Self-help is a genre that promotes personal growth and self-learning. It began in ancient times, with philosophical and spiritual texts like Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, and the genre continues to develop with modern texts like How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936) by Dale Carnegie and The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living (1952) by Norman Vincent Peale. More recent popular works include Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (1997) by Richard Carlson, The Secret (2006) by Rhonda Byrne, and The Power of Habit (2012) by Charles Duhigg. Today’s books span areas as diverse as business, mental health, spirituality, substance abuse recovery, stress, finance, health, love and relationships, and many other sub-genres.

The love and relationships sub-genre encompasses several themes: attachment, communication, the act and process of love, dating, marriage, sexuality, gender differences, unhealthy relationship issues, and non-monogamy. Psychologists, relationship coaches, spiritual leaders, and others use various fields to tackle these themes, including religion, spirituality, philosophy, psychology, and science. As Tom Butler-Bowdon explains, “[S]elf-help is not about the fantasies of the ego, but involves the identification of a project, goal, ideal, or way of being where you can make a big difference.