Most How To books have writers telling us how to go through life in a more efficient manner, with the aid of the tips and guidelines on a specific topic or subject. So what have been the bestselling how to books lately? The American list, for instance, includes The 17 Day Diet by Mike Moreno, which is a book on diet and burning fat on a daily basis. Every Day a Friday is another self-help book by Joel Osteen, the book is presented as a daily happiness guide, with a conversation with the pastor of Lakewood Church.  Then there is advice for prospective a parent that is also topping the list: What to expect when you're expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.

The Indian bestsellers provide us evidence of the changing urban landscapes, for bestselling books have been about weight loss, management lessons and of handling relationships (predominantly marriage) lately. So have we seen, on the bestselling list, Rujuta Divekar’s Don’t Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight, which sold surprisingly well, especially in the first six months. The author follow-up book: Women and the Weight Loss Tamasha has only seen a further surge in those seeking Divekar’s advice. Books that propagate techniques to a healthier mind and life are also on the roll. One example is Latika Tripathi's book account of finding happiness with the aid of numerology: the book, So be it, has found many readers.

So how exactly does a self-help book establish an audience? From what we infer, it is all about condensation, collecting what is to be told in a summarized text format, making engaging chapter headlines and motivational talk. There has to a connecting point, where the narration is like a comforting guide to the reader. Thus, we wonder, that the first step as a writer would be to write about what we already know. This ensures that the writer writes with flow and adequate subject knowledge.

On second thoughts, probably we should be writing a book on How To write How To books. So much for irony…