self-help

American  

[self-help, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈhɛlp, ˈsɛlf- /

noun

1. the act of providing for or helping or the ability to provide for or help oneself without assistance from others.

2. Law. the act or right of remedying a wrong, without resorting to legal proceedings.

3. the acquiring of information or the solving of one's problems, especially those of a psychological nature, without the direct supervision of professionals or experts, as by independent reading or by joining or forming lay groups that are devoted to one's interests or goals.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a book, article, home study course, or the like, offering an individual information or counseling intended to be personally beneficial or profitable.

   self-help books on overcoming shyness.

self-help British  

noun

1. the act or state of providing the means to help oneself without relying on the assistance of others

2. 1. the practice of solving one's problems by joining or forming a group designed to help those suffering from a particular problem

   2. ( as modifier )

      a self-help group

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Other Word Forms

• self-helper noun
• self-helpful adjective
• self-helpfulness noun
• self-helping adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-help

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Mr. Oliver’s answers might seem conventional, but they furnish a welcome alternative to much contemporary self-help literature.

From The Wall Street Journal

My mom swallowed self-help books and the occasional memoir as my dad tucked into the latest Michael Connelly.

From Los Angeles Times

He sees more than $1 billion in self-help improvements as the company cuts costs and continues to mitigate tariff impacts.

From Barron's

Last week, we reported on self-help stars who are creating their own AI chatbots that promise personal advice.

From The Wall Street Journal

The book is part self-help book, with facts about the perimenopause and menopause transition; part memoir; part practical workbook with tools and resources; and part humor book, brimming with Sanders’ raw and authentic comedic style.

From Los Angeles Times