Self-Help by Samuel Smiles

This week, Lisa and Misty review the first self-help book ever: Self-Help by Samuel Smiles.

Originally published in 1859, this book is considered the origins of self-help as we know today. Scotsman Samuel Smiles, a failed doctor, businessman and journalist, wrote the book to reform government by making individuals of a nation better – assuming this would make the whole of civilization better. He self-published this book, and sold 20,000 copies within one year, leading to his celebrity status as a pundit. By the time of his death, the book had sold over a quarter of a million copies.

We cover the thirteen chapters in this Self-Help book review podcast:

1. Self-help – National and Individual

2. Leaders of Industry – Inventors and Producers

3. The Great Potters – Palissy, Böttgher, Wedgwood

4. Application and Perseverance

5. Helps and Opportunities – Scientific Pursuits

6. Workers in Art

7. Industry and the Peerage

8. Energy and Courage

9. Men of Business

10. Money – Its Use and Abuse

11. Self-Culture – Facilities and Difficulties

12. Example – Models

13. Character – The True Gentleman

If you like what you’re hearing, you can buy the book here.

We also reference an article on timeline.com in this episode. If you'd like, you can read it here.

You can also listen to GHY's review of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey here. 

Finally, here's Misty's Halloween parody of the HGTV show Fixer Upper. 

Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Go Help Yourself!