that other people can apply it as they see fit and bring about the desired change.
In the end it comes down to shared experiences. No two journeys are the same.

[Samy Lax]

I think that when someone has struggled enough in life and suddenly finds something that helps them get on with life better, they want to then document it and pass it on to the world at large. I think that's quite commendable and it's up to us to decide if we want to follow that piece of advice or not.

[vinkipc]

No one is perfect in this world, but some are better than others. They have ventured into something that seems impossible to others. For me, this is the person who should give advice.

[VandaQ]

As humans, we always seek to share our experiences with others - we are social animals, after all. I see self-help books like a really good friend trying to give you advice. What qualifies your friends to help you out? Nothing much, just the degree of trust you have in them. It's the same thing with books like these. The only thing that qualifies the author is how much trust the reader puts into what the writer says.