The Secret

Success depends on talent and hard work.

The idea that things mysteriously arrive on your plate just because you want them to, is the biggest load of twaddle inflicted on vulnerable people. It is true that some people do not know how good they are. It is equally true, listening to auditions for the X factor, that the vast majority of people do not understand their limitations and as a result make a complete arse of themselves.

Following this book is like listening to someone who is tone deaf singing Karoake - it doesn't work. If you have talent and if you work hard, you will succeed. If you believe that the voodoo of the universe will mysteriously make things happen, because you believe it, you are stupider than you look and deserve to do badly.

Yes being optimistic helps, but only if you have grounds for optimism. Yes knowing your talent helps but only if you can find a way to apply it. Simply being alive, will not make you a success.

Save your money and buy a lottery ticket. It will do you more good, because at least you have a chance of winning the lottery.

Nothing I haven't heard before (1/1 people found this helpful)

I don't want to knock the idea of positive thinking as affirmations are a big part of my life in recovery from illness, but the main issue I have with this book is that it's nothing I haven't already heard. I think Louise Hay has covered all of this in her various books and cds.

I also feel there's a lot of encouragement in this book to lead a selfish life where everything has to be perfect and we have to have everything we want. Sometimes life is a lesson, and not getting what we want can teach us so much. Acceptance is also an important part of life, but the author ignores this, and we are being told to ruthlessly go after anything we want and expect to get it.

In my opinion there's just something a bit... wrong about it. I found it a bit of an uncomfortable read.

What a load of old twaddle (2/3 people found this helpful)

So the author is a millionaire on the basis of this book? There are a lot of gullible people out there.

Not only was this book total nonsense (if you wish for something hard enough, you can get it - yeah, right), but the copy I received was incorrectly bound, so after reading up to page 48, suddenly I was on page 81, and then later the pages I had already read, mysteriously turned up again. So the unmitigated rubbish I was reading became even more unintelligible.

This book is going in the bin.

A true disasterpiece and a travesty of literature (3/6 people found this helpful)

This is quite simply the most appalling piece of gutter-trash I have ever had the misfortute to read. Certainly there is something to be said for the power of positive thinking, but The Secret is *wrong*. Whilst reading I can honestly say it made me feel sick and took serious effort to finish the book, by which time I felt somewhat violated. It insults the intelligent mind.

Firstly, if you're going to use a metaphor, make it an accurate one. When it talks about you being a magnet and attracting like to like, any school kid will tell you in magnetics, like forces repel! The writer claims to have taught herself quantum physics and uses aspects of this to justify parts of the book. Again, these comparisons are sketchy at best and certainly have little to do with science.

Adding to the crimes, the writer also claims all the greatest people throughout history have known this, Plato, Shakespeare, etc, and while I'm sure they understood the power of positive thinking I'm sure all of them would have been greatly repulsed by this book. It is marketed in the most despicable way and should only appeal to people who believe everything they read as a matter of course.

Perhaps the most repugnant of all is when the book talks about everything that has happened to you, you have attracted with your thoughts, including the bad things. By this definition all the people who are starving in the world, all the people who have been the victim of crimes, rape, murder, all those living in poverty or those who are sick have bought this upon themselves!

I can't find enough words to articulate clearly just how terrible this book is. For readers who take everything literally and without question it is guilty of brainwashing of the worst order. Not only should you not buy this book (if you feel you must read it then please find someone foolish enough to have done so and borrow it), but you join the campaign to get it banned. For people who aren't intelligent enough to discern what's wrong with it, it is a very dangerous bit of literature!

Looking for something good to read - try this Tricks of the Mind - not only does it explain what's going on in your mind if you do buy into a book like The Secret, it is also a throughly interesting read.

A huge pile of hokum (1/2 people found this helpful)

I would never buy this book, but a well-meaning friend bought it for me as I have been working through some issues recently. Having read it, I can say that it is the modern equivalent of snake oil - it contains lots of pretty words but is essentially a big CON. Dressed up as inspirational stories and advice, the author is essentially peddling wishes and dreams. Rather than wasting your time on this kind of book, I would recommend instead that you find a good book on job hunting, dating, weight loss, confidence or whatever your issues are.

Rhonda Byrne

Reader Reviews:

Why The Secret is Bollocks and Rhonda Byrne writes Rubbish (1/1 people found this helpful)

Nothing I haven't heard before (1/1 people found this helpful)

What a load of old twaddle (2/3 people found this helpful)

A true disasterpiece and a travesty of literature (3/6 people found this helpful)

A huge pile of hokum (1/2 people found this helpful)

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