What do you think?
Rate this book
Self-Help: The Original Guide to Bootstrapping Your Success
"This above all - To thin own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."
SHAKESPEARE.
"Might I give counsel to any young man, I would say to him, trv to frequent the company of your betters. In books and in life, that is the most wholesome society; learn to admire rightly; the great pleasure of life is that. Note what great men admired; they admired great things; narrow spirits admire basely, and worship meanly."
W. M. THACKERAY.
SHAKESPEARE.
"Might I give counsel to any young man, I would say to him, trv to frequent the company of your betters. In books and in life, that is the most wholesome society; learn to admire rightly; the great pleasure of life is that. Note what great men admired; they admired great things; narrow spirits admire basely, and worship meanly."
W. M. THACKERAY.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1859
248 people are currently reading
1826 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Smiles
850 books58 followersSamuel Smiles (23 December 1812 – 16 April 1904), was a Scottish author and government reformer, who campaigned on a Chartist platform. But he concluded that more progress would come from new attitudes than from new laws. His masterpiece, Self-Help (1859), promoted thrift and claimed that poverty was caused largely by irresponsible habits, while also attacking materialism and laissez-faire government. It has been called "the bible of mid-Victorian liberalism", and it raised Smiles to celebrity status almost overnight.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 6, 2018
The whole self-help genre got its name from this book, published back in 1859. It suffers from the same flaws of the genre it defined. But these flaws may be with its readers, not with the books.
Despite constantly stressing the need for diligence, patience in enduring hardships, and any other character virtue you can think of, this book reads like an extended Rocky training montage. It's a string of biographies of high achieving people, like Newton, James Watt, Adam Smith etc, but by condensing a lifetime of effort, toil and hardship into a few pages at a time, you constantly get hits of instant gratification, a sense of exhilaration of achievement, but without really feeling the anguish of the struggle enough. Thus, it kind of subverts its own point, because the values it exhorts don't really sink in.
Isn't the "self" in self-help redundant anyway? These books are picked up by people who feel the need for outside help, it should be called just help. And that designation should only apply to books that propose a set of doable, practical heuristics for everyday living on a take-it-or-leave-it basis, like "Getting Things Done" for instance.
The other kind is the more vague, uplifting sort of self-help books that are supposed to be helpful, but that are mainly read for their comforting but delusional effects, making you think that maybe, just maybe this one book will kind of push you over the brink to self-realization, that it will be so inspiring it will remove the effort needed to make an effort. But it often just has the opposite effect, making you hungry for more pep talk, more inspiration, filling your head with wise quotations but making you less self-reliant because of it.
This book actually makes the same point pretty early on:
"Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, but help from within invariably invigorates. Whatever is done for men or classes, to a certain extent takes away the stimulus and necessity of doing for themselves; and where men are subjected to over-guidance and over-government, the inevitable tendency is to render them comparatively helpless."
Despite the warning though, you will probably continue reading it for it really does give you an uplifting feeling. It's dense, very well written, and it has an old school no non sense feel to it. There are no proposed shortcuts here, just sweat and toil.
Would any of the people who are mentioned in this book have had read this kind of stuff to get motivated? Or is it just comfort food for us average folks, who secretly hope that we will somehow adopt some of the traits of the greats by osmosis or something? Well we have the example of Sakichi Toyoda, founder of Toyota, who is said to be greatly influenced by this book. It follows then, that all the supposed flaws of this book are really with the reader and his expectations, not with the book. I give it five stars. I would give fewer stars to myself you see.
Despite constantly stressing the need for diligence, patience in enduring hardships, and any other character virtue you can think of, this book reads like an extended Rocky training montage. It's a string of biographies of high achieving people, like Newton, James Watt, Adam Smith etc, but by condensing a lifetime of effort, toil and hardship into a few pages at a time, you constantly get hits of instant gratification, a sense of exhilaration of achievement, but without really feeling the anguish of the struggle enough. Thus, it kind of subverts its own point, because the values it exhorts don't really sink in.
Isn't the "self" in self-help redundant anyway? These books are picked up by people who feel the need for outside help, it should be called just help. And that designation should only apply to books that propose a set of doable, practical heuristics for everyday living on a take-it-or-leave-it basis, like "Getting Things Done" for instance.
The other kind is the more vague, uplifting sort of self-help books that are supposed to be helpful, but that are mainly read for their comforting but delusional effects, making you think that maybe, just maybe this one book will kind of push you over the brink to self-realization, that it will be so inspiring it will remove the effort needed to make an effort. But it often just has the opposite effect, making you hungry for more pep talk, more inspiration, filling your head with wise quotations but making you less self-reliant because of it.
This book actually makes the same point pretty early on:
"Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, but help from within invariably invigorates. Whatever is done for men or classes, to a certain extent takes away the stimulus and necessity of doing for themselves; and where men are subjected to over-guidance and over-government, the inevitable tendency is to render them comparatively helpless."
Despite the warning though, you will probably continue reading it for it really does give you an uplifting feeling. It's dense, very well written, and it has an old school no non sense feel to it. There are no proposed shortcuts here, just sweat and toil.
Would any of the people who are mentioned in this book have had read this kind of stuff to get motivated? Or is it just comfort food for us average folks, who secretly hope that we will somehow adopt some of the traits of the greats by osmosis or something? Well we have the example of Sakichi Toyoda, founder of Toyota, who is said to be greatly influenced by this book. It follows then, that all the supposed flaws of this book are really with the reader and his expectations, not with the book. I give it five stars. I would give fewer stars to myself you see.
August 16, 2020
OK. We are in 1859. The industrial revolution is pounding change, economic development and desperate poverty and exploitation through England. Development is volatile and uneven. What possible mechanism is available to convince young men to work hard, with few opportunities for financial stability and a pleasant life?
Yes - self help. This 19th century best seller tells the tale of great man after great man who worked hard, with little hope of a payoff, was thrifty, and didn't expect the state, law or the nation to make his life any easier.
Side note. As you can tell, women are irrelevant to the story of great men doing great men stuff. Women are invisible in this book, with only a couple of mentions of these great men's wives. Great men are not destracted by women. They sacrifice and endure.
It is a fascinating book, which had a second life in Thatcher's Britain when she reclaimed 'Victorian Values.'
The difficulty is that the book is wrong. Meritocracy is an ideology. Hard work does not create a decent life, because work is unstable, unpredictable and precarious.
If only life could be this simple. An individual works hard and is rewarded for that effort. A person of ability is recognized and is socially mobile.
These were meritocratic dreams of the 19th century to stop working class men questioning their lives and collectivizing their struggles with other working class men. It is remarkable how this ideology of individual work and social mobility continues to live, breathe and deflect the truth in our present.
Yes - self help. This 19th century best seller tells the tale of great man after great man who worked hard, with little hope of a payoff, was thrifty, and didn't expect the state, law or the nation to make his life any easier.
Side note. As you can tell, women are irrelevant to the story of great men doing great men stuff. Women are invisible in this book, with only a couple of mentions of these great men's wives. Great men are not destracted by women. They sacrifice and endure.
It is a fascinating book, which had a second life in Thatcher's Britain when she reclaimed 'Victorian Values.'
The difficulty is that the book is wrong. Meritocracy is an ideology. Hard work does not create a decent life, because work is unstable, unpredictable and precarious.
If only life could be this simple. An individual works hard and is rewarded for that effort. A person of ability is recognized and is socially mobile.
These were meritocratic dreams of the 19th century to stop working class men questioning their lives and collectivizing their struggles with other working class men. It is remarkable how this ideology of individual work and social mobility continues to live, breathe and deflect the truth in our present.
June 15, 2012
"Self Help" by Samuel Smiles 1812 - 1904 The United Kingdom написана больше сотни лет назад. Задолго до волны книг по самосовершенствованию. Уже этот факт выделяет "Self Help".
Книги Смайлса были популярны в России до революции. На протяжении пятнадцати лет - с 1866 года - "Саморазвитие" ("Self Help") переиздавалась семь раз, а до 1903 года дополнительно еще трижды!
В подлиннике читать тяжеловато (по крайне мере, мне было не просто). Длинные абзацы, примеры из жизни, которой я не знаю (Англия, 19 век).
Вот две цитаты Смайлса, которые мне особенно понравились:
1. Учись так, как будто тебе предстоит жить вечно; живи так, как будто тебе предстоит умереть завтра.
2. Число годов еще не свидетельствует о длине жизни. Жизнь человека измеряется тем, что он в ней сделал и прочувствовал.
