About the Book
Oracle at the Supermarket examines the self-help book from historical, cultural, and psychological perspectives. It traces the character of self-help works from colonial America to the present day, with an emphasis upon developments in the twentieth century. Topics include the discovery of "mind-cure," the impact of scientific psychology and psychoanalysis upon the self-help literature of the 1920s, and the role of self-help books in the sexual revolution of the twentieth century. The wave of self-interested literature in the 1960s and 1970s, and the recent outpouring of diet/exercise/success books are examined. Starker explores problems in evaluating published self-help programs, and the ethics of their creation. He includes survey data from lay readers and selected groups of health care practitioners regarding their experiences with self-help books. The book is distinguished by its care in evaluating the relative merits and dangers of self-help literature.
About the Author :
Steven Starker is chief of psychology service, Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, and professor of psychology at the Oregon Health Sciences University. His previous works include Parathink: The Paranoia of Everyday Life, F-States: The Power of Fantasy in Human Creativity, and Fantastic Thought, as well as numerous professional articles.
Review :
-Following a brief excursus into the economic, religious, and political background of the doctrine of self-help, Starker (Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Portland, Oregon) traces the emergence and burgeoning of self-help books on a variety of topics (e.g., mind-cure, marriage, diet, health, wealth, and self-realization). The author also surveys a range of studies designed to assess both the value of self-help books and the reading public's estimation of their value. Easy to read, Oracle at the Supermarket certainly deserves a place on the supermarket shelves with the dozens of books that take up space in the aisles... For general readers and lower-division undergraduates.-
--B. Kaplan, Choice
-Oracle carefully explores the dangers and benefits of diet and exercise books, sex manuals, and self-actualization schemes. It is a timely and fascinating work, and will be of great interest to health-care providers and thoughtful consumers.-
--Joseph D. Matarazzo, American Psychological Association
"Following a brief excursus into the economic, religious, and political background of the doctrine of self-help, Starker (Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Portland, Oregon) traces the emergence and burgeoning of self-help books on a variety of topics (e.g., mind-cure, marriage, diet, health, wealth, and self-realization). The author also surveys a range of studies designed to assess both the value of self-help books and the reading public's estimation of their value. Easy to read, Oracle at the Supermarket certainly deserves a place on the supermarket shelves with the dozens of books that take up space in the aisles... For general readers and lower-division undergraduates."
--B. Kaplan, Choice
"Oracle carefully explores the dangers and benefits of diet and exercise books, sex manuals, and self-actualization schemes. It is a timely and fascinating work, and will be of great interest to health-care providers and thoughtful consumers."
--Joseph D. Matarazzo, American Psychological Association
"Following a brief excursus into the economic, religious, and political background of the doctrine of self-help, Starker (Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Portland, Oregon) traces the emergence and burgeoning of self-help books on a variety of topics (e.g., mind-cure, marriage, diet, health, wealth, and self-realization). The author also surveys a range of studies designed to assess both the value of self-help books and the reading public's estimation of their value. Easy to read, Oracle at the Supermarket certainly deserves a place on the supermarket shelves with the dozens of books that take up space in the aisles... For general readers and lower-division undergraduates."
--B. Kaplan, Choice
"Oracle carefully explores the dangers and benefits of diet and exercise books, sex manuals, and self-actualization schemes. It is a timely and fascinating work, and will be of great interest to health-care providers and thoughtful consumers."
--Joseph D. Matarazzo, "American Psychological Association"
