A few years ago, when this writer was reading Atomic Habits by James Clear, one stark question lingered: Do self-help books actually help, or do they become coffee-table conversations after a week? This is where the recent release, Self Help=Help Self Journal (Rupa Publications) by filmmaker, entrepreneur and author Shailendra Singh, comes across as a refreshing contrast.

Emote, express

Instead of lecturing readers on changing their mindset, the book centres on the expectations you quietly place on yourself. It explores what needs to be broken; what needs to be un-built, and how to begin that process. Sectioned into 99 chapters, each with five sections, the 253-pager comes across as more of an interactive journal than a conventional self-help title.