self-help book大多直译为“自助书”,感觉从字面上不易理解。OED将定语self-help解释为极少或不依靠他人的帮助,依靠自己的努力和能力达成某事、供养自己的行为或才能;今特指以这种方式控制或克服个人问题或情感问题的行为。(The action or faculty of using one's own efforts and resources to achieve something, or provide for oneself, with little or no assistance from others; (in later use) spec. the action of managing or overcoming personal or emotional problems in this way.)感觉比较接近于成功学书籍和心灵鸡汤……

