Was self help a thing in the 16th century?

Rennaisance literature is full of words, sometimes important, lots of digressions and a lot that we would consider “unorthodox”.

The Question is who can mimic the strangely personal and spiritual yet mundane diction of a self help book?

There is literature about making yourself more appealing, more influental and charming such as the book of the courtier by Castiglione in the Renaissance Era.

There is books about widsom such as Rouchefoucauld or Montaigne.

I can find none of the plain spoken verbage that would mimic the style of self help. The closest would be something like Rouchefoucald but Rouchefoucald gives advice and is candid not knowing all the answers. self help books ask us to undergo psychic review. A review that can feel akin to brainwashing and condescension.

Will Self help be around in the future?

Probably, people need to translate things through a spiritual plane. Something is needed that makes them happy and heals the spirit. Most likely it will morph slowly and imperceptibly until noone remember the old style of self help and the new one will take its place.

After reading enough self help my overall sense is, it’s mesmerizing to begin with but ends being boring, hollow and trite. Some books you can read them again and again and they become better. Self help books become more meaningless the more you read them.