Would you consider "They Love You Until You Start Thinking for Yourself" by Monica Omorodion Swaida a "self-help" book?

[Melisa Jane]

This is a discussion topic for the February 2025 Book of the Month, "They Love You Until You Start Thinking for Yourself" by Monica Omorodion Swaida.

Would you consider "They Love You Until You Start Thinking for Yourself" by Monica Omorodion Swaida a "self-help" book?

[Victor Nwabuisi]

No, I wouldn’t consider it as a self-book but rather a memoir about the life of Monica. The book portrayed her strength and weakness, ranging from taking a bold step to travel to Poland as a teen to her experiences in America. Readers would learn some moral lessons from her story.

[Annika porter]

No, I would not consider this a self-help book. Swaida's book is a memoir that honestly is not very relatable. Her experiences are unlike those I have heard from most immigrants and does not provide any tools for people going through similar experiences to achieve success. Swaida discusses her success at length, but chalks it up to working harder than other people and being more dedicated. This book does not explain how a person should truly think for themselves, but mainly focuses on how different Monica is from her peers and how she feels she is better than them.

[Sarah Zain]

I don't think it's a self-help book. I read the first two chapters and they're good, but it's a memoir. It can be considered a sharing for her different experience.

[Charles Benson]

Monica Omorodion Swaida’s They Love You Until You Start Thinking for Yourself is a raw and deeply personal memoir rather than a typical self-help book. However, its themes of resilience, cultural identity, and personal empowerment make it just as transformative. Through her immigrant journey and hard-earned success, Swaida offers inspiration without preaching—letting her story be the lesson.

[Omneya Shakeep]

I don't think it can be considered a self-help book but rather a memoir with good tips and advice on various topics concerning self-esteem, self-worth, and how to not let others dictate your life for you.

[Mark Lazarus]

Monica Omorodion Swaida’s “They Love You Until You Start Thinking for Yourself” is a compelling memoir that chronicles her journey from a Nigerian immigrant to a successful entrepreneur in the United States. The book offers an intimate look into the challenges she faced adapting to a new culture and the resilience required to overcome adversity.  

While the narrative is deeply personal, it transcends individual experience by addressing universal themes of determination, cultural identity, and personal empowerment. Swaida’s reflections encourage readers to embrace open-mindedness and challenge societal norms, inspiring them to pursue their dreams despite obstacles. 

Given these elements, the memoir serves not only as a personal story but also as a source of motivation and guidance, aligning with the principles of the self-help genre. Therefore, it can be considered a self-help book, as it provides readers with insights and encouragement to navigate their own challenges and achieve personal growth.

[Ivon Ikunza]

Sure. The book has tips on how to survive racism, poverty, priorities, and many other life issues. The author was able to be happy and contented with the little she had, even as they struggled in Africa. Racism also did not deter her from achieving what she wanted in the United States. The fact that she could work full-time and study full-time is something to be emulated.

[Martina Sette]

Absolutely! The title alone reveals a lot and promises great things.

[Darius Jackson 1]

It is more of an autobiography of the author, Monica.

[Joe Alex 2]

They Love You Until You Start Thinking for Yourself” is more of a memoir than a self-help book. It shares Monica’s personal journey as an immigrant, her challenges, and lessons learned. While it can inspire readers, it’s mainly about her life, not a guide or advice book.

[Natalie MT]

Absolutely not. It's a narrative. It tells the story of the author, it doesn't draw a road map for becoming her.

[Chinazo Anozie]

I think it could work as a bit of both. The author Monica tells of her life story with its many ups and downs. I believe readers can also learn a lot of her resilience and courage even though it's more of a memoir than self-help.

[Nazma P]

I don't think it's a self-help book. It's a very raw and personal memoir that do inspire readers but it definitely not meant to be a typical self-help book. The book do teach us moral lessons, so we as readers do get some really good insights from the book.

[Bettny Andrade]

I would consider any book in which the author shares their experiences to be self-help because we can believe and learn from other people's experiences. That's why they tell us how they were able to improve, so that we can take their experiences as an example and be better. That's my point of view.