The Secret

Non-fiction. This is a self-help book - it's about "The Secret", which is the notion that thinking about what you want will get you what you want. That's it at its core. Obviously, it fleshes this notion out, telling you how to think about what you want in life (and how not to do it). It's basically divided into the different areas of life that you might want to use the "Secret" (eg. health,...more

Non-fiction. This is a self-help book - it's about "The Secret", which is the notion that thinking about what you want will get you what you want. That's it at its core. Obviously, it fleshes this notion out, telling you how to think about what you want in life (and how not to do it). It's basically divided into the different areas of life that you might want to use the "Secret" (eg. health, relationships, etc.). The entire book is written like so: the author credited for this book (Rhonda Byrne) has her paragraphs explaining the "Secret", and those paragraphs are interspersed with comments from contributors from different fields of work or expertise, or you know, whatever (there's Jack Canfield from the Chicken Soup books, and there are some doctors, and one person with a Ph.D.), all of them believers in the "Secret". There are also quotes from dead people or their works, I don't know. At the end there are biographies for these contributors (living and otherwise). As for the dead people quotes, well they are used to show us that these people believed in some kind of theory similar to the "Secret" capital S. I say "show" us and I mean it is presented a certain way. So unfortunately we wonder if the author who arranged this book is being a bit presumptuous or has taken things out of context. Normally it would be fine, because we'd just read the entire source the author quoted from to find out if anything WAS taken out of context. But we don't know where the hell she's quoting from! There's no bibliography! This is important because on the back of my book it claims that this is a secret that has been passed down for centuries and that many prominent historical people believed in it. They are named on the back as well. Unfortunately, except for the foreword of the book, there is no further analysis or description, if you will, of this. In the foreword, this is how the author says she came across the "Secret": by looking through historical works and discovering mentions everywhere of this "Secret". She turns her life around with it and finds a group of people, modern day believers in the Secret, and publishes a book and makes a video about the secret. That's what the author says in the Foreword. After all she had to come across it somewhere, surely she didn't just make it up and then find other people who happened to believe in this rather general theory as well - then "quote" historical people/works once or twice to show that this is indeed an ancient secret - without bothering to publish a bibliography showing us where we can find these works she came across! Assuming the dead people quotes in her book are those same sources she talks about in the foreword. So we wonder if she either A) came up with it on her own, which she says she didn't or B) she took liberties with the interpretation of several historical works or C) thought a bibliography wasn't needed. B sure seems a strong contender. The impression we're left with is that she didn't find a specific history of a specific secret being passed down in gritty detail, but rather she read a bunch of historical works and found generic mentions of believing in what you want in order to get it - then advertising it as if the dead people who wrote or said these things (SUPPOSEDLY) all belonged to some sort of historical secret club. We're left with the impression that these mentions she supposedly found are just that - general quotes from various people on life that happen to sound similar. It is advertised as if this is a specific Secret with a capital S. Of course this is to be expected but I think it detracts from the credibility of this whole work. There are also strange metaphysical claims that are made in this book with seemingly nothing to back them up. Nothing seems to be backed up. This is a non-fiction self-help book, that's not good. Of course, since this IS a book about faith, I guess we're supposed to take the book's word for everything it says. Well, if anything, it's extremely easy to read, if repetitive. It's mildly interesting to read all the various aspects of this complicated "Secret". This short little giftstore "self-help" book is okay to read the same way that books of quotes or thoughts on life are okay to read - for mild enlightenment, not serious self-help. Because as I've said a million times (I know, repetition - again), this doesn't come across as a serious self-help book. It should be. As for whether the secret works - which I'm sure most people would truly judge this book on - who knows? I got too distracted by all the ways this book has no credibility to actually care about using any of the stuff described. I don't care about whether or not the secret is real and works. That's how much credibility this book has, and how much influence it's had on me. At the end of the day, that's how a self-help book should be judged. Credibility. Because if it's got no credibility, who cares about trying it to see whether it works or not? Bottom line: this book was arranged inappropriately for a self-help book, making it lose its credibility, making anything it has to say null on a serious level. But on an entertainment level, it provides mild enlightenment the same way a book of quotes does. Because that's what this book seems like! Quotes with no bibliography. Bottom line #2: Read this book for the mild enlightenment/entertainment value.   hide

Very uplifting and inspirational in it's presentation and packaging, but this information is nothing new. The idea of using visualization, affirmations, good attitude, etc. to transform your life is a very old idea and a most popular strategy in many self-help books. None the less, I still enjoy revisiting these ideas and they have already impacted on my current life and outlook. I see...more

