The Secret (Rhonda Byrne, 2006)

[sandeep]

So we all have lived 'The Secret', in parts and bits, as we have read one or many of the authors that are cited in the book. Or we may just naturally think partly like the book suggests, but to read it in totality, is what makes this book effective...

Its got an audio book version and a dvd as well (yet to see it), but whatever I have read has helped to attract and create new possibilities in my life...

4/5

[theoddball]

This book, and its accompanying film are, to put it politely, pure and utter drivel. The concepts presented in it, especially the ridiculously laughable "Law of Attraction", are precisely the kind of consumerist, self-help hogwash that fans of personal development literature are never too jaded to take at face value. What makes it worse, and at times simply downright intellectually insulting, is the author's and producers' attempt to shore up these ideas by claiming that they are grounded in several disciplines of science, such as quantum physics, medicine, finance and psychology, and they do that by showing you interviews with "professionals" in these respective fields that, on first viewing, seem credible, but on further inspection are clearly edited out of context to fit the production's agenda - in other words, just clever marketing. These acrobatics on part of the producers are also applied to quotes from some important historical figures that the production claims knew of, believed in and practiced "The Secret", such as Churchill, Carnegie, Einstein, Edison, Newton, Plato and others (notice again the focus on scientific figures).

To sum it up, according to one critic's scathing review, the Law of Attraction means that "...if you think really, really hard, say, about vigorously cavorting with Salma Hayek on a soft, fluffy bed of Google Series A preferred stock, you will emit a magnetic signal to the universe that will make your vision a reality."

The best moment in the film, which I watched after reading the book (no, I didn't buy this shit - just borrowed it from a coworker who happens to be a true-believer), and by best here, I mean the one that gave me the most stomach-cramps-inducing bouts of laughter, was the opening sequence which chronicles the "history" of "The Secret". It made The Da Vinci Code look like hard science.

0/5 - Don't even bother.

[sulphurhead]

I was kinda waiting for mad to come and tear this up in his usual style, but odd you beat him to the punch

I actually think the Secret is not drivel - rather the content's basis is not. But they've packaged it into a combo mc'meal.

[X.]

"The Secret" is to books what Scientology is to religion: a fraud.

[madali]

I downloaded the film version for my cousin, and watched a few minutes of it, and it was all I could handle before contemplating murder/suicide.

At work, HR send an email, about how they will be having this on at a certain time, if anyone wants to watch it, and i completely ignored it, so you can understand that I would rather WORK than watch that.

[suresh]

I have been trying to attract a Ferrari ever since I read the book. (Hopefully I will get a Nano)

------------------------------------
You are a physical extension of that which is non-physical.
You are here in this body because you chose to be here.
The basis of your life is freedom; the purpose of your life is joy.
You are a creator; you create with your every thought.
Anything that you can imagine is yours to be or do or have.
You are choosing your creations as you are choosing your thoughts.
The Universe adores you; for it knows your broadest intentions.
Relax into your natural well-being. All is well.
You are a creator of thoughtways on your unique path of joy.
Actions to be taken and money to be exchanged are by-products of your focus on joy.
You may appropriately depart your body without illness or pain.
You can not die; you are everlasting life.
---------------------------------------------------------

[theoddball]

Suresh, that passage you quoted is the kind of stuff that makes want to stab forks into my eyes.

[fizz]

Suresh, that passage you quoted is the kind of stuff that makes want to stab forks into my eyes.

Lol, I read that at work today - and it made the day even more worse.

[ozzylogic]

Self help BS!

[suresh]

I want to go around and do serious damage  to every person who promotes and believes this drivel.