I imagine I'm not alone in saying that most of my family members are simply "a mess". I swear I was switched at birth. Regardless, this doesn't stop me from feeling this sense of obligation to them to help them progress successfully through their various situations. However, I know they have to WALK THE WALK themselves, because no amount of advise I gave them (which they asked for) has EVER worked. So, many months ago I stopped giving advise or listening the drama.. completely. It saddens me that they're so lost.

Recently I found some good, short, self-help books by AC Ping and while reading through them I kept thinking about my family and how I wished they could understand how they are perpetuating the negativity and stagnation that IS their lives.

So I wonder, would you give a self-help book to a loved one? Do you think most people would be insulted? Also, if someone is unable to see that they need to change, do you think it would do them any good anyway?
I guess I did leave out some important info... The books are titled: BE and DO. I read through one in a couple hours. They aren't badgering or demeaning and they aren't about any specific thing that one needs to "do better". They are about life in general and about asking yourself important questions about who you are and who you want to be...
I think of them as more motivational books; however, they are filed as self-help.

Self help books are for people who want to help themselves. If a person does not see the problem, then that person is unable to fix the problem. My advice to you is to just set a good example for them. Try not to be judgemental...giving them a self help book is tantamount to passing judgement.

Personally, I'd be pretty insulted if I recieved a self-help book that was titled something like, "How-to improve your crappy personality." Since the titles of the gifts in question might be a little bit more vague, your family might not immediately find them insulting. If I recieved a self-help book that urged me to immediately change my personality, I'd definitely be insulted by the giver; the person obviously doesn't like the person that I am. If it, however, urges me to think independently and to be myself and love that person, then I would likely be flattered and take initiative.
The best way to GIVE a gift of that nature would be to direct it towards yourself. "I read this book and it really changed my perspective on _____" or "This book was so interesting, I never knew how much my nose-picking was a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder!"
It also depends on how close you are to these people; if they are very close, they are likely to see the gift as something worthwhile and a sign that you care. Others might not.