Very uplifting and inspirational in it's presentation and packaging, but this information is nothing new. The idea of using visualization, affirmations, good attitude, etc. to transform your life is a very old idea and a most popular strategy in many self-help books. None the less, I still enjoy revisiting these ideas and they have already impacted on my current life and outlook. I see the idea (or secret) as it was presented very useful on two levels. If you change your outlook to one of optimism and certainty, you will begin to see and act on opportunities (connected to your goals) that are all around you. People will also begin to respond to you in a more favorable mode as well. Some of the latest mind/brain research shows that much (or most) of the actions we take are below our conscious level (within our unconscious brain.) So through visualization and believing something we want already exists we set the direction of our unconscious mind. That mind then begins to take action (effortlessly) to bring reality into existence. What is not provable (or is a conjecture) in the book is the idea that the universe is personal and your thoughts are the key ingredient that affects (or attracts the changes in your life.) There is a bit of talk about quantum physics in the book and if you subscribe to the mulit-verse model of the quantum universe (our realities are forever splitting into alternate universes) then perhaps our consciousness flows to universes that favor the outcomes we believe are real. I took this book in via audio as I took my morning walks you might consider this mode.   hide

It's like the book the "Lost Mode of Prayer" I followed this book and the Secret, and a host of teachings {that are not in this book} but if there secrets are learned will make things happen. This book skips them and just tells us how ...to do It., to make things happen. Not a joke here, this has to do with what our world actually does, but just show a person what to do to pray for...more

It's like the book the "Lost Mode of Prayer" I followed this book and the Secret, and a host of teachings {that are not in this book} but if there secrets are learned will make things happen. This book skips them and just tells us how ...to do It., to make things happen. Not a joke here, this has to do with what our world actually does, but just show a person what to do to pray for and get it. And an actual miraculous thing happened to me with what I was doing two weeks after I started. . While following this book. Get both books, these are not a joke or another self help book that you read and never learn a thing. This is Quantum Physics, The Dead Sea Prayer teaching, Kabala, Wicca, God and all the things the world has been saying in books that are hard to follow. None of that is mention in this book. You would never get the connection if you had not read up on these separate subjects. This tells you simply how the world works and how what we call prayer really works. Easy, Simple yes, but know one was more surprised than I when it worked. IT is an open secret that we have all missed and all the ancients have been trying to explain to us? Study each one of these other disciplines I mentions and they say the same thing but in hard to understand, hard to practice ways. The secret skips the crap and gets to the heart of all the teachings of the world to tell you how to do it. Wow Linda   hide

Well, the book and the secret is more of a collection of many other concepts and ideoligies with little explanation and little depth in any of them. I have known "The Secret" for a long time before reading this book and while I do believe every bit in how powerful our thoughts are, I also know there is more to it than this. First, the whole thought aspect, is true to everyone for state of mind...more

Well, the book and the secret is more of a collection of many other concepts and ideoligies with little explanation and little depth in any of them. I have known "The Secret" for a long time before reading this book and while I do believe every bit in how powerful our thoughts are, I also know there is more to it than this. First, the whole thought aspect, is true to everyone for state of mind and what that does in a person's life. Yes, it affects MANY things. However, there are a few more things in this Universe involved than each individual's thoughts, such as: 1. Taking action, practise and work to get what you are thinking about. The whole point of thinking and focusing and attracting what you want, takes some amount of work, its not just thinking. Get real. The thoughts will lead to action, the action leads to results. And its the results that count. 2. Others play in this universe so each individual's thoughts are not the only thing affecting what is attracted like Byrne clearly accuses people of in the book. Circumstances are not just an accumulation of thoughts of many, its a dynamic social world, not just thoughts. Sorry Byrne, little too simplified there. Anyway, if this is all new to you, its a great read and worth thinking about, because it can help you improve your outlook in life. It takes practise and work though, in addition to your thoughts to guide you. The content of the book is good with only a few debatable areas to me and I'd certainly recommend that you read more on the scientific aspects of state of mind (thoughts) and what that does to the body and mind. Its huge!   hide

Law of Attraction” taught in The Secret is not an eye-popping lesson. Joel Osteen’s Your Best Life Now says it; Jack Canfield’s The Success Principle says it; and the Bible says it: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (Mathew 21:22).” “The It is something that we all have heard of or have sensed somewhat throughout our lives. That is also the...more

