Zubeda Hamid
Such books account for 25 per cent of sales, say managers of bookstores
CHENNAI: Harry Potters may take the book world by storm but they do not beat the day-to-day popularity of books that help in personal improvement and growth. The trend towards using self-help books for motivation, inspiration, spiritual guidance or just personality improvement have been rising over the years, according to booksellers in the city.
Learning in most schools and colleges does not focus on leadership skills or effective ways to impress your boss. And so, with more fresh graduates joining the corporate sector, the popularity of books that help you rise to the top or even just help deal with stress are rising among the 20-40 age groups.
“People rely on self-study more now,” said M. Raju, manager of the Oxford bookstore on Haddows Road adding that young people mainly in the IT sector bought such books.
Popular choices
Books like ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’, ‘The Monk Who sold His Ferrari’ and ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ were the most in demand.
“In terms of volume of sales, it’s about 25 per cent of our total sales.” Also, corporate companies ordered motivational books in bulk to train their personnel he said.
“They tell you exactly how to build yourself, what is wrong and right,” said T. Ramakrishnan, 40, manager at a software and trading company, and a reader of two to three self-help books a year.
Aubrey D’Cruz, senior head of section at the Landmark bookstore in Nungambakkam, said that authors like Daniel Goleman, Og Mandino and Louise. L. Hay are immensely popular. Among self-help books there were improvement and motivational books as well as philosophical self-help books like those of Paulo Coelho.
Growth in sales
People in the over 40 age group read more of the philosophical books, he said. Much reviewed books were the most in demand. Over the last few years there has been a growth in the sales of these books.
Also, books that helped with careers and provided business solutions also sold very well, he said. Even among pavement book shoppers, self-help books are sought after. S. Vijay, the owner of a pavement book stall on Anna Salai sells around four self-help books everyday. ‘Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus’ was especially popular. “Ladies mostly buy these books,” he said.
Books like ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’ and ‘You Can Win’ have even been translated into Tamil and enjoy good sales.