Beth Blum

Beth Blum, Assistant Professor of English at Harvard and author of "The Self-Help Compulsion," dives into the fascinating evolution of self-help literature. She traces its journey from Victorian ideals and Dale Carnegie's charm to today's neo-stoics advocating empowerment. The conversation uncovers the tension between personal agency and societal expectations. Blum also highlights how modern stoicism resonates particularly with women navigating emotional labor, and contrasts it with Carnegie’s principles, presenting a fresh perspective on self-improvement.