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Introduction

The self-help industry is worth $10bn a year in the US alone. Why is it so successful? Rob and Neil improve themselves and teach you six items of useful vocabulary in this episode of 6 Minute English.

This week's question:

Which of these well-known self-help books was published first?

a) How to Win Friends and Influence People

b) Think and Grow Rich

c) The Law of Attraction

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Transcript Note: This is not a word for word transcript Neil Welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Neil, and today we're going to improve ourselves. Rob Haha, how could we possibly get any better? I'm Rob, and yes, today's topic is self-help – and the self-help industry. Neil What do we mean by self-help? Well, it means trying to improve yourself – psychologically, economically or in other ways – without seeking official help. RobFor example, bookshops these days are full of titles which claim to boost your self-confidence, your wealth, your love life… or your career! Neil Yes, in just seven days! There's a clear demand for this kind of thing – the self-helpindustry is worth $10bn in the US alone. Rob That's a lot. That includes things like gym memberships, diet plans and life coaching apps. Neil We'll be looking at why. But first, the self-help industry has been around for a long time. Which of these well-known books was published first? a) How to Win Friends and Influence People b) Think and Grow Rich c) The Law of Attraction Rob Mmm... I could do with some help here. I'll go with the first one – How to Win Friends and Influence People. Neil OK, well before we go further, let's take a trip inside a bookshop in Manchester to find out which self-help books are selling well. Rob Let's listen to Emma Marshall, a manager at Waterstones bookshop. What's popular now? Emma Marshall, Assistant Manager, Waterstones At the moment we're in the tidying up, getting rid of things trend. But before that we saw colouring in, which became a huge thing. It's kind of dwindling now, because these sorts of trends come in and then they go. Like last year we saw 'hygge', which is the Danish art of living well, apparently. So we're taking from all sorts of cultures. And so I think the trendright now is about slowing down in your life. Neil Emma says there are a couple of trends right now. A trend, here, means something new which is popular for a period of time. Rob Yes, so she mentioned tidying up and getting rid of things. Would you buy a book about tidying up, Neil? Neil I'd be more likely to buy a book about it than actually tidy up! She also mentioned a current trend about slowing down in our lives. Rob I can agree with that! And previous trends included colouring-in – these books have black and white outline pictures that you fill in with colours. Neil I used to do that as a child. Very therapeutic! Rob Therapeutic – making you feel more relaxed and less anxious – it's related to the word therapy… Neil Although the colouring-in trend is dwindling - it's becoming weaker. They're selling fewer colouring-in books. Rob So – trends come and go, but the industry is going from strength to strength. Neil To go from strength to strength means to remain strong, or get even stronger! Why? Rob Dr Jennifer Wild, a psychologist from Oxford University, believes that the internet is a big factor. Neil We've got used to searching for solutions online, and now these solutions even include how to fix or improve our lives. Rob And psychologist Caroline Beaton, writing on Forbes.com, said she believes that millennials are a big factor. Neil How do we define the term 'millennial'? Also known as Generation Y – are people born between the mid-1980s and early 2000s. It's a common term in the news – often because people born in this time in the West are seen to have certain characteristics. Rob They're sometimes described as lazy and obsessed with themselves – and while that's not necessarily true, Caroline Beaton says millennials are highly self-critical. Neil Self-critical – they are aware of their own faults – which also means they're more likely to spend time on money on self-help. She says they spend twice as much as Generation Xers. Generation X refers to people born between the late 60s and around 1980. Rob And one more possible reason why the self-help industry does well: it's very resistant to recessions. When the economy does badly – as we say it goes into recession – people are perhaps even more likely to reach for self-help to improve their situation. Neil So there we are. Now, let's go back to another recession – the Great Depression of the 1930s in America – and to my question about which self-help book was published first? Rob Well – I said a) How to Win Friends and Influence