How to Buy Self-Help Books Online

Self-help books can be a great way to get yourself through a difficult time or learn some new skills. It's easy to find and buy these books online, although you need to do plenty of research before you make a purchase to be sure you get your money's worth.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Start your search at large Internet booksellers that allow users to post reviews. Spend some time reading these reviews to help you evaluate the usefulness of each self-help book. Pay no attention to appraisals that read like marketing copy.
2. Find out which self-help books offer supplemental material like videos, worksheets and help forums. Some books will allow you to access a members-only portion of the author's or publisher's website that lets you send questions to the author or a support team.
3. See if the online bookstore allows you to virtually flip through a few pages of the book. If it's not possible, you may want to head to your local shop to look at the item in person and see if it's worth buying. Avoid buying the book when you go to check it out because you'll probably find a better price online if you shop around.
4. Take a few moments to research the credentials of the author online. Some topics, like those that deal with mental conditions, can be more helpful if they are written by someone who has training and experience in that field. For other subjects, you may find that the author is someone who is sharing her personal story of working through a challenging situation.
5. Look at the security guarantees before you buy any books online. Be sure that your personal data won't be sold to advertisers and that you have the option to opt out of receiving email alerts from the vendor.
6. Pay attention to the shipping costs and times before you complete your order. Books can be expensive to ship because of their weight, so you may find it's cheaper to buy the item locally in the long run. Watch your bank account after you buy the books to be sure that there wasn't a mistake on your invoice.

Tips & Warnings

• Audio self-help books can be a cheap alternative to the book format if you can find a store that sells them in MP3 form.
• Avoid buying used self-help books online from another person unless the transaction is handled by a third party that guarantees the sale.