[image error]
Содержание "Self Help":
Глава 1. Самопомощь общественная и личная
Глава 2. Изобретатели и промышленные деятели
Глава 3. Три великих гончара - Палисси, Бетгер и Уэджвуд
Глава 4. Прилежание и настойчивость
Глава 5. Посторонняя помощь и счастливые случайности. Научная деятельность
Глава 6. Труженики изящных искусств
Глава 7. Английские пэры-труженики
Глава 8. Энергия и сила воли
Глава 9. Деловые люди
Глава 10. Деньги - пользование и злоупотребление ими
Глава 11. Саморазвитие
Глава 12. Значение примера
Глава 13. Значение характера
Главая 14. Русские деятели
Цена на aнтикварное русское издание 1967 года (obook.ru) аж 115 Euro !!!
Книгу мне порекомендовал GR friend Igor Tirador. Спасибо!
Рекомендуюпопробовать почитать, чтобы быть в курсе, с чего все начиналось.
Книги Смайлса были популярны в России до революции. На протяжении пятнадцати лет - с 1866 года - "Саморазвитие" ("Self Help") переиздавалась семь раз, а до 1903 года дополнительно еще трижды!
В подлиннике читать тяжеловато (по крайне мере, мне было не просто). Длинные абзацы, примеры из жизни, которой я не знаю (Англия, 19 век).
Вот две цитаты Смайлса, которые мне особенно понравились:
1. Учись так, как будто тебе предстоит жить вечно; живи так, как будто тебе предстоит умереть завтра.
2. Число годов еще не свидетельствует о длине жизни. Жизнь человека измеряется тем, что он в ней сделал и прочувствовал.
[image error]
Содержание "Self Help":
Глава 1. Самопомощь общественная и личная
Глава 2. Изобретатели и промышленные деятели
Глава 3. Три великих гончара - Палисси, Бетгер и Уэджвуд
Глава 4. Прилежание и настойчивость
Глава 5. Посторонняя помощь и счастливые случайности. Научная деятельность
Глава 6. Труженики изящных искусств
Глава 7. Английские пэры-труженики
Глава 8. Энергия и сила воли
Глава 9. Деловые люди
Глава 10. Деньги - пользование и злоупотребление ими
Глава 11. Саморазвитие
Глава 12. Значение примера
Глава 13. Значение характера
Главая 14. Русские деятели
Цена на aнтикварное русское издание 1967 года (obook.ru) аж 115 Euro !!!
Книгу мне порекомендовал GR friend Igor Tirador. Спасибо!
Рекомендую
April 12, 2010
One of the oldest inspirational books. I really motivated.
It focuses on our character and ourselves, not to others.
Sometimes, I re-read and take inspiration.
"Heaven helps those who help themselves"
It focuses on our character and ourselves, not to others.
Sometimes, I re-read and take inspiration.
"Heaven helps those who help themselves"
May 23, 2025
I love the Theme of this book--Kind of Stoic and Heroic in Ideal--- It is an intense read---but the end result is to Inspire you to reflect upon thought and sober industrious living--He inspired another Great Author Orison Swett Marden--This book inspires--but you still have to DO THE WORK.
As the Author says "Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, and renders the helpees incapable of Helping themselves ".
"It's doggedness that does it " Darwin
"He alone is Great who by a Heroic life Conquers fate " Marden
"Che va piano va lontano et longano " Who goes deliberately goes long and far
Read, then go do....
The Greatest things are found in the most overlooked packages
As the Author says "Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, and renders the helpees incapable of Helping themselves ".
"It's doggedness that does it " Darwin
"He alone is Great who by a Heroic life Conquers fate " Marden
"Che va piano va lontano et longano " Who goes deliberately goes long and far
Read, then go do....
The Greatest things are found in the most overlooked packages
August 8, 2018
هذا الكتاب كان من المفترض أن يكون ترجمة لكتاب (Self Help-Samuel Smiles ) المنشور في عام1859 م لكنني وجدت أن المقدمة التي كتبها المترجم يعقوب صروف قد حذفت من هذه النسخة. ففي الطبعات القديمة لهذا الكتاب، يصرح يعقوب صروف بأن هذا الكتاب هو كتاب للفاضل سامويل سمايلز إلا أنه أضاف بعض الفقرات لتقريب الفكرة للقارئ العربي. النسخة التي عندي والتي حصلت عليها من لبنان، لا تحتوي لهذه المقدمة ، ولذلك يخال للقارئ بأن يعقوب صروف هو مؤلف هذا الكتاب !
قرأت النسخة الأنجليزية مرتين من قبل في السابق، وأذكر الكثير من الفقرات التي لم أجدها في هذه الترجمة، ولقد وجدت الترجمة ذي لغة عربية ركيكة
سامويل سمايلز ربح شهرة كبيرة عندما نشر هذا الكتاب. الكتاب يروج لفكرة أن الإنسان هو سيد نفسه، وسقوطه وارتقاؤه بيده هو وليس بيد أحد آخر. ويحارب الكتاب الماديات ويدعو إلى أداء الواجب والعمل، وتحمل الشدائد والصبر على مر الدنيا. ويذكر سمايلز في هذا الكتاب العشرات من سير أناس وعلماء وفلاسفة بدأوا حياتهم في أسوأ الظروف، وكانت طرقهم مسدودة إلا أنهم بالصبر ارتقوا وعلموا أنفسهم بأنفسهم. الكتاب يدعو إلى الفضيلة وحب الخير ومحاربة النفس والعمل من أجل الأخرين.
لسمايلز كتب غير مترجمة لحد الأن منها : Thrift و Character و Duty والكثير من الكتب التي وجدت فيها فائدة كبيرة إلا أن دور الترجمة في أيامنا هذه لا تترجم إلا كتب مساعدة الذات التجارية والركيكة!
سأضع بعض الأقتباسات من الكتاب لأعطي فكرة عما جاء فيه:
"ليس العبد من يستعبده غيره، بل من يُستعبد لجهله وكبريائه وهواه"
"السرور والاجتهاد تسعة أعشار الحكمة"
" كل بني البشر من دم واحد، وإن كان كثيرون لا يقدرون أن يمتدوا في انتسابهم إلى أكثر من جد واحد، فالجميع بدون استثناء يُمكنهم أن يُنسبوا إلى آدم وحواء. والسعادة والشرف لا يدومان لفئة من البشر. فكم من عظيم انحط، ووضيع سما؟!"
"على العاقل أن يستعد للقاء ثلاثة: البطالة والمرض والموت. أما الأولان ففي طاقته تجنبهما أما الثالث فلا"
" من لا يقوى على كبح جماح نفسه، فالعبد أكثر حرية منه"
"المتاعب تربي فوق تربية الأب، كما أن الخطأ يقود إلى الصواب"
"الناس يتعلمون الحكمة من الفشل أكثر مما يتعلمونها من النجاح، لأنهم كثيرا ما يعرفون المفيد إذا عرفوا غير المفيد. ومن لا يغلط لا يتعلم"
"صفاء الدنيا وكدرها يتوقفان على صفاء البيت وكدره"
قرأت النسخة الأنجليزية مرتين من قبل في السابق، وأذكر الكثير من الفقرات التي لم أجدها في هذه الترجمة، ولقد وجدت الترجمة ذي لغة عربية ركيكة
سامويل سمايلز ربح شهرة كبيرة عندما نشر هذا الكتاب. الكتاب يروج لفكرة أن الإنسان هو سيد نفسه، وسقوطه وارتقاؤه بيده هو وليس بيد أحد آخر. ويحارب الكتاب الماديات ويدعو إلى أداء الواجب والعمل، وتحمل الشدائد والصبر على مر الدنيا. ويذكر سمايلز في هذا الكتاب العشرات من سير أناس وعلماء وفلاسفة بدأوا حياتهم في أسوأ الظروف، وكانت طرقهم مسدودة إلا أنهم بالصبر ارتقوا وعلموا أنفسهم بأنفسهم. الكتاب يدعو إلى الفضيلة وحب الخير ومحاربة النفس والعمل من أجل الأخرين.
لسمايلز كتب غير مترجمة لحد الأن منها : Thrift و Character و Duty والكثير من الكتب التي وجدت فيها فائدة كبيرة إلا أن دور الترجمة في أيامنا هذه لا تترجم إلا كتب مساعدة الذات التجارية والركيكة!
سأضع بعض الأقتباسات من الكتاب لأعطي فكرة عما جاء فيه:
"ليس العبد من يستعبده غيره، بل من يُستعبد لجهله وكبريائه وهواه"
"السرور والاجتهاد تسعة أعشار الحكمة"
" كل بني البشر من دم واحد، وإن كان كثيرون لا يقدرون أن يمتدوا في انتسابهم إلى أكثر من جد واحد، فالجميع بدون استثناء يُمكنهم أن يُنسبوا إلى آدم وحواء. والسعادة والشرف لا يدومان لفئة من البشر. فكم من عظيم انحط، ووضيع سما؟!"