Law of Attraction” taught in The Secret is not an eye-popping lesson. Joel Osteen’s Your Best Life Now says it; Jack Canfield’s The Success Principle says it; and the Bible says it: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (Mathew 21:22).” “The It is something that we all have heard of or have sensed somewhat throughout our lives. That is also the reason the book has touched millions of people all around the world and transformed regular folks like me into believers of something that our common sense denies. I am not an exception. I also had turned into an ardent believer of the law of attraction. The teachings of the law of attraction are simple: “Our thoughts become things.” Our thoughts determine the frequency sent to the Universe, but in order to know what we are thinking, we should pay attention to our feelings. If we want to attract more good things to us, we have to be on the frequency of drawing more good things. So how does it work? The Universe has a catalogue, and all we need to do is just follow the three steps of “Ask,” “Believe” and “Receive.” The Universe is like the lamp in Aladdin. The Genie always says: “Your wish is my command!” After reading the book, I wanted to test it. Here are few of the goals for myself and people around me: First, I wish to have perfect eyesight by the end of this year. So I pulled off my glasses and try to send out positive frequency to the Universe. Second, my dad just opened a new SOHO branch in Chungmuro. By October 10, 2008, 80 percent of the rooms will be occupied. My family threw him a pre-celebration party for his success last week and made a calendar for him to check the daily occupancy rate. Third, my boyfriend who is studying to get into GSIT is visualizing going to GSIT everyday. I also made him a name card with his name and the school logo on it. He is carrying it around. Just thinking about all those things coming true, I get extremely happy. The earliest gift will be delivered on October 10, 2008, the second one on mid November, and the last one at the end of this year. If others have experienced it already, why not me? I myself is one of the most optimistic person and feeling happy is my specialty to begin with. The world I live in is truly a magical place, and I wish others could experience what I am feeling today. I recommend this book to those who wish to receive all the wonderful gifts lined up for you. Follow the simple step: ask, believe, and receive.   hide

كتاب اثار ضجه اكثر من مايستحق اعتقد ان الغرب بعد ان اضاع طريقه الى الله اراد ان يعود الى الدرب ولكن بصوره ملتويه لذا فكاتبت هذا الكتاب وهى مثال حى للغرب القلق ارادت ان تبوح بالسر ولكن خافت ان تعترف بان هذا السر ماهو الا...more

كتاب اثار ضجه اكثر من مايستحق اعتقد ان الغرب بعد ان اضاع طريقه الى الله اراد ان يعود الى الدرب ولكن بصوره ملتويه لذا فكاتبت هذا الكتاب وهى مثال حى للغرب القلق ارادت ان تبوح بالسر ولكن خافت ان تعترف بان هذا السر ماهو الا مشيئه الله عز وجل فسمته مره قانون جذب وسمته مره قوه الكون الذى سوف يحقق لك احلامك اذا انت فقط امنت بذلك ولكن فى الواقع رغم كل هذا المفالات والاحاديث التى جمعتها الكاتبه بصوره براقه الا ان الفحوى مع اعتزارى لمن اعجبو بهذا الكتاب فانه مجرد هراء انا فيزيائيه يمكننى ان اصدق واثبت وجود كثير من القوى الخفيه دون ان اشك لحظه فى عدم وجودها لكن لا يمكن ان اصدق ان افكارى سوف تبعث بترددات مغنطيسيه لتجدب من الكون الاشياء المشابهه لها هذا مجرد هراء الكاتبه تقول ان كل شئ يتحقق فى ثلاث خطوات Askاسأل believe أؤمن receive استقبل انا فى رايى ان الاحلام تتحقق بثلاث اسعى اجتهد ثم ادعو الله التوفيق   hide

I start using The Secret unconsciously when I was at 10th grade. I was still in school, and it was a cold winter. Everyone was upset that he will catch a cold later on at a point. There will be a fever, a headache... I decided that I will not catch a flue ever!! I kept telling myself “There is no such a disease called Flue and I will never catch a cold!!” This may sound crazy…...more

