Self-help books aim to help the reader with problems, offering them clear and effective guidance on how obstacles can be passed and solutions found, especially with regard to common issues and day-to-day life. Such books take their name from the 1859 best-selling "Self-Help" by Samuel Smiles, and are often also referred to as "self-improvement" books. "Above Life's Turmoil" is a 1910 self-help book by British writer James Allen that explores how difficulties and problems can be overcome and used to one's advantage in life and happiness. James Allen (1864-1912) was a British writer most famous for his inspirational poetry and being an early leader of the self-help movement. "As a Man Thinketh" (1903), his best known work, has been a significant source of inspiration for many self-help authors.
