7 Self-Help Books Ill Never Follow for the Resolutions Ill Never Make

7 Self-Help Books Ill Never Follow for the Resolutions Ill Never Make Eight years ago, I loved self-help books so much I actually maintained a book blog called selfhelpme. Eight years later, I am the type of person who wears yoga leggings all day, burps in front of her husband, eschews diets in favor of smores, never balances her checkbook, and who rolls her eyes at all of the questionable advice filling up the self-help section of the bookstore.  Unsurprisingly, I am also the type of person who refuses to make new years resolutions. My former gurus would weep. Still, there  are  self-help books out there I cant help but find delightful, even though I will make only the most half-assed of attempts to follow the advice between their covers. Here are my 7  favorites: 1. Marie Kondos  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up When I read Kondos description of how she thanks her possessions for their service, I thought she was off her rocker. When I read her policy on books, I decided  she was a full-on heretic. But after finishing this slim volume, I immediately put her suggestions into practice. I  spent hours cleaning out drawers and closets, throwing things into garbage bags and dragging them to the curb. It was downright exhilarating! I mean, it didnt stick but I still love Kondos no-holds-barred ability to throw shit out. 2. Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanahs Moregasm I spent the entirety  of my 20s convinced I was suffering from female sexual dysfunction, thanks to an unhealthy relationship marked by coercive sex and mind games. In order to fix myself,  I became a sex writer. As you do. In my early days as a sex writer, I acquired this absolute gem of a book, a guide to having satisfying sex. These days, I know theres nothing wrong with me. I listen to my body more than any book. But I still think this book should be required reading in all sexuality education course. 3. James Beckermans  The Flex Diet Less of a diet than a lifestyle change, this book contains a slew of suggestions for losing weight and living a healthier life. Fun fact: I actually read it  while acting as a guinea pig for another writers  New York Post  story about up-and-coming diet books. There were before-and-after photos and everything! (How horrifying is that!?) These days, Im quicker to eat an entire batch of cupcakes singlehandedly than I am to follow a goddamn diet, but I still sometimes dip into this one for tips on incorporating healthier eating habits and activities into my life. 4. Dan Harriss 10% Happier I came to this book having  already takenâ€"and taughtâ€"multiple meditation classes, and having  already read eleventy billion other books on meditation. Id also used multiple meditation apps by this point, and even owned my own meditation cushion. I  wasnt sure what to expect from this memoir by a news anchor who suffered panic attacks and then discovered the powers of mindfulness. But I ended up enjoying the viewpoint of someone who came to meditation without already being steeped in the yoga world. These days, I cant find time to meditate during the day and, if I meditate at night, I just plain pass out. But someday, Ill get back on that wagon 5. Jolie Kerrs My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag and Other Things You Cant Ask Martha I only clean my bathroom when were having company. But for some reason, I love this book. Ill leave it at that. 6. Issa Raes  The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl I dont know if I can really  classify this as self-help (its more of a memoir in essays) but, as an awkward introvert, Issa Raes life isâ€"for meâ€"aspirational. Will I ever follow her example and live my awkwardness out loud, on the  public stage? Some might say that, as a writer, I already do. But I do it while tucked away in a home office with poor overhead lighting and three cats so, really, shes winning. 7. Lorrie Moores  Self-Help Just kidding. Though there are stories on How to Talk to Your Mother and How to Become a Writer. Im doing decently with the latter, but the former is always an adventure. Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.