I start using The Secret unconsciously when I was at 10th grade. I was still in school, and it was a cold winter. Everyone was upset that he will catch a cold later on at a point. There will be a fever, a headache... I decided that I will not catch a flue ever!! I kept telling myself “There is no such a disease called Flue and I will never catch a cold!!” This may sound crazy… But it worked!! And it’s still working!! I have never catch a cold since I was in my 10th grade!! Whenever I met a person with flue I hug him and laugh saying “No worries!! I’m immune against flue!! Come and give me a kiss!!” It was always working for me in every aspect of my life, good sides and bad ones, and I was always thinking that it is my own personal hallucinations!! It is only freak weird coincidences. But it was always working. After reading “The Secret” I was astonished and amazed in the same time!! Gosh!! It happens with other people and there is a book about it!! It says my own words!!So I haven’t been insane all that time!! It’s not my own personal hallucinations!! Yes, I believe in the law of attraction. I believe in the power of our own thoughts. Yes, I attracted this book to me in the same time when I was searching for answers, and part of it came to me in this book. Jesus Christ himself knew The Secret. Check your bible, “If you have a believe in the size of a seed, you shall move mountains”. Check it again. Did he mention anything about in what you should believe? Called it whatever you want, but he was talking about the power of thoughts. To the non-believers (in your own thought’s power) I say, read the book, do what it says and don’t believe. It will give you happiness and joy in your life, and this by itself is a goal. Eventually you will join the other side and spread the word and convert others to believers as well, because it is merely a matter of time and a self-consciousness to your thought, just to realize that is it a simple nature rule in the universe just like all the others rules as gravity,death and life itself. Quoting from a very special person in my life “welcome everything comes to u .coz simply it came to U...!”, may I simply add, “Because you attract it to you” my dear. May the power of your thoughts bring you happiness, wealth, health, and all that you wish for :)   hide

I have not read this book but have seen part of the DVD and laughed through much of it. While the concept of using positivism to help achieve what you dream for is nothing new, the underlying theory that there is a "Universal Law of Attraction" being touted as a physical scientific law is a complete and utter joke. Second to that, it appears that this book has in all probability been plagiarised...more

I have not read this book but have seen part of the DVD and laughed through much of it. While the concept of using positivism to help achieve what you dream for is nothing new, the underlying theory that there is a "Universal Law of Attraction" being touted as a physical scientific law is a complete and utter joke. Second to that, it appears that this book has in all probability been plagiarised in part from a previously published book(s), however this has not yet been tested in court. The book is simply a success because of very well thought out marketing, many books have been published with the very same message. The final testament to what this book advises will be a look at the degrees of "success" achieved by the people who read it and believe with conviction what it preaches. No better measure of its "truth" than that will tell whether it is true or not. I know which one I'll be betting on. Get real people and get sceptical, the Law of Attraction is NOT a law of physics or any other kind....it is simple psychology! To think you can simply THINK of something enough and it will JUST APPEAR without employing any inbuilt talents or learned skills and without any real work effort is being completely irrational and ridiculous! You're all deluded and minus 30 bucks to boot if you buy this....if you don't have the skills or learnt ability, you ain't gunna get diddly squat from this book. It is simply great business marketing and preying on peoples hopes and material desires...THAT'S IT!! If everyone who read this book believed in it 100%, who'd supply all the money to fund their successes?? It doesn't grow on tress and thinking about it ain't gunna print it nor build the Porsches you wanna drive DUH!   hide

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne has sold 6 million copies and also has been made into a dvd and film. The book is published by Simon and Schuster and its ISBN is 18473770292. It is a new age self help book that claims all you want is yours to have if you simply have positive thoughts. Its theme is self fullfillment and all negative things come from ones negative thoughts. I like the concept of postive...more

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne has sold 6 million copies and also has been made into a dvd and film. The book is published by Simon and Schuster and its ISBN is 18473770292. It is a new age self help book that claims all you want is yours to have if you simply have positive thoughts. Its theme is self fullfillment and all negative things come from ones negative thoughts. I like the concept of postive thinking and self belief but the idea that world wars, diseases and poverty are ones own fault from negative thoughts is silly.Her theory is your thoughts are the primary cause of everything. If you have the rights thoughts, feelings you can cure yourself, make yourself thinner, richer and happier. ....I wish. She writes "You are God in a physical body". " You are master of the universe. You are heir to the kingdom. You are the perfection of life and now you know The Secret". Put simply it is the laws of attraction and your thoughts determine your destiny. Although I believe in the virtue of self believe, postive thinking, creative visualisation and mediating I feel the author goes too far with her promises. I hope nobody believes they can think themselves free of cancer. It was an interesting read. Reviewed by Annette Dunlea author of Always and Forever and The Honey Trap.   hide