To think self help books aren't good birthday presents!

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DH gave me two self help books for my birthday! As well as a couple of other presents. I'm sure he meant well - I have been feeling a bit down and stressed lately - but...! I didn't mind getting one too much, but two?! AIBU and ungrateful?! (Oh and the irony is that his mum attempted suicide about 6 weeks ago... and he buys ME the self help books!!)

No i can see why you would be a but peeved. Exp once got me trinny and Suzanna what not to wear

Maybe we should start a helpful list for men...
What NOT to buy your girlfriend/wife*:
Self help books
Diet books
Weight loss books
Style / "what not to wear" books
Books about how to be good in bed
Housework-related items (eg ironing board, vacuum cleaner, etc)

*Unless she has SPECIFICALLY ASKED for it, which I doubt would happen, but you never know.

Can i add underwear that is 100% polyester

my dad once came back from a carboot sale pretty chuffed with his bargin present for me. It turned out to be a 1980's bikini strimmer that was rusty and still had the previous owners pubic hair caught in the metal 'teeth'. He had no idea what it was, and struck a guess at something to do with eyebrows

You could give him a self help book entitled 'How not to be an arse' and another called 'how to buy good presents'

Actually, I think he is on to something here, I can think of plenty of books to buy my family.

My mil once got a dremel mouse for Christmas from fil! What goes through people's heads?!

YABU - I love a self help!

But a friend received bathroom scales from another friend. I did think that was uncalled for .

But AddToBasket do you love reading self help books as presents or just the ones you've chosen to buy??

Some of your examples are brilliant - but what is a dremel mouse?!

I do think people (especially men) must get desperate. It's the only explanation.

Meant to say getting self help books as presents, altho presumably you would also read it... I may refuse to read mine in protest. Even if it is useful. I'm an ungrateful one me. (Although I was very appreciative of the other presents!)

I would add cookbooks (from a DP that cooked two meals in fifteen years, both "conveniently" inedible)

Last birthday Dh got me "End this Depression Now" by Paul Crugman.
I thought it was a very bluntly worded self help book, which would have made sense as I had been a bit low. He couldn't umderstand why I seemed put out.
Turns out its an economics book about the financial crisis