In her new book, “Helping Me Help Myself,” (HarperCollins, Jan. 2008) San Francisco author Beth Lisick chronicles her attempt to fulfill the ultimate New Year’s resolution: spend a year improving every aspect of her life by following the self-improvement advice of 10 of the world’s most popular self-help gurus and best-selling authors. Lisick will share tales from her amusing 12-month adventure as a skeptic in the world of self-improvement during a free, public talk at DePaul University April 17.

Sponsored by DePaul’s management department, Lisick’s talk will begin at noon in room 8005 of the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd. A book signing will follow at 1:30 p.m.

During her 2007 whirlwind self-help quest, Lisick attempted to uplift her soul by reading Jack Canfield’s “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and organize her stuff by following Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” She sought guidance on money and marriage at seminars led, respectively, by financial expert Suze Orman, and John Gray, who penned “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.” She delved into spirituality through the writings of Deepak Chopra and better parenting through Thomas W. Phelan’s book, “Magic 1,2,3: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12.” She even took a “Cruise to Lose” Caribbean weight-loss voyage with effervescent fitness guru Richard Simmons.

“People across the world turn to these self-help authors for advice on managing careers, finances, relationships and lives,” said Scott Young, management department chair. “Beth Lisick reveals the funny side of these self-help gurus and proves how futile it can be to try to become perfect, and that is what is so enjoyable about her book.”

Lisick, the author of the New York Times best-selling book “Everybody into the Pool,” is also a musical performer and odd-jobs enthusiast. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and anthologies, including Best American Poetry, the Christian Science Monitor, and “Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Movement.” She has contributed to public radio’s “This American Life” and is the cofounder of the monthly Porchlight storytelling series in San Francisco.

For more information about Lisick’s DePaul talk, contact Erin Espeland in DePaul’s management department, (312) 362-5202.

Editors Note: Journalists interested in covering the event should contact Robin Florzak, DePaul Media Relations: 312/362-8592 or rflorzak@depaul.edu.