Summary
"Raised by a child psychologist who was himself the author of numerous self-help books, as an adult Jessica Lamb-Shapiro found herself both repelled and fascinated by the industry: did all of these books, tapes, weekend seminars, groups, posters, t-shirts and trinkets really help anybody? Why do som... Full description
- Prologue: On missing the obvious
- We need heart-touching, soul-penetrating stories! : the power of inspirational tales
- Apparently, there are rules : control and the defense against loss
- In which I walk on hot coals : the power of positive thinking
- Dr. Choking Game : the cult of expertise
- The Secret is not a secret : vision boards and the Law of Attraction
- A fellowship of nervous freaks : overcoming phobias and fears
- The saddest camp in the world : on grief and grieving
- New frontiers of weirdness : the future of self-help
- Consider the kitten poster : what kind of life is worth living
- Epilogue: In which my father and I break into a cemetery.