"Authors of self-help books (should) be require to provide proof that they have actually helped themselves." -writer Jane Wagner

The Word admonishes believers to not walk in the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 1:1).
Given this word of instruction, how is it that we are so keen to pick up the 'latest read' from the secular market on the recommendation of your unsaved friend, who found it SOOO helpful? Whether it's a book on how to raise your kids right, how to relate to your mate so that you stay together, how to run your business or whatEVER, there is a book of how-to for anything you might-do. Be alert! This is the lure of the world, to draw Christians in with their deadly and attractively-packaged wisdom. It is false, for it is impossible for someone who doesn't know Yahweh to have wisdom.

"the LORD gives wisdom,and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" Proverbs 2:6

The Lord parcels it out as He sees fit. It is inconceivable for man to find wisdom in his own way, because:

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

Therefore, if the fear (holy reverence, respectful awe) of the Lord is not present in an individual, nor any knowledge of the Holy One, there can be NO wisdom. The word wicked (Rasha) has the hebrew meaning of one who is criminal, hostile to God and guilty of sin (against God or man). For goodness sake, why would you want to take any advice from those folks!

Now, now - I can already hear the collective dissatisfied exhalations, 'Heather - there is much that the world has to offer in terms of books with life application and insight that we Christians would be well off to read and use in OUR daily lives...the 'world' could teach us much...' and I STILL won't agree...regardless of what you've read, the world can never give us true wisdom, and anything useful that you read from a non-Christian offer was just ripped off from the Bible.
It is impossible for someone who doesn't know Yahweh to have wisdom.

I once received a teaching on Psalm 1 that I share here as an illustration of wickedness' goal:
In Psalm 1 we see evidence that there is a progression of fellowship with wickedness. Firstly, one merely walks alongside it, sharing paths. Then one will stop and stand with wickedness-ceasing any forward movement in one's journey and participating in the course of life and moral character of the ungodly. Finally, one installs oneself by actually sitting in the seat of mockers, aligning oneself with wickedness, partnering with it fully. Conversely, "The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong." Psalm 37:30 NLT

Who do YOU look to when you require guidance?

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5