People. Neil In fact – two of these books were published in the late 1930s, How to win friends and influence people, by Dale Carnegie, was first in 1936. It has since sold over 30 million copies. Think and grow rich, by Napoleon Hill, was published in 1937, and is believed to have sold over 100 million copies! Rob That's a lot of self-help. Wow – have you read either of them? Neil I haven't read either of them but, perhaps, I should Rob Well, before we rush home and improve ourselves, let's improve our vocabularies. Neil Of course – today we had: self-help - the activity of improving yourself – physically, mentally or in other ways – often through courses and books. Rob There are lots of trends in the self-help industry. And we also see trends in fashion, in music, in popular culture… Like the trend for men to grow beards. Neil Are you talking about me? Anyway, I think the beard trend is dwindling. It's getting smaller, less influential. Rob Really? I stroke my beard here. I think it's very therapeutic. It makes me relax and feel good. Neil Maybe you're right. What about our next phrase – to go from strength to strength? Rob You could say a business is going from strength to strength if it's earning a lot of money. Neil Indeed. And what about our term for young people – millennial. Are you a millennial, Rob? Rob Didn't quite scraped in there. I'm still a Generation X. But I do like to think I'm in touch with what millennials do. Which includes – having lots of different social media accounts. Neil Just like us – do look up BBC Learning English on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Rob And good luck with your self-improvement! Both Bye! Vocabulary self-help trying to improve yourself without the help of professionals trend something new which is popular for a period to dwindle to become fewer or weaker therapeutic relaxing; making you feel less anxious to go from strength to strength to become more successful over time millennial someone born between the mid-1980s and early 2000s Transcript 双语版 Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English.I’m Neil, and today we’re going to improve ourselves. 欢迎收听六分钟英语。我是尼尔，今天我们要提高自己。 Haha, how could we possibly get any better? I’m Rob, and yes, today’s topic is self-help – and the self-help industry. 我们怎么能变得更好呢？我是罗伯，是的，今天的话题是励志自助，以及自助产业。 What do we mean by self-help?Well, it means trying to improve yourself – psychologically, economically or in other ways – without seeking official help. 励志自助是什么意思呢？它是指尝试提高自身能力，无论是心理上，经济上还是其他方式，不寻求专业的帮助。 For example, bookshops these days are full of titles which claim to boost your self-confidence, your wealth, your love life… or your career! 例如，如今书店中充斥着标题宣称提升自信、增加财富、提高感情生活质量和事业的书。 Yes, in just seven days! There’s a clear demand for this kind of thing – the self-help industry is worth $10bn in the US alone. 没错，就在短短七天内！对励志自助产业的需求显而易见，仅在美国该产业价值100亿美元 That’s a lot. That includes things like gym memberships, diet plans and life coaching apps. 这确实很多。这包括健身房会员、饮食计划和人生导师手机应用。 We’ll be looking at why. But first, the self-help industry has been around for a long time.Which of these well-known books was published first?Is it a) How to Win Friends and Influence Peopleb) Think and Grow Richc) The Law of Attraction 我们来看看这种现象因何而起。但首先，自助产业已经存在很长时间了。下列著名的书籍中，哪一本最先出版发行？a) 人性的弱点b) 思考致富c) 吸引力法则 Mmm... I could do with some help here.I’ll go with the first one – How to Win Friends and Influence People. 我需要一些帮助了。我选第一个，《人性的弱点》。 OK, well before we go further, let’s take a trip around a bookshop in Manchester to find out which self-help books are selling well. 在我们深入这个话题前，先去参观一下曼彻斯特的一家书店，看看哪些励志自助的书籍销量好。 Let’s listen to Emma Marshall, a manager at Waterstones bookshop. What’s popular now? 我们听听水石书店的经理艾玛·马歇尔的观点。如今什么受欢迎？ At the moment we’re in the tidying up, getting rid of things trend. But before that we saw colouring in, which became a huge thing.It’s kind of dwindling now, because these sorts of trends come in and then they go. Like last year we saw hygge, which is the Danish art of living well, apparently. So we’re taking from all sorts of cultures. And so I think the trend right now is about slowing down in your life. 当下断舍离的潮流盛行。但在那之前，我们看到涂色类书籍成为最大的畅销书。如今涂色类书籍已经渐渐减少，因为这些潮流趋势流行一段时间，就消退了。就像去年我们看到北欧风格很流行，也就是丹麦的生活艺术。所以我们学习各种各样的文化。所以我认为当下的趋势是，放缓生活的步伐。 Emma says there are a couple of trends right now.A trend, here, means something new which is popular for a period of time. 艾玛说如今有很多潮流趋势。潮流，趋势，是指在一段时间内颇受欢迎的新生事物。 Yes, so she mentioned tidying up and getting rid of things. Would you buy a book about tidying up, Neil? 她提到断舍离的潮流，也就是整理生活，学会丢弃。你买过整理类的书籍吗，尼尔？ I’d be more likely to buy a book about it than actually tidy up! She also mentioned a current trend about slowing down in our lives. 与其买一本整理类的书，不如真的动手整理。她还提到现在的一个趋势是放慢生活节奏。 