I gotta start with everyone's life is a lesson to be learnt, self help books are for self realization which can be gotten from examining oneself by meditating and studying other people's life, I do agree they are side earners but they also reflect his life principles which pushed him over the bar, it might not be a great self help book, it's definitely one.

Even the monks tell you to study foolish and wise people the moral lesson is in people's life lies the secret to their failure or success it's your to take what you need. To be honest self help books opened my mind to the reality of the only thing you need is discipline and you build that by small consistent practice that's all the self help you need.