BY AKI SHIMAKURA
There are many people who are not satisfied with what they are and who want to improve their personality or their present situation. Books such as "How to be a~" and "100 ways and words to be a~" catch our eye when we become self-absorbed. So called "How To" books have had a moderate boom. Though "How To" books in general have not become best sellers, we can see books of this kind on the counters of most bookstores. According to an investigation of bookstores and the Internet, it is mainly women that buy "How To" books, and the range of ages is from 20 to 40.
There are various kinds of books in this category and we can find them not only at bookstores but also in the psychology section of the library. The authors have different backgrounds respectively. Many authors are psychologists, but there are some authors who graduated from art school. Interestingly enough, the same kinds of books are popular in many foreign countries. For example, David Niven's "100 Simple Secrets of Happy People" (Jyunko Yoshida) has been translated into Japanese, and is now on sale.
Actually, I am a reader of "How To" books. This is because the books seem to help my mind when I lose my confidence that I had had before some new encounter since I enrolled in Sapporo University. Probably, many people who read these books are attracted by such words as "The only way" or "100 words".
In this article, I want to introduce to you the "100 ways" three-book
series.
First, the books begin with a simple sentence like "Let's~," in most cases with large type. It is this simple sentence that provides one of the ways to "100 ways to be~", i.e. advice from the author. Some books have funny stories. For example, what I have found in them are: Create your own anniversary (cited from" 100 Ways To Become What You Want To Be" by Yoko Nakayama) and, It's ok to be truant sometimes (cited from "This Book Will Make You Feel Better" by Mamoru Ito/ Kazuo Tsubota), followed by episodes which are based on researches, thoughts, and experiences of the authors. That is, the reasons are written why these authors advise such things.
Now, I want to introduce to you to the most impressive passage from "100 Ways To Become What You Want To Be":
Prepare for tomorrow at night the day before.
"Put the things that you will need tomorrow on the desk before you go to
bed. If you remember another thing in this process, put it on the desk,
too and sleep soundly. Even if you have negative thoughts and actions,
you can "prepare for tomorrow" easily. There are also "positive actions"
you can do now that will encourage you powerfully for tomorrow.
That is to say, your actions can bear fruit easily."
This is what Mrs Nakayama did at the time when she was on the verge of throwing out her work when she was a new teacher, because she felt that she had neither confidence nor ability to teach. The expression "Prepare for tomorrow at night the day before," has a hidden meaning deep within it, but we can hear such a phrase, "Your actions can bear fruit easily" in our daily lives.
Next, I would like to introduce you to "The ways" written in the same style as "How To" books.
1. Read books.
You can expand your knowledge by reading books. You can live a pleasant life by inspiring your imagination and curiosity.
2. Sleep soundly at night.
To get a good rest will lead to your efficient work, and you can spend a day comfortably. Sound sleep is the evidences that you have worked well.
3. It is impossible for you to be loved by everyone.
You will lose your confidence when you want to be loved by everyone.
The ways "To be~," are the appeal of "How To" books, which are in a sense ordinary things. However, the expressions are easy to understand, which hold much appeal for us. It depends on you how you take these hints, but I thought they are understandable naturally before reading those books. However, I was relieved by reading the advice of those books giving me the courage to act. The ways "To be~" only lead to changing ourselves. Those books give us the specific advice "Let's~." But after all we have to find our way by ourselves. "How To" books are helpful for us to realize ourselves again notwithstanding their limitations.
Why don't you check your daily life by reading "How To" books?