"على العاقل أن يستعد للقاء ثلاثة: البطالة والمرض والموت. أما الأولان ففي طاقته تجنبهما أما الثالث فلا"
" من لا يقوى على كبح جماح نفسه، فالعبد أكثر حرية منه"
"المتاعب تربي فوق تربية الأب، كما أن الخطأ يقود إلى الصواب"
"الناس يتعلمون الحكمة من الفشل أكثر مما يتعلمونها من النجاح، لأنهم كثيرا ما يعرفون المفيد إذا عرفوا غير المفيد. ومن لا يغلط لا يتعلم"
"صفاء الدنيا وكدرها يتوقفان على صفاء البيت وكدره"
March 24, 2015
Samuel Smiles's advice can be reduced to three words: Action! Action! Action!
He starts by addressing the mind virus that plagues many people, expecting happiness to come from government or great leaders. Smiles argues for responsibility. If you want to achieve anything worthwhile, it's up to you.
Throughout the rest of the book, he gives mini-biography after mini-biography to illustrate that regardless of where you started in life, your destination is your choice, if you're willing to work hard, solve your problems and have sound character.
This is not a book for people looking for quick-fix solutions. To achieve anything worthwhile takes times. Character and worthy achievements are built over years, not seconds.
If you can handle the dated language and are after a character-based guide to success, you'll enjoy Self-Help
He starts by addressing the mind virus that plagues many people, expecting happiness to come from government or great leaders. Smiles argues for responsibility. If you want to achieve anything worthwhile, it's up to you.
Throughout the rest of the book, he gives mini-biography after mini-biography to illustrate that regardless of where you started in life, your destination is your choice, if you're willing to work hard, solve your problems and have sound character.
This is not a book for people looking for quick-fix solutions. To achieve anything worthwhile takes times. Character and worthy achievements are built over years, not seconds.
If you can handle the dated language and are after a character-based guide to success, you'll enjoy Self-Help
August 11, 2014
I think this is somewhat a ‘Divine’ book. Samuel Smiles has written a ‘Gospel for Men’ which truly is timeless. Explaining the qualities, which are the true glories of human character. This book highlights the remarkable features in life which are “wisdom” and “humility” and above all “Perseverance”. He who has these three features shall not fail the race of life. For more a man knows the less conceited he will be is his Motto.
“Self Help”, taught me;
1. To regard time as a treasure that is limited.
2. He who never made a mistake, never made a discovery.
3. The youth who inherits wealth is apt to have life made too easy for him, and he soon grows sated with it. Because he has nothing left to desire. Having no special object to struggle for, he finds time hangs heavy on his hands. He remains morally and spiritually asleep; and his position in society is often no higher than that of a polypus over which the tide floats.
4. The wise mans eyes are in his head.
5. Defeats do not long cast down the resolute hearted. But only serve to call forth their real powers. “Time” is all they need.
6. Always believe in the power of “Patience” and ‘’Perseverance”.
Mr. Smile’s message was simple. That success in life depended not on genius or intellect but on “the energetic use of simple means and ordinary qualities, with which nearly all human individuals have been endowed”.
Summed up in one word his message was “PERSEVERANCE”! It’s a must read book for working men.
“Self Help”, taught me;
1. To regard time as a treasure that is limited.
2. He who never made a mistake, never made a discovery.
3. The youth who inherits wealth is apt to have life made too easy for him, and he soon grows sated with it. Because he has nothing left to desire. Having no special object to struggle for, he finds time hangs heavy on his hands. He remains morally and spiritually asleep; and his position in society is often no higher than that of a polypus over which the tide floats.
4. The wise mans eyes are in his head.
5. Defeats do not long cast down the resolute hearted. But only serve to call forth their real powers. “Time” is all they need.
6. Always believe in the power of “Patience” and ‘’Perseverance”.
Mr. Smile’s message was simple. That success in life depended not on genius or intellect but on “the energetic use of simple means and ordinary qualities, with which nearly all human individuals have been endowed”.
Summed up in one word his message was “PERSEVERANCE”! It’s a must read book for working men.
June 14, 2011
Эта книга необходима тем кто считает что "он не способен" и ему не нравится нынешняя жизнь, для тех кому надоело терять время и кто ленив. Зацепило ? Читайте заметку до конца и получите скан (который не так легко найти (бесплатно) :)
Начал читать #Self-Help от #Samuel #Smiles. Главный тезис : гениальность = труд + решимость. В ней он приводит биографии простых людей
Тезис "Если вы будете ежедневно уделять 20 минут на такое-то дело, то можете достигнуть блестящего успеха" и десяток примеров из биографий.
Я уверен что любой сможет применить советы и мотивирующие примеры на себе чисто из любопытства. Развенчание гениальности тоже очень ок
В книге он говорит что любая работа (черный труд) и что все работы важны. Тоже во всей книге примеры приводит по этому поводу
http://bit.ly/j9bhEA Тут ссылки на магазины. На #Amazon всего за 3$ (она бесценна) ее можно купить для #kindle http://amzn.to/lRz1I3 !
Для владельцев #iPad/ #Pocketbook/ #Nook прямой линк на #pdf скана Self-Help (полноценный). Да прибудет с вами, Сила и Воля и убудет Лень! http://bit.ly/lxyB7Jпр
Начал читать #Self-Help от #Samuel #Smiles. Главный тезис : гениальность = труд + решимость. В ней он приводит биографии простых людей
Тезис "Если вы будете ежедневно уделять 20 минут на такое-то дело, то можете достигнуть блестящего успеха" и десяток примеров из биографий.
Я уверен что любой сможет применить советы и мотивирующие примеры на себе чисто из любопытства. Развенчание гениальности тоже очень ок
В книге он говорит что любая работа (черный труд) и что все работы важны. Тоже во всей книге примеры приводит по этому поводу
http://bit.ly/j9bhEA Тут ссылки на магазины. На #Amazon всего за 3$ (она бесценна) ее можно купить для #kindle http://amzn.to/lRz1I3 !
Для владельцев #iPad/ #Pocketbook/ #Nook прямой линк на #pdf скана Self-Help (полноценный). Да прибудет с вами, Сила и Воля и убудет Лень! http://bit.ly/lxyB7Jпр
July 6, 2023
يذكرني بكتاب عظماء بلا مدارس
كتاب جميل ومفيد و مباشر بدون اسهاب الكتاب طبع سنة ١٨٥٩.. الطبعة لدي سنة ١٩٠٨
……
Attention, application, accuracy, method, punctuality, and despatch are the principal qualities required for the efficient conduct of business of any sort. These, at first sight, may appear to be small matters; and yet they are of essential importance to human happiness, well-being, and usefulness. They are little things, it is true, but human life is made up of comparative trifles." It is the repetition of little acts which constitute not only the sum of human character, but which determine the character of nations." And where men or nations have broken down, it will almost invariably be found that neglect of little things was the rock on which they split.
Every human being has duties to be performed and, therefore, needs to cultivate the capacity for doing them; whether the sphere of action is the management of a household, the conduct of a trade or profession, or the government of a nation.
كتاب جميل ومفيد و مباشر بدون اسهاب الكتاب طبع سنة ١٨٥٩.. الطبعة لدي سنة ١٩٠٨
……
Attention, application, accuracy, method, punctuality, and despatch are the principal qualities required for the efficient conduct of business of any sort. These, at first sight, may appear to be small matters; and yet they are of essential importance to human happiness, well-being, and usefulness. They are little things, it is true, but human life is made up of comparative trifles." It is the repetition of little acts which constitute not only the sum of human character, but which determine the character of nations." And where men or nations have broken down, it will almost invariably be found that neglect of little things was the rock on which they split.
Every human being has duties to be performed and, therefore, needs to cultivate the capacity for doing them; whether the sphere of action is the management of a household, the conduct of a trade or profession, or the government of a nation.
April 28, 2017
Үнэхээр их зориг өгсөн ном минь,хагалгаанд орохоор зориг шулуудаад байсан надад итгэлийг өгсөн билээ. Энэ номыг эргэн харах бүрийдээ тэр үедээ сулбагар байсан "би"-г их өөрчилсөн, ямар их тус хүргэснээ бичсэн хүн нь ч, орчуулсан хүн нь ч төсөөлөхгүй дээ :-) тийм ээ, бурхан гагцхүү өөртөө тусладаг хүнд л тусладаг...
May 20, 2020
Sách rất hay và ý nghĩa. Tính cho 4 sao do đoạn giữa hơi dài dòng, nhưng đoạn đầu và cuối rất ý nghĩa, nhiều bài học hay nên nâng lên 5 sao. Khuyên các bạn dù lứa tuổi nào cũng nên đọc để hiểu vì sao quyển sách này được đánh giá rất cao ở Anh và Nhật, bestseller, được chủ tịch công ty Toyota và thủ tướng Anh Maraget Thatcher “gối đầu giường”. Tôi rất thích quyển sách này!
