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Help yourself to a new book
80、90后又開始讀雞湯了
If you step into a bookstore, you might notice a section labeled "self-help". You might also notice that the section is getting bigger. That's because more people are turning to self-help books for advice. Last year, the Guardian reported that sales of these books in the UK rose by 20 percent, to a record high of three million books.
走進書店，你或許會注意到里面有一個“自助類書籍”區。你或許還會發現，這類書所占的區域正日益擴大。這是因為越來越多的人想在自助類書籍中找到建議。據《衛報》報道，去年這類書籍在英國的銷量上漲了20%，達到了歷史新高300萬冊。
Self-help books try to guide readers through various life problems. Popular themes include getting along with coworkers, time management and finding happiness.
自助類書籍試圖引導人們走出各種各樣的生活困境。書籍的熱門主題包括如何與同事相處，時間管理以及尋找幸福。
Different kinds of people write self-help books, including some celebrities, but usually these books are the work of psychologists.
各種各樣的人都會提筆寫自助類書籍，這其中也包括了一些名人，但通常這些書都由心理學家所著。
Paul Sweetman, the owner of City Books in the UK, said the current political climate might be one reason why more people are reading self-help books. Over the last two decades, the world has seen terrorist attacks, economic crises and new popular movements.
英國書店“城市書房”的店主保羅·斯威特曼認為，目前的政治環境或許是更多的人讀自助類書籍的一大原因。在過去的20年間，世界經歷了恐怖襲擊，經濟危機以及全新的大眾運動。
"People come into the shop and they're really fed up about things. They're looking for reassurances and peace of mind," Sweetman told the Guardian.
“人們走進書店，對一切都感到相當厭倦。他們想要尋求一種安心和平和的心態，”斯威特曼在接受《衛報》采訪時如此表示。
In addition, millennials – people born after 1990 – tend to be more aware of their own flaws and shortcomings, according to US psychologist Caroline Beaton. This means they're more likely to feel a need to improve themselves.
除此之外，美國心理學家卡羅琳·比頓認為，出生于1990年之后的千禧一代更能意識到自身的不足和缺點。這意味著，他們或許對于提升自我有著更強烈的需求。
Self-help books used to be something people laughed at. Many people didn't take Chicken Soup stories or "success theory" books too seriously. But now they're more respected. "They're as good to read as any novel," Sweetman said.
自助類書籍先前曾遭到群嘲。許多人并不把雞湯故事或者“成功理論”書籍當回事。但如今這些書籍卻更受追捧。“它們的閱讀體驗和小說一樣好，”斯威特曼表示。
Whatever the reason for the increased interest in self-help books, it's nice to know that help is at hand if we need it. But are these books truly helpful? Read one and find out.
不論自助類書籍閱讀狂潮背后的原因是什么，需要時有本書在手邊提供幫助也挺不錯的。但這些書真的有用嗎？讀一本就知道了。
