Author and associate professor of sociology at Fordham University Micki McGee writes that self help books have increased from 1.1 percent to 2.4 percent of total books in print in a period of just about 30 years. The rising popularity of self-help books has revolutionized the industry, providing assistance to overcome certain issues. Of such books, the “Zen and Art of Happiness” by Christ Prentiss is a national best seller as a self-help book. Prentiss writes his secret to achieve happiness and the steps needed for such success; he believes that zen is based on us being with one with the universe, and within that then we can also achieve happiness. Because self help books are so readily available, it is important that the information provided …show more content…
The lack clinical based trial studies in his book weakens his argument. Doing so limits the claims to only his own general knowledge and none from a professional. According to Russell E. Glasgow, associate director at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, to strengthen a self-help book he suggests the use of clinical trials and follow up assessments. (1) As mentioned before, Prentiss uses scientific papers, however, how he interprets them lessens the credibility. The use of scientific papers is important in bringing in professional views into the paper. Repetition is the key of a self help book for a strong memorization technique, however, Prentiss repeats in a way in which he brings old material, twisting the wording, and presents them as a new “ideal” to follow. For example, Prentiss writes “The more you engage in any type of emotion…greater your desire for it will become.” and “It’s only our perception…that causes distress”, similarly “ Everything that happens to us is for our complete benefit” and “…creating new results …whatever happens to us is for our greatest benefit.” His point could have been better made if he left out the repeated information to avoid begging the question. Throughout the book, Prentiss promotes his business through the use of anecdotes to support various claims. Such includes a paralytic man who was enrolled into the author’s addiction help center who believed that through his program who believed being paralytic is the best thing that could have happened to him (Prentiss 41). Although it is true that one way to promote following is to promote the business, this technique is not very strong in supporting Prentiss’ arguments. Various aspects of the book undermines its credibility and value, but these are easily fixed and presented in the right