November 1, 2012
Basically a libertarian manifesto. Work hard, play nice, take care of your body, and don't hoard money. You'll lead a good life.
October 30, 2018
Not about self-help at all, more potted histories of great men, all of whom seem to have been monotonously hard-working. I prefer my biographies a bit more balanced.
December 15, 2018
كتاب لـ شحذ الهمم..
February 10, 2019
ملهم جدا الكتاب بالنظر مجردا لقصص النجاح التي فيه وقد نجح المترجم ايضا بربط واضافة بعض الثقافة الاسلامية والعربية على الترجمة
August 29, 2022
Smiles makes some pretty good points if you can ignore the classism and sexism characteristic of a British white man in 1859
June 30, 2022
The butler did it.
This is the terrible book I hoped it would be. Some people say this is the first self-help book ever published. It might be the first with that title--the title that launched an industry. That industry is something I do not trust as far as I can spit it.
The text grew out of lectures Smiles gave to groups of working-class men (so we are told). The basic argument is that the degrees of self-reliance and self-improvement are the only differences between those who succeed in life and those who fail. Smiles uses innumerable examples of men who were "self made" through their own resolve, resilience, and other virtues, and skates right over every mention he makes of extraordinary assistance they received from others. To say he cherry-picked his examples hardly expresses how selective he was about not only the exemplars of virtue and manliness, but of the way he told their stories.
Smiles also offers no really practical advice. It's a windbag full of nothing. It's occasionally humorous. I was hoping for some guffaws at the Victorian English manly-man-ness of it all, but Smiles' text is too bland to be truly funny most of the time.
This is the terrible book I hoped it would be. Some people say this is the first self-help book ever published. It might be the first with that title--the title that launched an industry. That industry is something I do not trust as far as I can spit it.
The text grew out of lectures Smiles gave to groups of working-class men (so we are told). The basic argument is that the degrees of self-reliance and self-improvement are the only differences between those who succeed in life and those who fail. Smiles uses innumerable examples of men who were "self made" through their own resolve, resilience, and other virtues, and skates right over every mention he makes of extraordinary assistance they received from others. To say he cherry-picked his examples hardly expresses how selective he was about not only the exemplars of virtue and manliness, but of the way he told their stories.
Smiles also offers no really practical advice. It's a windbag full of nothing. It's occasionally humorous. I was hoping for some guffaws at the Victorian English manly-man-ness of it all, but Smiles' text is too bland to be truly funny most of the time.
May 2, 2011
One of the first ever books to be fundamentally about personal development and self-improvement. It was fascinating to read about old and archaic trades and industries and the secrets behind the people who were successful in them. I couldn't believe the number of examples and stories that had been gathered for this book in just one person's lifetime. By not being able to connect with the types of jobs, industries and roles discussed you are left more able to identify the common key strengths that stand in the people mentioned that can be said to be universal and perennial such as hard-work and diligence. This book really surprised me and I would genuinely say it has 'helped' me immensely.
January 19, 2021
Money - it’s use and abuse:
“How a man uses money - makes it, saves it, and spends it - it is perhaps one of the best tests of practical wisdom. Although money ought by no means to be regarded as a chief end of mans life, neither is it a trifling matter, to be held in philosophic contempt, representing, as it does to so large an extent, the means of physical comfort and social well-being. Indeed, some of the finest qualities of human nature are intimately related to the right use of money: such as generosity, honesty , justice, and self-sacrifice, as well as the practical virtues of economy and providence.” 239
“How a man uses money - makes it, saves it, and spends it - it is perhaps one of the best tests of practical wisdom. Although money ought by no means to be regarded as a chief end of mans life, neither is it a trifling matter, to be held in philosophic contempt, representing, as it does to so large an extent, the means of physical comfort and social well-being. Indeed, some of the finest qualities of human nature are intimately related to the right use of money: such as generosity, honesty , justice, and self-sacrifice, as well as the practical virtues of economy and providence.” 239
June 25, 2021
من الكتب الجميلة المحفزة الشاحذة للهمم..
February 15, 2021
Заавал унших ёстой номуудын жагсаалтдаа энэ бүтээлийг бүртгэлээ. Маш и�� урам зориг хийгээд ухаарал хайрлав. Энгийн нэгэн амьдралын хууль тайлбарлаад буй мэт боловч, зайлшгүй хэвшүүлж, өөриймшүүлэх ёстой зан төрх, дадал хэвшлийг маш тодорхой хийгээд бодит жишээ баримттайгаар тайлбарласан байгаа нь сэтгэлд тун ойрхон тусч байв. Япон хэлнээс Монгол хэл рүү хөрвүүлсэн хувилбарыг нь уншсан тул орчуулгын тухайд хэлэх үг алга. Гэхдээ хураангуй хувилбар байсан бололтой. Яг эх хувилбараар нь эх хэл дээр нь дахин нэг унших сэдэл төрөв.
February 26, 2022
ذكر امثلة للنجاح في حقبة زمنية قديمة، مثال جيد لآلية النجاح في الماضي أغلبها في بريطانيا، كيف كان الناس يعيشون في ذلك الوقت ويكسبون المال وكيف كانوا يفكرون
ليس فيه معاني أو أساليب. كل مافيه قصص
كأنك تشاهد فلم قديم عن بريطانيا تقريباً من عام ١٨٠٠ الى ١٩٠٠
جيد
ليس فيه معاني أو أساليب. كل مافيه قصص
كأنك تشاهد فلم قديم عن بريطانيا تقريباً من عام ١٨٠٠ الى ١٩٠٠
جيد
July 26, 2021
1. Trợ giúp từ bên ngoài thường có tác động làm mềm yếu, nhưng trợ giúp từ bên trong thì luôn tăng cường sinh lực. Bất cứ gì được thực hiện giùm con người hay giai cấp, ở chừng mực nào đó, luôn làm mất đi tác nhân kích thích và nhu cầu tự làm cho mình; và ở đâu mà con ngừoi tùy thuộc vào sự hướng dẫn thái quá và quản lý thái quá, xu hướng tất yếu sẽ à, biến con người thành tương đối mất khả năng tự lo liệu
2. Người ta thường thấy bản thân chính quyền của một quốc gia chẳng qua chỉ là hình ảnh phản chiếu những cá nhân cấu thành quốc gia đó. Chính quyền mà đi trước dân chúng tất nhiên sẽ bị kéo xuống cho gần bằng dân chúng, với chính quyền tụt hậu ra sau dân chúng thì về lâu dài sẽ bị kéo tới trước
3. Lòng yêu nước và bác ái cao nhất không phải ở việc thay đổi luật pháp hoặc điều chỉnh các định chế, mà ở việc giúp đỡ và khuyến khích con người nâng cao và cải thiện bản thân thông qua hành động tự do và độc lập của cá nhân
4. Những quốc gia bị nô dịch tận trong lòng như thế thì không thể được giải pháp bằng cách đơn thuần thay đổi kẻ lãnh đạo hay các định chế; và đến chừng nào ảo tưởng tai hại này vẫn còn phổ biến, rằng tự do chỉ tùy thuộc vào, và chủ yếu nằm ở, chính quyền, thì những thay đổi đó, bất kể nó được tiến hành với giá nào, chỉ có chút ít kết quả thực tế và lâu bền như việc thay đổi hình ảnh trong cảnh ảo tạo ra bằng máy chính hình. Nền tảng vững chắc của tự do phải dựa trên tính cách của cá nhân; điều này cũng là bảo đảm duy nhất cho an ninh xã hội và tiến bộ của quốc gia
5. Sớm đối đầu với khó khẳn và nghịch cảnh là điều kiện cần thiết và không thể thiếu cho sự thành công
6. Việc kế thừa một mẫu đất thì có thể truyền lại, nhưng di sản kiến thức và sự khôn ngoan thì không
