Are how to draw books worth the money?

Personally, I believe how to draw books can only be helpful if you already have a foundation in drawing. How to draw books give you steps in which you assemble shapes and lines into objects, but if you cannot see these shapes within

the objects/forms/animals/etc. by yourself, the whole process is somewhat pointless.

Of course, if you've invested time (and usually some money) into drawing lessons, a how-to book can either be a helpful guide to jump-start you once you're on your own, or may simply be unnecessary. For those short on cash and/or you've aged out of school or are unable to take electives in art, there are many useful online tutorials.