do chess books actually help?

chess books do help,

try this: A Guide to Chess Improvement: The Best of Novice Nook

by: Dan Heisman

I would recommend winning chess strategies by Yasser Seirawan. Before reading this book, I often found myself struggling in middlegame. I did not knew what are the plans in the position. This book teaches you how to come up with a plan in any position.

I dont think you should read any book now. I think it is easily possible to reach 1200 just by learning from youtube and improving your calculations, pattern recognition etc. I would recommend you to start watching the playlist of nm robert ramirez on chess mastery on youtube. It has helped me immensly.

I also confirm the validity of the contents created by Robert Ramirez, they will be very useful to you

As for books, if you are looking for a useful text from a teaching point of view, my advice is the classic Bobby Fischer Teacher Chess or Soviet Middlegame by Romanovsky. While Understanding Chess move by move by Nunn is definitely worth reading (you will find commented games)

Finally, consider taking the lessons available here on chess.com, maybe use the trial week to better evaluate the service

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

No they're totally useless. That's why there's so many !!

I believe there are so many because if one's good and makes a lotta loot, then everyone wants the money to be made in the industry. It's all about the money.

@1

"do chess books actually help you improve your skills?"
++ 'Chess books should be used as we use glasses: to assist the sight,
although some players make use of them as if they thought they conferred sight' - Capablanca

"which one would you recommend for a begginer?"
Chess Fundamentals - Capablanca

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a respected chess coach and chess author based in California.  

Books helped me get better at chess. I enjoyed reading tactic books.

-I recommend these two beginner books for you:

1) “50 Poison Pieces”. This book is endorsed by Eric Schiller, a famous chess master who wrote a lot of chess books.

2) “Queen For A Day: The Girl’s Guide To Chess Mastery.” This book is endorsed by Jennifer Yu, the 2019 US Women's Chess Champion and other master chess players!

I hope this helps.