Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?

JuliaKay · Post by **JuliaKay** » 03 Nov 2018, 18:16

I appreciate books with very detailed action steps and tasks or exercises at the end of each chapter as I find that it helps put the tools and theories into practice. I would have appreciated it if this book would have had more of them.

EvaDar · Post by **EvaDar** » 03 Nov 2018, 18:23

FictionLover wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 17:41 I tried to visualize a solution to a problem before I went to sleep, but it only kept me up!

I know! There's that, too.

I think that's why I'm in favor of some more specific instructional material, judiciously placed. Such materials might include a caution that night time visualizations can be anxiety-provoking in some cases. But, alas, it's just not that kind of a book, which is fine.

MKRichards · Post by **MKRichards** » 03 Nov 2018, 20:43

I admit that with most self help books, I find myself feeling this way. They tell you all the wonderful things that will happen to you or that you will get, but spend little to no time actually helping/teaching/coaching you to get there.

The author of this book did offer some great advice and methods, but it was sandwiched into so much other information that it could get lost. I am not sure I agree with exercises at the end, but some sort of reiteration of the key steps of "walking, running, crawling" might be useful at the end of chapters. If you don't need it, skip it. But, it would be there for the readers looking for them.

FictionLover · Post by **FictionLover** » 03 Nov 2018, 21:06

Eva Darrington wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 18:23
FictionLover wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 17:41 I tried to visualize a solution to a problem before I went to sleep, but it only kept me up!
I know! There's that, too. I think that's why I'm in favor of some more specific instructional material, judiciously placed. Such materials might include a caution that night time visualizations can be anxiety-provoking in some cases. But, alas, it's just not that kind of a book, which is fine.

I have done other visualizations before bed, which were fine. But I think I get too keyed up planning my day when I have something specific on the agenda to focus on.

Also, It is interesting that some readers seem to view this as a book that should be read without interruption, like a novel. I guess, I think self-help books should be looked at in sections.

FictionLover · Post by **FictionLover** » 03 Nov 2018, 21:07

JuliaKay wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 18:16 I appreciate books with very detailed action steps and tasks or exercises at the end of each chapter as I find that it helps put the tools and theories into practice. I would have appreciated it if this book would have had more of them.

Yes, I agree. Although, I do admit, sometimes I skip over the steps out of impatience to finish.

Alicia09 · Post by **Alicia09** » 03 Nov 2018, 22:32

I can understand why it would be frustrating to find a lack of action steps. However, since this is the first self help book I've ever read, I can't really say I was disappointed to find a lack of action steps. However, I wish there had been more research the author used to explain why certain methods work and why others don't. I also wish the author had included more stories of his own life that could have illustrated times when he learned from some of the mistakes he mentioned in the chapters.

jgraney8 · Post by **jgraney8** » 03 Nov 2018, 22:42

Jsovermyer wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 14:40 I like action steps or recaps at the end of chapters. If the questions are thought-provoking this can be very helpful.

I agree. Action steps give substance to explanations. You don't have to invest much in what the author says without them. Even if I disagree or find them simplistic, I at least have some ideas about what I might do.

Rosebella · Post by **Rosebella** » 04 Nov 2018, 13:48

Yes, action steps would have been useful, but not for a reader who wants to implement the advice in their own way. I think it depends on the kind of person reading the book.

FictionLover · Post by **FictionLover** » 04 Nov 2018, 17:18

MKRichards wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 20:43 I admit that with most self help books, I find myself feeling this way. They tell you all the wonderful things that will happen to you or that you will get, but spend little to no time actually helping/teaching/coaching you to get there.

The author of this book did offer some great advice and methods, but it was sandwiched into so much other information that it could get lost. I am not sure I agree with exercises at the end, but some sort of reiteration of the key steps of "walking, running, crawling" might be useful at the end of chapters. If you don't need it, skip it. But, it would be there for the readers looking for them.

I agree. I think it would make it more likely that the reader would actually use the information.

Thanks for the comment!

FictionLover · Post by **FictionLover** » 04 Nov 2018, 17:22

Rosebella wrote: ↑04 Nov 2018, 13:48 Yes, action steps would have been useful, but not for a reader who wants to implement the advice in their own way. I think it depends on the kind of person reading the book.

You are probably right. It would depend on the reader.

That said, I have read a lot of this type of self-help book and felt like he was building up to something that never came. In other books, there is usually a preferred method of keeping your focus, like making a list of your goals or using a certain affirmation.

HollandBlue · Post by **HollandBlue** » 04 Nov 2018, 17:34

I think that if Mark put action exercises in, it should have been at the end of the book to make sure you understood his main points.

FictionLover · Post by **FictionLover** » 04 Nov 2018, 17:39

BookReader+6 wrote: ↑04 Nov 2018, 17:34 I think that if Mark put action exercises in, it should have been at the end of the book to make sure you understood his main points.

That would work, too. I was reacting to his idea of initialing at the end of the chapter, which I think I already mentioned, I didn't find very effective.

HollandBlue · Post by **HollandBlue** » 04 Nov 2018, 17:46

FictionLover wrote: ↑04 Nov 2018, 17:39
BookReader+6 wrote: ↑04 Nov 2018, 17:34 I think that if Mark put action exercises in, it should have been at the end of the book to make sure you understood his main points.
That would work, too. I was reacting to his idea of initialing at the end of the chapter, which I think I already mentioned, I didn't find very effective.

Yes, it might have been more effective than just initializing at the end of the chapters; but, then it would interrupt your reading. Either way, I agree helpful exercises would have useful.

sszb · Post by **sszb** » 05 Nov 2018, 07:11

The book will be more effective if all advice applied in real life. One will not plan it. It will be an impromptu and a person will be surprised by oneself. This is what reading does, it preserves the best ideas and advice in the subconscious and help us at right time. So don't worry you will find the usefulness of this book.

FictionLover · Post by **FictionLover** » 05 Nov 2018, 07:39

sszb wrote: ↑05 Nov 2018, 07:11 The book will be more effective if all advice applied in real life. One will not plan it. It will be an impromptu and a person will be surprised by oneself. This is what reading does, it preserves the best ideas and advice in the subconscious and help us at right time. So don't worry you will find the usefulness of this book.

That is an interesting take on it.