Samuel Smiles' 'Self-Help', published on this day in 1859, was one of the most successful books of the second half of the 19th century. It sold more than a quarter of a million copies before Smiles' death – nomean feat since the population of the world was much smaller, and the literate population smaller still - and was widely translated.
Given the author's name - is it possible to imagine Mr Sam Smiles without envisioning a jolly, beaming Victorian paterfamilias? – and the associations of the self-help genre today, what might one expect to find in this volume? An exhortation to love one's inner child? Some encouragements to 'think positively', 'believe in yourself', and a general reminder that 'you're worth it'?
Far from it. The Victorians had a far grimmer - though perhaps more realistic - idea of what it meant to help yourself: work, work and more work.
For the modern reader, 'Self-Help' is frankly pretty dull. Although organised into themed chapters on subjects like 'Application and Perseverance', 'Helps and Opportunities' and 'Money - its use and abuse', there's no real line of argument. Instead it's a compendium of hundreds of stories, all on the same pattern:
1) A young man (and they are almost all men) grows up poor or disadvantaged
2) He conceives an ambition but is repeatedly thwarted
3) Nonetheless, he perseveres, and works extremely hard
4) Finally, success!
'Self-Help' certainly isn't part of our modern 'quick-fix' culture. Phase 3) of this process often lasts for decades. Smiles is wary of genius or prodigy too, saying that "wanting in perseverance, such natures are outstripped in the race of life by the diligent, even the dull.' Better to be somewhat stupid, as long as that encourages you to work hard.
'Self-Help' does contain some intimations of later outcroppings of the self-help movement, in this story of 'affirmations', for example:
"It is related of a young French officer that he used to walk about his apartment exclaiming 'I will be Marshal of France and a great general.' His ardent desire was the presentiment of his success; for the young officer did become a distinguished commander, and he died a Marshal of France."
What did the legions of Victorian readers get from this book? Inspiration, certainly. It's not a book that's meant to be read at one sitting; one can imagine it being read much more as a fortifying tonic a new story of adversity overcome every time you begin to feel discouraged. And with its praise of hard work, one wonders how many copies of this book were given by parents to disappointing offspring.
'Self-Help' has something in common with that modern self-help voodoo, 'The Secret'. That book also promises that unlimited success is just a matter of persistence - and both fail to take into account the randomness of luck and the benefits of family and personal advantages.
But in The Secret all you have to do is persist in thinking positive thoughts. So perhaps we still have something to learn from 'Self-Help' - after all, you can't change your luck, and you can't change your background, but the one thing we can all do is keep on keeping on. That is the rather grim-faced message of Mr Smiles.
The Oxford Muse has an itch for self-help wisdom as well; come do check us out: http://muse.prettygetter.tv/
Posted by: Hannah | April 14, 2011 at 03:13 PM
"Very enjoyable post. Of course there is more to self help than just work, work, work, but I think that in this modern age of instant gratification and, as you point out, the simplistic approach of The Secret many people forget (or don't want to aknowledge) that self improvement takes persistance, commitment and a lot of work."
Yup I totally agree!
Posted by: Manifesting abundance | November 15, 2010 at 02:02 AM
Very enjoyable post. Of course there is more to self help than just work, work, work, but I think that in this modern age of instant gratification and, as you point out, the simplistic approach of The Secret many people forget (or don't want to aknowledge) that self improvement takes persistance, commitment and a lot of work.
Posted by: personal development | February 24, 2010 at 09:05 AM
I once read this book by Samuel Smiles (or flicked through it with curiosity as my guide), and I found it to be full of other people’s aphorisms; aphorisms, by the way, that seemed indispensable for success. But did that make people successful? No, probably not. But what does make people successful is the capacity to “endeavour to persevere”; and that’s as true as it gets, even though it is very, very annoying remark to make as advice, to someone who’s just down on his luck today…
Posted by: Drew Byrne | November 28, 2009 at 07:48 AM