7. Một cuộc sống xa hoa và thoải mái không dạy người ta nỗ lực hoặc đối đầu với khó khan. Giàu có là cám dỗ lớn lao kéo ta đến sự thoải mái và buông thả bản thân
8. Khác biệt giữa những con người, phần lớn, nằm ở trong sự quan sát thông minh của họ
9. Nghệ thuật nắm bắt cơ hội và biến đổi ngay cả những việc ngẫu nhiên thành có lợi, hướng chúng về một mục đích nào đó là bí quyết lớn của thành công
10. Sự khôn ngoan đích thực nhất là một quyết tâm mãnh liệt và phi nguyên tắc
11. Tính chuyên cần và tiết kiệm đơn giản sẽ chắc chắn giúp bất cứ người nào với khả năng lao động bình thường trở nên độc lập tương đối trong mức thu nhập của họ
12. Không gì phổ biến hơn năng lực kiếm tiền, hoàn toàn độc lập với mọi mục tiêu khác cao hơn việc tích lũy tiền bạc
13. Việc huấn luyện thanh tiên về cách sử dụng các công cụ, ngoài việc dạy họ “những điều thông thường”, còn dạy họ cách sử dụng tay chân, làm quen với lao động lành mạnh, thực hành những khả năng của mình với vật chất cụ thể, cho họ quen thuộc qua thực tế với cơ học, truyền cho họ khả năng trở nên hữu dụng, và hình thành trong họ thói quen cố gắng bền bỉ về thể chất
14. Không phải sự dễ dàng, mà là nỗ lực – không phải sự thuận tiện, mà là khó khăn, đã khiến ta nên người
15. Như thế, có một tinh chất bất tử trong đời sống của con người, ngay cả tại kiếp này. Không cá nhân nào trong vũ trụ đứng một mình; mỗi người là bộ phận cấu thành của một hệ thống gồm những thực thể phụ thuộc lẫn nhau; và bằng những hành vi của mình, họ làm tang hoặc giảm tổng khối tốt đẹp của con người hiện tại và mãu về sau. Vì hiện tại bắt rễ từ quá khứ, và cuộc sống và những tấm gương của cha ông vẫn ảnh hưởng sâu đậm tới chúng ta, nên qua hành động hằng ngày chúng ta dang góp phần định hình điều kiện và tính cách của tương lai. Co người là kết quả được hình thành và ủ chin bởi nền văn hóa của mọi thế kỷ đã qua; và hế hệ đang sống tiếp dục dòng chảy mạnh mẽ của những hành động và tấm gương vốn được dung để kết quá khứ và tương lai xa nhất với nhau. Không hành vi nào của con người bị chết đi hoàn toàn; và tuy thân xác có thể phân rã thành bụi và khí, những hành vi tốt và xấu của mỗi người vẫn tiếp tục sản sinh kết quả theo kiểu của chúng, và ảnh hưởng đến những thế hệ tương lai sắp tới. Trách nhiệm và mối nguy của đời người nằm ngay trong sự thực nghiệm trọng và cốt yếu này
16. Những con người chân thành, cho dù ở vị trí khiêm tốn nhất trong cuộc đời, nhưng là người hành động mạnh mẽ, vẫn có thể tạo xung lực cho những công việc tốt lớn lao hơn nhiều so với địa vị của họ trong xã hội
17. Tinh thần sôi nổi luôn là một tinh thần lành mạnh và hạnh phúc; tự nó lao động vui vẻ và kích thích người khác lao động. Nó đem lại danh giá cho cả những nghệ nghiệp bình thường nhất. Công trình hiệu quả nhất, cũng vậy, thường là công trình được làm với toàn tâm trí – thứ công việc đi qua bàn tay hoặc khối óc của người lao động có tâm hồn đầy hoan lạc
18. Bạn có thể ngưỡng mộ những con người trí tuệ; nhưng phải có thêm một số điều gì khác thì bạn mới có thể tin cậy họ
2. Người ta thường thấy bản thân chính quyền của một quốc gia chẳng qua chỉ là hình ảnh phản chiếu những cá nhân cấu thành quốc gia đó. Chính quyền mà đi trước dân chúng tất nhiên sẽ bị kéo xuống cho gần bằng dân chúng, với chính quyền tụt hậu ra sau dân chúng thì về lâu dài sẽ bị kéo tới trước
3. Lòng yêu nước và bác ái cao nhất không phải ở việc thay đổi luật pháp hoặc điều chỉnh các định chế, mà ở việc giúp đỡ và khuyến khích con người nâng cao và cải thiện bản thân thông qua hành động tự do và độc lập của cá nhân
4. Những quốc gia bị nô dịch tận trong lòng như thế thì không thể được giải pháp bằng cách đơn thuần thay đổi kẻ lãnh đạo hay các định chế; và đến chừng nào ảo tưởng tai hại này vẫn còn phổ biến, rằng tự do chỉ tùy thuộc vào, và chủ yếu nằm ở, chính quyền, thì những thay đổi đó, bất kể nó được tiến hành với giá nào, chỉ có chút ít kết quả thực tế và lâu bền như việc thay đổi hình ảnh trong cảnh ảo tạo ra bằng máy chính hình. Nền tảng vững chắc của tự do phải dựa trên tính cách của cá nhân; điều này cũng là bảo đảm duy nhất cho an ninh xã hội và tiến bộ của quốc gia
5. Sớm đối đầu với khó khẳn và nghịch cảnh là điều kiện cần thiết và không thể thiếu cho sự thành công
6. Việc kế thừa một mẫu đất thì có thể truyền lại, nhưng di sản kiến thức và sự khôn ngoan thì không
7. Một cuộc sống xa hoa và thoải mái không dạy người ta nỗ lực hoặc đối đầu với khó khan. Giàu có là cám dỗ lớn lao kéo ta đến sự thoải mái và buông thả bản thân
8. Khác biệt giữa những con người, phần lớn, nằm ở trong sự quan sát thông minh của họ
9. Nghệ thuật nắm bắt cơ hội và biến đổi ngay cả những việc ngẫu nhiên thành có lợi, hướng chúng về một mục đích nào đó là bí quyết lớn của thành công
10. Sự khôn ngoan đích thực nhất là một quyết tâm mãnh liệt và phi nguyên tắc
11. Tính chuyên cần và tiết kiệm đơn giản sẽ chắc chắn giúp bất cứ người nào với khả năng lao động bình thường trở nên độc lập tương đối trong mức thu nhập của họ
12. Không gì phổ biến hơn năng lực kiếm tiền, hoàn toàn độc lập với mọi mục tiêu khác cao hơn việc tích lũy tiền bạc
13. Việc huấn luyện thanh tiên về cách sử dụng các công cụ, ngoài việc dạy họ “những điều thông thường”, còn dạy họ cách sử dụng tay chân, làm quen với lao động lành mạnh, thực hành những khả năng của mình với vật chất cụ thể, cho họ quen thuộc qua thực tế với cơ học, truyền cho họ khả năng trở nên hữu dụng, và hình thành trong họ thói quen cố gắng bền bỉ về thể chất
14. Không phải sự dễ dàng, mà là nỗ lực – không phải sự thuận tiện, mà là khó khăn, đã khiến ta nên người
15. Như thế, có một tinh chất bất tử trong đời sống của con người, ngay cả tại kiếp này. Không cá nhân nào trong vũ trụ đứng một mình; mỗi người là bộ phận cấu thành của một hệ thống gồm những thực thể phụ thuộc lẫn nhau; và bằng những hành vi của mình, họ làm tang hoặc giảm tổng khối tốt đẹp của con người hiện tại và mãu về sau. Vì hiện tại bắt rễ từ quá khứ, và cuộc sống và những tấm gương của cha ông vẫn ảnh hưởng sâu đậm tới chúng ta, nên qua hành động hằng ngày chúng ta dang góp phần định hình điều kiện và tính cách của tương lai. Co người là kết quả được hình thành và ủ chin bởi nền văn hóa của mọi thế kỷ đã qua; và hế hệ đang sống tiếp dục dòng chảy mạnh mẽ của những hành động và tấm gương vốn được dung để kết quá khứ và tương lai xa nhất với nhau. Không hành vi nào của con người bị chết đi hoàn toàn; và tuy thân xác có thể phân rã thành bụi và khí, những hành vi tốt và xấu của mỗi người vẫn tiếp tục sản sinh kết quả theo kiểu của chúng, và ảnh hưởng đến những thế hệ tương lai sắp tới. Trách nhiệm và mối nguy của đời người nằm ngay trong sự thực nghiệm trọng và cốt yếu này
16. Những con người chân thành, cho dù ở vị trí khiêm tốn nhất trong cuộc đời, nhưng là người hành động mạnh mẽ, vẫn có thể tạo xung lực cho những công việc tốt lớn lao hơn nhiều so với địa vị của họ trong xã hội
17. Tinh thần sôi nổi luôn là một tinh thần lành mạnh và hạnh phúc; tự nó lao động vui vẻ và kích thích người khác lao động. Nó đem lại danh giá cho cả những nghệ nghiệp bình thường nhất. Công trình hiệu quả nhất, cũng vậy, thường là công trình được làm với toàn tâm trí – thứ công việc đi qua bàn tay hoặc khối óc của người lao động có tâm hồn đầy hoan lạc
18. Bạn có thể ngưỡng mộ những con người trí tuệ; nhưng phải có thêm một số điều gì khác thì bạn mới có thể tin cậy họ
September 6, 2024
مجموعة من القصص التي تعرض تفاصيل اختراعات و تطويرات على هذه الاختراعات و تقفو آثار مخترعيها مبينة ما كانو عليه من العزيمة و الصبر، ما يدفع بالقارئ لمزيد من الهمة على عادة كتب التنمية البشرية يصبها يعقوب صروفيعقوب صروف في لغة عربية من عصر النهضة الأدبية أوائل القرن الماضي و يطعمها بأبيات سندسية من الشعر العربي و إن كان بعضه لم يطربني.......
