Forget Self-Help: Re-examining the Golden Rule

by Thomas Fellows

There is no book out there today like Forget Self-Help , by Thomas Fellows. Through his use of literature, history, psychology, scripture and personal experiences, Fellows stresses the importance of living out the Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12 to live a fulfilling, joyful life. While there has been a myriad of self-help books that have come out in the last decade, Fellows contends that the best way to help yourself is to help others. From his life experiences in the computer software sales world to his ongoing struggle with clinical depression, Fellows deftly encourages the reader to think of their troubles in a different light, a light that puts the emphasis on others instead of oneself. Southern in nature, Forget Self-Help focuses on four main two literary and two historical. The book explores the profound writings and actions of Robert E. Lee, and includes quotations and thoughts from Martin Luther King Jr. that the lay person probably has not seen. From a literary perspective, the book focuses on the two books that has arguably changed the American landscape the most any two books have in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe. While the book references scripture quite often, it challenges modern Christian thought in the way that both To Kill a Mockingbird and Uncle Tom's Cabin did. It emphasizes Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:12 that "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Forget Self-Help reminds the reader that since we will never see God on Earth, we are called to be God's agents while on earth, and we should attempt to find favor not just with God, but with man as well. While one of the sources in the book is the Bible, it is intended to be enjoyed by people of all faith backgrounds.

146 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2017

Reviews

[Jon Weininger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a fresh perspective that will challenge you, make you think, and encourage you to balance faith and practical application, you found it. Thomas is unapologetically candid, sharing that real life is messy. This book offers hope to all of us who know we are imperfect and, at the same time, want to make a positive impact on the world. I’ve read many, many books and this one is worth reading twice.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book, especially on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day. What an uplifting read, using the Bible, literature, and real life personal experience to frame a perspective that will make this world a better place.