Bestselling Selves: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Self-Help Literature
Date
Authors
Tara, Al-Sayed
Supervisor
Nelson, Frances
Item type
Thesis
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Auckland University of Technology
Abstract
In this thesis, I view self-help as a discourse widely present in modern society in different forms such as literature, audio tapes, CDs, videos, and personal activities like workshops and individual coaching. From books to life-coaching service providers, the discourse increasingly encompasses creative techniques in order to expand and involve different aspect of life. I take a critical look at the reflection of the discourse in self-help books using Dryzek’s (1997) model of discourse analysis which divides discourse in general into four levels: ontology, assumptions about natural relationships, agents and their motives, and finally, metaphors and other rhetorical devices.Description
Keywords
Self-actualization (Psychology); Self-help techniques; Self-techniques -- Evaluation; Psychological literature -- Evaluation