https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-books-to-stay-away-from-and-why?share=1

A really important question, but not too many great answers. I may compose one, but off the top of my head: The Secret, and anything by Nassim Haramein, Someone who I won’t name on my friendlist, or Chopra, nearly all of the material that involves quantum mysticism, ‘Holographic Universes’, and ‘Proof of Heaven’: A (insane) Neurosurgeon’s Near-Death Experience and Journey into the Afterlife.

And a vast range of books on the topic of ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (as if a species that was not itself intelligent could endow machines with… er… what exactly? And in so doing, become even less likely to become intelligent).

If there are nonordinary realities and situations, these above-named books make an ideological cartoon of them, regardless of whether they are sincerely or commercially intentioned, and thus the minds that result from exposure, if not properly critical, will be similarly counterfeited.

I disagree with the first answer, which is too abstract and rule-like. A well-read friend can warn you of threats that appear to be advertising benefits… and should, where appropriate.