I can agree with that! And previous trends included colouring-in – these books have black and white outline pictures that you fill in with colours. 我同意这一点。之前的流行趋势包括涂色书，这些书是一些黑白轮廓图片，你需要进行填色。 I used to do that as a child. Very therapeutic! 孩童时期我曾经这么做。非常治愈！ Therapeutic – making you feel more relaxed and less anxious – it’s related to the word therapy… 治愈的，是指让你感到轻松，忧虑减少。它和therapy（治疗）一词相关。 Although the colouring-in trend is dwindling - it’s becoming weaker.They’re selling fewer colouring-in books. 但是填色类书籍的潮流消退，也就是越来越弱。销售的填色类书籍越来越少。 So – trends come and go, but the industry is going from strength to strength. 所以潮流来去匆匆，该产业却越来越强大。 To go from strength to strength means to remain strong, or get even stronger! Why? go from strength to strength是指仍然很强大，甚至越来越强。这是为什么呢？ Dr Jennifer Wild, a psychologist from Oxford University, believes that the internet is a big factor. 詹妮弗·维尔德教授，牛津大学心理学家认为网络是一个很重要的因素。 We’ve got used to searching for solutions online, and now these solutions even include how to fix or improve our lives. 我们习惯了在网上寻找解决办法，如今我们寻求的解决办法甚至包括如何提高我们的生活。 And psychologist Caroline Beaton, writing on Forbes.com, said she believes that millennials are a big factor. 心理学家凯若琳·比顿，在福布斯网站上写道，她认为千禧一代是其中很重要的因素。 How do we define the term millennial? Also known as Generation Y – are people born between the mid-1980s and early 2000s. It’s a common term in the news – often because people born in this time in the West are seen to have certain characteristics. 我们如何定义千禧一代呢？他们也被称为Y世代，是指出生于20世纪80年代中期至21世纪初期的人们。在新闻上很常见，因为西方世界出生于该时期的人被认为有某种特征。 They’re sometimes described as lazy and obsessed with themselves– and while that’s not necessarily true, Caroline Beaton says millennials are highly self-critical. 他们有时被描述为懒惰，自我，虽然这并不是很正确，但凯若琳认为千禧一代都高度地严于律己。 Self-critical – they are aware of their own faults – which also means they’re more likely to spend time or money on self-help.She says they spend twice as much as Generation Xers. Generation X refers to people born between the late 60s and around 1980. 严于律己是指他们能意识到自己的缺点，这意味着他们有更多的可能花费时间和金钱在励志自助上。她还说他们在这方面所花费的时间金钱是X世代的两倍。X世代是指出生于60年代末至20世纪80年代左右。 And one more possible reason why the self-help industry does well: it’s very resistant to recessions.When the economy does badly – as we say it goes into recession – people are perhaps even more likely to reach for self-help to improve their situation. 自助产业之所以兴盛的另一个可能的原因是：它可以抵制经济衰败。当经济运行差，也就是我们所谓的经济衰退，人们更可能寻求励志自助来改善自己的处境。 So there we are.Now, let’s go back to another recession – the Great Depression of the 1930s in America– and to my question about which self-help book was published first? 我们也是如此。我们回到另一个经济衰败时期，美国20世纪30年代的大萧条。以及回到我的问题，哪一本励志自助的书籍最先出版？ Well – I said a) How to Win Friends and Influence People. 我选的是a) 《人性的弱点》 In fact – two of these books were published in the late 1930s, How to win friends and influence people, by Dale Carnegie, was first in 1936.It has since sold over 30 million copies.Think and grow rich, by Napoleon Hill, was published in 1937, and is believed to have sold over 100 million copies! 事实上有两本书出版于20世纪30年代末，卡耐基的《人性的弱点》最先出版于1936年。自出版起，销售超过3000万本。拿破仑·希尔的《思考致富》出版于1937年，销售超过一亿本。 That’s a lot of self-help.Wow – have you read either of them? 真的有很多自助类书籍啊。你读过这两本书吗？ I haven’t read either of them but, perhaps, I should. 我没有读过，也许我应该读一读。 Well, before we rush home and improve ourselves, let’s improve our vocabularies. 在我们冲回家提升自我前，我们先来提高一下我们的单词。 Of course – today we had: self-help - the activity of improving yourself – physically, mentally or in other ways – often through courses and books. 当然，今天我们提到励志自助，是指提升自己的活动，无论是心理上，精神上还是其他方式，通常是通过课程和书籍。 There are lots of trends in the self-help industry. And we also see trends in fashion, in music, in popular culture… Like the trend for men to grow beards. 自助产业有很多流行趋势。我们也看到时尚、音乐以及潮流文化的趋势。就像人们喜欢留胡子的潮流。 Are you talking about me? Anyway, I think the beard trend is dwindling. It’s getting smaller, less influential. 你是说我吗？总之，留胡子的潮流正在衰退。影响力越来越小。 Really? I stroke my beard here. I think it’s very therapeutic. It makes me relax and feel good. 真的吗？我摸摸我的胡子。我觉得这非常治愈，让我感觉很轻松，感觉非常好。 Maybe you’re right. What about our next phrase – to go from strength to strength? 也许你是对的。我们看看下一个短语，越来越强。 You could say a business is going from strength to strength if it’s earning a lot of money. 如果一门生意赚很多的钱，你可以说它越来越强。 Indeed. And what about our term for young people – millennial.Are you a millennial, Rob? 没错，我们看看关于年轻人的术语，千禧一代。你是千禧一代吗，罗伯？ Didn’t quite scraped in there. I’m still a Generation X. But I do like to think I’m in touch with what millennials do. Which includes – having lots of different social media accounts. 不完全是。我仍然是X一代。但我觉得我也接触千禧一代常做的事。这包括，有很多社交媒体账号。 Just like us – do look up BBC Learning English on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 就像我们的节目一样。欢迎查看BBC英语的Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 和 YouTube主页。 And good luck with your self-improvement! 祝你自我提升成功！ Bye! 再见！

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