Probably 2/3rds of them are basically a gimmick or catch phrase. Some, are worth reading.

The genre is loaded with people who are better at marketing than giving helpful advice. Even so, some of these books are valuable at least to get you to the point of being more introspective and develop a clearer understanding of what you do, don't do, say, and don't say affects the way people perceive you.

Some of these books focus on tasks. "If you do this every morning, you will be better at X or Y." Maybe. Maybe not. Whether I make my bed in the morning doesn't particularly influence my behaviors and attitudes throughout the day.

Since I'm in the professional development field, I tend to develop programs that build competencies. The ability to handle change, dealing with ambiguity, holding yourself accountable, etcetera. Generally people cling to tasks because they are tangible. Building competencies takes more work and dedication.

Ultimately, the way we improve is through a combination of building habits, developing empathy, and questioning our initial perceptions. It only happens if you are committed to positive change. It doesn't make a difference if a best-seller tells you how to do it or if you figure it out on your own. Without a willingness to identify what needs to be better and a willingness to work, it won't happen.

Good luck and best wishes on your journey to a better you.

It fills a niche for me. It's sort of like playing a casual game after getting the crap kicked out of you playing a hardcore MMORPG.

I go to Twitter if an article or post references a tweet. Otherwise, I ignore it.

I go to Reddit for sports, r/AskHistorians , learning stuff (that I have to fact-check elsewhere), irreverent takes, and references to office Space (among other things.) I reach a point where I get tired of the toxicity, the subreddits that attract people with low critical thinking skills and encourage trolls, and so on, I take a break.

I go to Mastadon to hang out in a place where I won't get upset by some jackass troll's hot takes. I have less chance of getting annoyed by unconscious racism, misogyny, or a complete lack of nuance related to geopolitical issues on Mastadon.

It's a good place to get random people's random thoughts. People try to compare it to Twitter because of the way it looks and somewhat the way people interact, but it's a different animal to me. It reminds me more of the early days of the internet where everything was a sandbox. You tell a joke and people share it or they don't. An amateur Mark Twain or two makes a keen observation on society every once in a while. Sulu's there, so that's a plus.

Once you figure out the hashtags that match your interests it becomes a little more fun and interesting. It definitely requires patience.

It's lower in vitriol (although the hatred for Elon Musk is palpable) and has fewer self-promoting people. Lots of cat photos, though.

I'd like to see Lou get in.