February 20, 2024
Self Help books, and books about those books and practices, offer an interesting window onto human thinking and behavior. The subject makes many of us highly emotional, whether to ‘trust and obey,’ or to write the whole business off as a swindle, as Steve Salerno did in his excellent book Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless. I’m convinced the reality is neither and both: Self help both does and does not work, is both a miracle and a swindle. The more interesting question is: What does all this say about how we are constructed, how we succeed or fail?
First, let’s consider Mr. Smiles’ book, a landmark in the genre, published in 1859. He states several of the maxims of self help. The first is that you are master of your own destiny. Hence, you should take charge of your life, don’t wait for outside forces to improve your lot. Don’t wait for the government to help you.
In all times men have been prone to believe that their happiness and well-being were to be secured by means of institutions rather than by their own conduct. Hence the value of legislation as an agent in human advancement has usually been much over-estimated. To constitute the millionth part of a Legislature, by voting for one or two men once in three or five years, however conscientiously this duty may be performed, can exercise but little active influence upon any man’s life and character.
Moreover, it is every day becoming more clearly understood, that the function of Government is negative and restrictive, rather than positive and active; being resolvable principally into protection—protection of life, liberty, and property. Laws, wisely administered, will secure men in the enjoyment of the fruits of their labour, whether of mind or body, at a comparatively small personal sacrifice; but no laws, however stringent, can make the idle industrious, the thriftless provident, or the drunken sober. Such reforms can only be effected by means of individual action, economy, and self-denial; by better habits, rather than by greater rights.
And don’t wait for better luck, either.
Fortune has often been blamed for her blindness; but fortune is not so blind as men are. Those who look into practical life will find that fortune is usually on the side of the industrious, as the winds and waves are on the side of the best navigators. In the pursuit of even the highest branches of human inquiry, the commoner qualities are found the most useful—such as common sense, attention, application, and perseverance. Genius may not be necessary, though even genius of the highest sort does not disdain the use of these ordinary qualities. The very greatest men have been among the least believers in the power of genius, and as worldly wise and persevering as successful men of the commoner sort. Some have even defined genius to be only common sense intensified.
If, on the other hand, you get off your rear and study hard, anything is possible. You don’t even need to start young.
Even at advanced years men can do much, if they will determine on making a beginning. Sir Henry Spelman did not begin the study of science until he was between fifty and sixty years of age. Franklin was fifty before he fully entered upon the study of Natural Philosophy. Dryden and Scott were not known as authors until each was in his fortieth year. Boccaccio was thirty-five when he commenced his literary career, and Alfieri was forty-six when he began the study of Greek. Dr. Arnold learnt German at an advanced age, for the purpose of reading Niebuhr in the original; and in like manner James Watt, when about forty, while working at his trade of an instrument maker in Glasgow, learnt French, German, and Italian, to enable himself to peruse the valuable works on mechanical philosophy which existed in those languages. Thomas Scott was fifty-six before he began to learn Hebrew. Robert Hall was once found lying upon the floor, racked by pain, learning Italian in his old age, to enable him to judge of the parallel drawn by Macaulay between Milton and Dante. Handel was forty-eight before he published any of his great works.
Smiles walks us through hundreds of similar examples, success achieved—as he describes it—through sheer, dogged determination and individual initiative. He offers no hints on exactly what we could do to emulate these giants, but the tales themselves fulfill their purpose, to inspire us to action.
Now let’s get back to the important stuff:
Self help both does and does not work, is both a miracle and a swindle.
Swindle part: Thousands of people read books, dreamed big, ended up either with nothing or worse off than they were. I put all Multi-Level Marketing schemes in the self help category and virtually every one is a scam; people spend thousands and get nowhere, by design.
The current king of self help, Tony Robbins—a proud high school graduate—charges people from a few hundred dollars per “event” to $1 million per year, to coach them in all areas of life. Results, so far as they are obtainable, are mixed. Obviously some of these people simply go home poorer.
The miracle part:
Mark Benioff, on the other hand, credits Tony with inspiring him to leave Oracle and start his own company, Salesforce.com. More on this below.
Like Tony Robbins, I do not have a standard college degree. I began early adulthood in a single-wide trailer, in a field beside a freeway. Over time, reading and learning on my own, I was able to live these last 36 years in two of the most expensive cities in America. Now money and pretty real estate aren’t everything; I had an interesting, fulfilling life in the trailer and if I need to go back there I won’t panic. The point is this: Sometimes, for some people, self help does work. We may not be in the majority, but we’re not an insignificant minority, either.
The first personal finance book I read was Wealth Without Risk by Charles Givens. Many people have identified Givens as a charlatan, who claimed to have made $100 million as a business executive, but in reality, never pulled in more than a modest income, before he became a self-help guru. I believe them.
Nevertheless, Givens knew more about personal finance than I did, which was zero. His book suggested I begin investing in no-load mutual funds at American Century Investments. I wanted to own a computer, so opened an account and put my meager savings into a growth stock index fund and kept adding the few dollars I could. I got lucky; that year the fund’s shares gained over 30% in value and I was able to buy my computer. The computer was instrumental in changing jobs, and my third machine-assisted job hop provided a stable, 25-year career.
What does all this say about how we are constructed, how we succeed or fail?
Our own active effort is the essential thing; and no facilities, no books, no teachers, no amount of lessons learnt by rote will enable us to dispense with it.
Mark Benioff was already successful when Tony Robbins inspired him to start his own company. I was not successful when I read Charles Givens, but I did have ambition and a motor. Every hero in Samuel Smiles’ book shared a strong desire to work, to study, to do something important with their lives, beyond themselves. In my experience, this desire can’t be installed or replaced; people either have it or they don’t. Those that have it are far more likely to succeed than those who do not, and that’s where Self Help fails. Most of the people who respond positively to it would have succeeded eventually anyway, with or without it.
Often the ladder to success appears to contain giant leaps; a new act is seen by an agent, a contract is signed, and a year later half the planet is singing their songs. Smiles assures us we can achieve great things in humbler circumstances.
The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means, and the exercise of ordinary qualities. The common life of every day, with its cares, necessities, and duties, affords ample opportunity for acquiring experience of the best kind; and its most beaten paths provide the true worker with abundant scope for effort and room for self-improvement. The road of human welfare lies along the old highway of steadfast well-doing; and they who are the most persistent, and work in the truest spirit, will usually be the most successful.
First, let’s consider Mr. Smiles’ book, a landmark in the genre, published in 1859. He states several of the maxims of self help. The first is that you are master of your own destiny. Hence, you should take charge of your life, don’t wait for outside forces to improve your lot. Don’t wait for the government to help you.
In all times men have been prone to believe that their happiness and well-being were to be secured by means of institutions rather than by their own conduct. Hence the value of legislation as an agent in human advancement has usually been much over-estimated. To constitute the millionth part of a Legislature, by voting for one or two men once in three or five years, however conscientiously this duty may be performed, can exercise but little active influence upon any man’s life and character.
Moreover, it is every day becoming more clearly understood, that the function of Government is negative and restrictive, rather than positive and active; being resolvable principally into protection—protection of life, liberty, and property. Laws, wisely administered, will secure men in the enjoyment of the fruits of their labour, whether of mind or body, at a comparatively small personal sacrifice; but no laws, however stringent, can make the idle industrious, the thriftless provident, or the drunken sober. Such reforms can only be effected by means of individual action, economy, and self-denial; by better habits, rather than by greater rights.
And don’t wait for better luck, either.
Fortune has often been blamed for her blindness; but fortune is not so blind as men are. Those who look into practical life will find that fortune is usually on the side of the industrious, as the winds and waves are on the side of the best navigators. In the pursuit of even the highest branches of human inquiry, the commoner qualities are found the most useful—such as common sense, attention, application, and perseverance. Genius may not be necessary, though even genius of the highest sort does not disdain the use of these ordinary qualities. The very greatest men have been among the least believers in the power of genius, and as worldly wise and persevering as successful men of the commoner sort. Some have even defined genius to be only common sense intensified.
If, on the other hand, you get off your rear and study hard, anything is possible. You don’t even need to start young.
