The Brian Lehrer Show Is Self-Help Too Self-Centered?
7 snips
Sep 3, 2025 Emma Goldberg, a business features writer for The New York Times and author of "Life on the Line," delves into the impact of self-help literature on social behavior. She discusses how today's self-help books might promote selfishness rather than kindness. The conversation highlights the dangers of ambiguous mental health discourse, especially among young people influenced by social media. Goldberg also reflects on the oversimplification of concepts like boundaries and critiques the self-help industry's role in shaping these narratives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Self-Help's Uniform Message
- Modern self-help offers bite-sized rules for productivity, mindfulness, and social life that feel interchangeable.
- Emma Goldberg finds many new titles push readers to prioritize their own satisfaction over being liked.
Boundaries Became The Central Theme
- 'Boundaries' is the dominant theme and often means putting your needs above others'.
- This advice spans from skipping an event to cutting off contact with family.
Readers Let Go Of 'Drag' Relationships
- Emma describes readers applying boundary advice across a wide spectrum of actions.
- Some people let go of relationships they deem a 'drag' after adopting self-help principles.
