While I applaud self-help and their practitioners. I think to understand the vast difference between the training and mindset the easterners go thru you must read and get into the national debate about the WSJ article, that coincided with Chinese premier's visit to DC, "The Superiority of a Chinese Mother" which is in fact based on a memoir/book of the author. We have to understand that we are in disadvantaged because of the slumping of the Western culture. We became too soft, too lazy and too spoiled. No amount of self-help is going to remedy this fast. Self help is good, with some limitations. Do not expect too much from it and know your self-imposed limitations. Some pointers; 1) repetition is not bad (as some claim in the educational system) but indeed mother of all inventions... 2) discipline - a number one in my book, the word comes from disciple; suggest dedication, effort. Without these nothing will happen.....more effort - better results... 3) there are no "shortcuts" in anything....