Even at advanced years men can do much, if they will determine on making a beginning. Sir Henry Spelman did not begin the study of science until he was between fifty and sixty years of age. Franklin was fifty before he fully entered upon the study of Natural Philosophy. Dryden and Scott were not known as authors until each was in his fortieth year. Boccaccio was thirty-five when he commenced his literary career, and Alfieri was forty-six when he began the study of Greek. Dr. Arnold learnt German at an advanced age, for the purpose of reading Niebuhr in the original; and in like manner James Watt, when about forty, while working at his trade of an instrument maker in Glasgow, learnt French, German, and Italian, to enable himself to peruse the valuable works on mechanical philosophy which existed in those languages. Thomas Scott was fifty-six before he began to learn Hebrew. Robert Hall was once found lying upon the floor, racked by pain, learning Italian in his old age, to enable him to judge of the parallel drawn by Macaulay between Milton and Dante. Handel was forty-eight before he published any of his great works.
Smiles walks us through hundreds of similar examples, success achieved—as he describes it—through sheer, dogged determination and individual initiative. He offers no hints on exactly what we could do to emulate these giants, but the tales themselves fulfill their purpose, to inspire us to action.
Now let’s get back to the important stuff:
Self help both does and does not work, is both a miracle and a swindle.
Swindle part: Thousands of people read books, dreamed big, ended up either with nothing or worse off than they were. I put all Multi-Level Marketing schemes in the self help category and virtually every one is a scam; people spend thousands and get nowhere, by design.
The current king of self help, Tony Robbins—a proud high school graduate—charges people from a few hundred dollars per “event” to $1 million per year, to coach them in all areas of life. Results, so far as they are obtainable, are mixed. Obviously some of these people simply go home poorer.
The miracle part:
Mark Benioff, on the other hand, credits Tony with inspiring him to leave Oracle and start his own company, Salesforce.com. More on this below.
Like Tony Robbins, I do not have a standard college degree. I began early adulthood in a single-wide trailer, in a field beside a freeway. Over time, reading and learning on my own, I was able to live these last 36 years in two of the most expensive cities in America. Now money and pretty real estate aren’t everything; I had an interesting, fulfilling life in the trailer and if I need to go back there I won’t panic. The point is this: Sometimes, for some people, self help does work. We may not be in the majority, but we’re not an insignificant minority, either.
The first personal finance book I read was Wealth Without Risk by Charles Givens. Many people have identified Givens as a charlatan, who claimed to have made $100 million as a business executive, but in reality, never pulled in more than a modest income, before he became a self-help guru. I believe them.
Nevertheless, Givens knew more about personal finance than I did, which was zero. His book suggested I begin investing in no-load mutual funds at American Century Investments. I wanted to own a computer, so opened an account and put my meager savings into a growth stock index fund and kept adding the few dollars I could. I got lucky; that year the fund’s shares gained over 30% in value and I was able to buy my computer. The computer was instrumental in changing jobs, and my third machine-assisted job hop provided a stable, 25-year career.
What does all this say about how we are constructed, how we succeed or fail?
Our own active effort is the essential thing; and no facilities, no books, no teachers, no amount of lessons learnt by rote will enable us to dispense with it.
Mark Benioff was already successful when Tony Robbins inspired him to start his own company. I was not successful when I read Charles Givens, but I did have ambition and a motor. Every hero in Samuel Smiles’ book shared a strong desire to work, to study, to do something important with their lives, beyond themselves. In my experience, this desire can’t be installed or replaced; people either have it or they don’t. Those that have it are far more likely to succeed than those who do not, and that’s where Self Help fails. Most of the people who respond positively to it would have succeeded eventually anyway, with or without it.
Often the ladder to success appears to contain giant leaps; a new act is seen by an agent, a contract is signed, and a year later half the planet is singing their songs. Smiles assures us we can achieve great things in humbler circumstances.
The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means, and the exercise of ordinary qualities. The common life of every day, with its cares, necessities, and duties, affords ample opportunity for acquiring experience of the best kind; and its most beaten paths provide the true worker with abundant scope for effort and room for self-improvement. The road of human welfare lies along the old highway of steadfast well-doing; and they who are the most persistent, and work in the truest spirit, will usually be the most successful.
June 27, 2021
In many ways, the birth of the self-help genre, Samuel Smiles' 1859 text provides a fascinating insight into the aspirations and masculinity of the nineteenth century. My five-star rating is more of a reflection of Self-Help's historical importance rather than its accuracy or contemporary relevance. Although some of the advice is still applicable today, much of it is dated and should be viewed through an objective lens.
In Self-Help, Smiles primarily recounts the rise - and occasional fall - of significant figures in history. He aims to promote the values that he believes encompass a true gentleman and ultimate manhood. Although women are considered too, Self-Help is mainly aimed at young men hoping to climb the social ladder. The actual achievement of this is a matter of debate, but, for the most part, Self-Help is a brilliantly written text with good intentions. It is a shame that Smiles, who published many works throughout the Victorian era, has largely been forgotten in recent decades. Self-Help is his best-known text, and his narrative voice rivals some of the great writers of his era. The text itself is sometimes repetitive. Still, I can not deduct points for this as the monotony is clearly intentional. Smiles wants to reinforce a few key attributes into the minds of young men, and the way to strengthen something is through repetition. This invariability does lead to the book becoming a bit tiresome at times, but it also would not have the same impact without it. On top of this, some of Smiles' points do have relevance to today. I found his comments on having a purpose when learning and age not being a factor in self-improvement incredibly apt and familiar in modern self-help books.
Much of the book is out of place by contemporary standards, however. Almost all of the people Smiles uses to illustrate his points are, unsurprisingly, northern European men. As a classic text, Self-Help is quite racist, sexist, and ableist in parts, even for the time. I do not deduct points off my rating for this in classic texts, as I understand it is a product of the period. As I mentioned, my five-star rating comes through the historical importance of this text, and these discriminatory comments do offer us insight into the prejudices of the period. Not all of the advice is great too, in my opinion. In Smiles' view, men must always be working if they ever want to achieve anything. There is no room for pleasure in Smiles' philosophy, and he sees class suffering as the product of poor money management and misaligned morals. Of course, today and in the Victorian period, there is only so much improvement people can do themselves before they are constrained by their socio-economic position, race, or gender. Smiles, however, does not consider this, which is why his advice must be analysed closely and not all taken without question.
Self-Help is still, however, a crucial Victorian text which modern readers often overlook. As long as you can approach it critically, I would recommend it to any classics reader. In particular, I would recommend the Oxford edition edited by Peter W. Sinnema. His introduction is as well written as Smiles' text itself and provides many helpful notes on understanding the book.
In Self-Help, Smiles primarily recounts the rise - and occasional fall - of significant figures in history. He aims to promote the values that he believes encompass a true gentleman and ultimate manhood. Although women are considered too, Self-Help is mainly aimed at young men hoping to climb the social ladder. The actual achievement of this is a matter of debate, but, for the most part, Self-Help is a brilliantly written text with good intentions. It is a shame that Smiles, who published many works throughout the Victorian era, has largely been forgotten in recent decades. Self-Help is his best-known text, and his narrative voice rivals some of the great writers of his era. The text itself is sometimes repetitive. Still, I can not deduct points for this as the monotony is clearly intentional. Smiles wants to reinforce a few key attributes into the minds of young men, and the way to strengthen something is through repetition. This invariability does lead to the book becoming a bit tiresome at times, but it also would not have the same impact without it. On top of this, some of Smiles' points do have relevance to today. I found his comments on having a purpose when learning and age not being a factor in self-improvement incredibly apt and familiar in modern self-help books.
Much of the book is out of place by contemporary standards, however. Almost all of the people Smiles uses to illustrate his points are, unsurprisingly, northern European men. As a classic text, Self-Help is quite racist, sexist, and ableist in parts, even for the time. I do not deduct points off my rating for this in classic texts, as I understand it is a product of the period. As I mentioned, my five-star rating comes through the historical importance of this text, and these discriminatory comments do offer us insight into the prejudices of the period. Not all of the advice is great too, in my opinion. In Smiles' view, men must always be working if they ever want to achieve anything. There is no room for pleasure in Smiles' philosophy, and he sees class suffering as the product of poor money management and misaligned morals. Of course, today and in the Victorian period, there is only so much improvement people can do themselves before they are constrained by their socio-economic position, race, or gender. Smiles, however, does not consider this, which is why his advice must be analysed closely and not all taken without question.
Self-Help is still, however, a crucial Victorian text which modern readers often overlook. As long as you can approach it critically, I would recommend it to any classics reader. In particular, I would recommend the Oxford edition edited by Peter W. Sinnema. His introduction is as well written as Smiles' text itself and provides many helpful notes on understanding the book.
