Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #220279 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Having shared his story of redemption through his previous bestselling autobiograhy, Dave Pelzer now draws lessons from that experience with Help Yourself--a highly personal self-help book. Dave survived one of the worst child abuse cases ever recorded in the state of California. His mother, a mentally disturbed alcoholic, tortured and abused him throughout his childhood--smashing his face into a mirror, forcing him to swallow ammonia and making him sit on a burning stove, among other heinous cruelties. In his bestselling memoirs, A Child Called It, The Lost Boy and A Man Called Dave, Pelzer recounts his horrific childhood, demonstrating how inner resilience helped him survive and even become a highly caring and accomplished adult. (He was eventually selected as one of 10 Outstanding Young Americans.)

Although Pelzer has a graduate degree in the school of hard knocks, he never got a chip on his shoulder. In this self-help book, Pelzer sticks with his warm and plainspoken narrative style (think Chicken Soup for the Soul) to offer advice on how to help yourself overcome adversity and let go of the past. Wisely, Pelzer often deflects attention away from his overpowering story, offering anecdotes that pertain to more common, everyday scenarios: you feel taken advantage of at work but are afraid to quit; you have unresolved issues with your spouse. His guidance is familiar, such as never go to bed upset and tackle problems as they arise--don't let them fester. It may sound simplistic, but sometimes that's just what we need--a trustworthy ally who can dole out "been there" advice in a straightforward style. --Gail Hudson

Synopsis
"A Child Called It", an autobiographical book, chronicles Pelzer's harrowing experience of child abuse. His follow-up book to that one was "The Lost Boy" and concerned his life in foster homes. Dave Pelzer willed himself to overcome the worst life had to offer (his case of child abuse was one of the worst recorded cases in US history) and became the best he could be. "Help Yourself" weaves in stories from Pelzer's own experiences with the principles he has discovered on how to survive difficulty.

Customer Reviews

Yet another amazing read from Pelzer
Dave Pelzer has been an inspirational read, from 'A Child Called It' to 'The Lost Boy' and the last novel 'A Man Named Dave', I thought that was going to be it, but thankfully he continues to write and be an inspiration. For anyone to survive a torturous childhood and live to tell the tale is outstanding but to offer advice to others is inspirational. In his new book 'Help Yourself' Dave Pelzer gives his advice, offering solutions to problems you may be facing in life. Applying his own knowledge and learned experience from his childhood he helps the reader to identify coping strategies for dealing with life's events. I hope he continues to write as I have learnt so much from reading his books.

Uplifting and inspirational
This book is well worth a read. I found having picked it up it was very difficult to put down, it gripped you from the start. Although David mentions his atrocious childhood, he does so without sensationalism or even regret. Rather he feels the experience has been a benefit to him and tells us why. The book is reoughly divided into three parts and tells us that we can put behind our past and look forward to the future. It is very positive and encouraging and well worth reading.

Definately helpful
Pelzer's story is amazing, and his lessons invaluable. The fact that he is alive and sane is testament to the incredible mental methods he has adopted. The book gives an insight into them, and into his doggedly positive attitude which has brought him survival, sanity, then success.

At times the book is somewhat lightweight compared with more encyclopedic volumes on the matter of developing a good life strategy, but Mr Pelzer is inspiring and uplifting, and his advice is sound and applicable.

Possibly its greatest advantage is the easy reading nature and bedside manner which makes the advice make sense.