Let's have a look at the diverse subject of self motivational books. The generic term self help books is often used but I don't believe these terms are interchangeable. I think that self motivational books are a particular type of work within the wide array of self help books. My reason for saying this is that I believe that self help books are about providing the technical skills in a particular area. For example books on managing your finances, dealing with legal problems, build your own hot tub and a wide variety of other topics. While all these books will provide you with a step by step guide on how to do something they in general will not make you self motivational enough to go ahead and do it. That's the difference with self motivational books they don't just work at the how to level they impact the reader at an emotional level and spur them on to take action. The general principle of self motivational books is that they tend to lean heavily on the style of the great spiritual philosophies of a by gone age in particular those from eastern philosophies. As is often said there is nothing new under the sun so what value have self motivational books to offer? The best self motivational books take the timeless wisdom that is available from the past and package it in a way that the modern reader can relate to. Having said that one the best self motivational books still read today was written nearly 100 years ago. "Think and Grow Rich" was written by Napoleon Hill who is often referred to as the grandfather of the self motivational movement. His writings were based on an amazing opportunity afforded him by one of the richest men in the world at the time Andrew Carnegie who gave him access to 500 of the most successful men around at the time. Napoleon Hill analysed what were the common features that had made them successful and turned it into a self motivational philosophy. In response to a question submitted to my blog I outlined my all time favourite list of self motivational books and Napoleon Hill is number one on that list.

So do self motivational books work? I believe the answer is in the question. While self motivational books give the step by step instructions and can even inspire you to take action it is only if you choose to be self motivational will you ever take the action to achieve what you want to achieve. You have to be careful how you use your mind to drive you forward. I think it was Ralph Waldo Emerson, another author on my list, who said "you become what you think about all day". So if all you think about is what a failure you are you will be a failure but if you focus on what you really want to be then your mind will help you drive towards your goal and you will be self motivational. However there also lies the problem with self motivational books because many people think if they buy one, read it, put it on the shelf and think nice thoughts all will be given to them. It is not the self motivational books that achieve success it is taking the necessary action to achieve your goals. So when people are not instantly successful they tend to blame the self motivational book and not there lack of follow through.

So if you want instant success, buy a lottery ticket and hope. If you want to genuinely improve your life and are prepared to work at it then start by reading a self motivational book.