March 3, 2024
I'm a bit ambivalent about this book. On the one hand, it is one of the earliest examples of self-help literature (if not the earliest), but on the other hand, it is too circumlocutory to be ranked as highly as Woo Young-ahn's Thinking 101. There are, however, wonderful aphorisms that one can glean from the text:
"The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is [in] the thrall of his own moral ignorance, selfishness, and vice."
"Misfortune is next door to Stupidity; and it will often be found that men who are constantly lamenting their luck are in some way or other reaping the consequences of their own neglect, mismanagement, improvidence, or want of application. (p. 171)"
"Self-discipline and self-control are the beginnings of practical wisdom; and these must have their root in self-respect. (p. 202)"
The culminating quote, which I found most appropriate, was Smiles' commentary on being a gentleman: "The gentleman is eminently distinguished for his self-respect. He values his character - not so much of it only as can be seen of others, but as he sees it himself; having regard for the approval of his inward monitor... He will not obtrude his views on others, but speak his mind freely when the occasion calls for it. (p. 244)"
Inherent in this quote is the belief that a gentleman has integrity, which is also what he expounds upon in the final chapter. Authenticity is inextricably linked with a person's character.
Other relevant quotes from the text were directly taken from other people, such as Samuel Drew: "The more I read, the more I felt my own ignorance; and the more I felt my ignorance the more invincible became my energy to surmount it."
Sir Joshua Reynolds also noted: "If you have great talents, industry will improve them; if you have but moderate abilities, industry will supply their deficiency."
These quotes also provide great advice.
Overall, while a trove of aphoristic wisdom, Self-Help is disappointing because of its lack of conciseness. Smiles took pains to provide a deluge of examples regarding his thesis, which is improvement can only be effected by effort, diligence, and persistence while trying to have integrity as a person.
Most of the book is biographical vignettes of people whom we do not care about, although I appreciated learning about Vaucanson who pioneered modern technology because of his development of the lathe. Most people nowadays, however, don't really care about potters.
The book could have been pithier, and concepts further expounded upon. Despite its age, however, this book still has sections that remain relevant.
"The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is [in] the thrall of his own moral ignorance, selfishness, and vice."
"Misfortune is next door to Stupidity; and it will often be found that men who are constantly lamenting their luck are in some way or other reaping the consequences of their own neglect, mismanagement, improvidence, or want of application. (p. 171)"
"Self-discipline and self-control are the beginnings of practical wisdom; and these must have their root in self-respect. (p. 202)"
The culminating quote, which I found most appropriate, was Smiles' commentary on being a gentleman: "The gentleman is eminently distinguished for his self-respect. He values his character - not so much of it only as can be seen of others, but as he sees it himself; having regard for the approval of his inward monitor... He will not obtrude his views on others, but speak his mind freely when the occasion calls for it. (p. 244)"
Inherent in this quote is the belief that a gentleman has integrity, which is also what he expounds upon in the final chapter. Authenticity is inextricably linked with a person's character.
Other relevant quotes from the text were directly taken from other people, such as Samuel Drew: "The more I read, the more I felt my own ignorance; and the more I felt my ignorance the more invincible became my energy to surmount it."
Sir Joshua Reynolds also noted: "If you have great talents, industry will improve them; if you have but moderate abilities, industry will supply their deficiency."
These quotes also provide great advice.
Overall, while a trove of aphoristic wisdom, Self-Help is disappointing because of its lack of conciseness. Smiles took pains to provide a deluge of examples regarding his thesis, which is improvement can only be effected by effort, diligence, and persistence while trying to have integrity as a person.
Most of the book is biographical vignettes of people whom we do not care about, although I appreciated learning about Vaucanson who pioneered modern technology because of his development of the lathe. Most people nowadays, however, don't really care about potters.
The book could have been pithier, and concepts further expounded upon. Despite its age, however, this book still has sections that remain relevant.
April 6, 2022
If Sakichi Toyoda; innovator, loom maker, and grand patriarch of the Toyota empire says that a book changed the trajectory of his life, I want to read, or in this case listen to, it. So is the case of Samuel Smiles’ book Self Help. As a little perspective, when Scotsman Samuel Smiles published Self Help, the USA had only been a sovereign nation free from the UK for 80 years and was less than 2 years from being divided by a Civil War.
In each chapter, Smiles breaks down a key concept and supports the concept by introducing people who have implemented the concept and improved it. There are some examples of “greats” such as James Watt, steam engine fame, Edward Jenner, smallpox eradicator, and Adam Smith, economist extraordinaire, that would be comparable to today’s Steven Jobs, Bill Gates, or Elon Musk. Much of the book; however, revolves around ordinary people who changed their happenstance by implementing the principle to do something extraordinary.
Comparing Self Help to two of the most influential self-help books in my library, Covey’s 7 Habits and Carnegie’s How to Win Friends, I’ll be honest, was not as passionate about this book as Mr. Toyoda was. I felt that he relied too heavily on examples and did not do enough to explain the science behind the concept. Perhaps the science wasn’t available, or perhaps he didn’t understand how to convey the science.
I always try to take something out of my reading or listening and Self Help provided a couple of solid nuggets. One takeaway reminded me very much of Yoda of Star Wars fame. Yoda says “Do or do not, there is no try!” Smiles says something equally provocative and suggests removing two words from your vocabulary, can’t and impossible. He argues that things are only impossible today because no one has found a solution, and saying something “can’t” be done means you “won’t” attempt doing it.
WOW! Thinking about that it is so relevant! “It’s impossible for people to fly” yet we have jetpacks that I believe in my life will be commercially available. You can’t send a letter and expect it to get to its destination immediately. Yet we had faxes, emails, and instant messaging.
That gem, which I’m going to try to implement in my life, was worth the read or listen!
In each chapter, Smiles breaks down a key concept and supports the concept by introducing people who have implemented the concept and improved it. There are some examples of “greats” such as James Watt, steam engine fame, Edward Jenner, smallpox eradicator, and Adam Smith, economist extraordinaire, that would be comparable to today’s Steven Jobs, Bill Gates, or Elon Musk. Much of the book; however, revolves around ordinary people who changed their happenstance by implementing the principle to do something extraordinary.
Comparing Self Help to two of the most influential self-help books in my library, Covey’s 7 Habits and Carnegie’s How to Win Friends, I’ll be honest, was not as passionate about this book as Mr. Toyoda was. I felt that he relied too heavily on examples and did not do enough to explain the science behind the concept. Perhaps the science wasn’t available, or perhaps he didn’t understand how to convey the science.
I always try to take something out of my reading or listening and Self Help provided a couple of solid nuggets. One takeaway reminded me very much of Yoda of Star Wars fame. Yoda says “Do or do not, there is no try!” Smiles says something equally provocative and suggests removing two words from your vocabulary, can’t and impossible. He argues that things are only impossible today because no one has found a solution, and saying something “can’t” be done means you “won’t” attempt doing it.
WOW! Thinking about that it is so relevant! “It’s impossible for people to fly” yet we have jetpacks that I believe in my life will be commercially available. You can’t send a letter and expect it to get to its destination immediately. Yet we had faxes, emails, and instant messaging.
That gem, which I’m going to try to implement in my life, was worth the read or listen!
February 5, 2020
об этой книге я узнала случайно на одном из вебинаров "Как правильно читать книги". символичное название, не правда ли?)) лектор сказал: "если вы хотите начать читать настояющую литературу, прочтите Смайлса". дважды повторять не пришлось. я нашла ее в электронном виде и буквально за 2 недели прочла ее. Увлекательно написано живым языком. каждый найдет в книге то, что важно ему именно сейчас. например, меня заставило задуматься вот это: "Если хочешь, чтобы дело было сделано, ступай и сделай его; если не хочешь, чтобы оно было сделано, пошли другого". Сильно и правдиво!
книга написано в 19 веке, но когда я дошла до мысли автора о всевозможных "руководствах к изучению за .... шагов языка или чего-нибудь еще...." или "50 фактов о ...." - я не могла не воскликнуть: "Да, я тоже так считаю!" думала, что это бич 21 века, а оказалось, что и в 19 веке уже мучались от всевозможных руководств...
автор пишет: "... больше благожелательности, больше энергии и больше настойчивости - вот 3 главных условия преуспевания в жизни".
а вы согласны?
заинтригованы?
прочтите книгу С. Смайлса....
книга написано в 19 веке, но когда я дошла до мысли автора о всевозможных "руководствах к изучению за .... шагов языка или чего-нибудь еще...." или "50 фактов о ...." - я не могла не воскликнуть: "Да, я тоже так считаю!" думала, что это бич 21 века, а оказалось, что и в 19 веке уже мучались от всевозможных руководств...
автор пишет: "... больше благожелательности, больше энергии и больше настойчивости - вот 3 главных условия преуспевания в жизни".
а вы согласны?
заинтригованы?
прочтите книгу С. Смайлса....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews