Help me!

Self-help books can change your life, but not necessarily for the better... In Self-Help Me!, Marianne Power narrates her hilarious and moving journey in search of self-improvement and self-knowledge through reading the classics of this literary genre.

Marianne Power was addicted to self-help literature. Her shelves were filled with books—from classics to the latest releases—on how to find the best version of yourself. However, at 36, she felt lost, as if her life was stuck. She realized that, despite reading so many self-improvement guides, she had never truly followed any of them. Then, one day, she decided to change everything .

The author finally chose to pursue the perfect life the books promised—one without debt, anxiety, hangovers, or endless hours in front of the TV; one where she walked around town with self-confidence and perfect teeth, and met the man of her dreams. Marianne decided to try a self-help book every month for a year, following its advice to the letter. What would happen if she put the guidelines from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People into practice in her own life? Is it really possible to experience what The Power of Now promises? And what about the riddles in The Secret to Making Your Dreams Come True?

What begins as a fun experiment becomes an important journey of self-discovery. Help Me! is a deeply moving and honest account that anyone who has ever sought to change their life—or feels they need to—will identify with.

“A champion. Bridget Jones meets Buddha in this bold, moving, and comic debut memoir.” — Kirkus Reviews

"A gentle and sharp read [...] For those a little wary of self-help books, it's perfect: Power spends a year trying out one book a month. A fun journey through the ups and downs of self-discovery. But the message is serious and generous, and we really feel like we've learned something by the end." — Jessie Burton, author of Miniaturist

“You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. Maybe you’ll even reach the level of self-acceptance that Power achieves by the end of the book.” — Refinery 29