The Secret
by Rhonda Byrne
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.00 You Save: $18.95 (79%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.02 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Secret
Book Review: No secret at all
Summary: 1 Stars
The entire book is about the so-called `law of attraction' - `so-called' because the actual process is one of creation, rather than attraction (the explanation of this is rather obvious, but a bit too long-winded for a review). From beginning to end, this book is comprised of quotes from various cheer leaders, or `Living Masters' as the author calls them. In essence, the book's message is, "Your thoughts are magnetic, and they attract the things you think about - like attracts like - hence, the name, "The Law of Attraction." This message is made to appear newly-discovered by calling it, "The Secret", but the message and all the techniques quoted, have been around in various self-help books and courses for many decades - affirmations, positive thinking, creative visualisation and all the other philosophies of this nature, all preach the exact same message. All the cheer leaders give little pep talks about one getting what one expects, and all one has to do is be happy and love everyone and everything, and the universe will respond by flooding one's life with unlimited riches and goodness. Now, while this may be true, it is not, "The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," because some absolutely critical pieces of information have been left out. The exclusion of this information leaves the reader to fail, and then blame himself - because after all, it is so easy - all one has to do is believe, right? Wrong! It is neither that simple, nor that easy - what applies to a handful of `Living Masters' does not necessarily apply to mankind in general - if it did, we would all already be successful `winners', but obviously that is not the case.
The message sounds exciting because of the great benefit it promises, especially seeing as it quotes a LAW of attraction - conveying the understanding that one cannot fail as long as one follows the simple instructions. This gives the impression that the process has a sort of `paint by numbers' facility. But, what is not mentioned at all, is the great difficulties to be expected when attempting to apply this law. This obstacle is not mentioned because the masses are after a quick fix - an instant, effortless way to success - so, to pander to these masses, the truth is withheld so that they may become excited and carried away by the simplicity, speed and ease of this `newly-discovered', but ancient `secret'. The obstacle to applying the `law of attraction' to change our physical reality, is that old enemy, our own thoughts, generated by our core beliefs - the author reports that we speak to ourselves (mentally) about sixty thousand times per day. Now, our thoughts are extremely difficult to control, even for very short periods of time. The reason for this is very simple - we are surrounded by, and immersed in our everyday, physical reality, while at the same time, we are being bombarded by unwanted, unsolicited, negative thoughts and images from ourselves, our peers, other people in our universe, and from our environment - and these beliefs are deeply ingrained, and a `permanent' part of us - these beliefs are as solid and real to us as a brick wall, and simply knowing some `secret law' does absolutely nothing to the power these beliefs have over us. How is one supposed to keep an extremely weak, new hope alive, while one is being constantly bombarded by one's own beliefs, and while one has to keep shifting one's focus back onto one's day to day problems, which simply keep coming like an unrelenting tidal wave? And, just to pander even more to the masses clamouring for an easy philosophy, a little more dishonesty is thrown in - because, it is first stated that the universe is completely unbiased, and will therefore, give one exactly what one instructs it to (via the message one transmits), then this claim is completely contradicted, by stating that the universe is hundreds of times more biased towards positive requests. Even without this obvious contradiction, common sense, the evidence of one's own eyes and one's own experiences show this claim to be false. Nothing to do with human beings is simple, and a very large part of the reason for this complexity is because no two people are the same, think the same, or react the same to the same stimulus. But, to illustrate a point, let us imagine for the moment, that we have only two kinds of people - those that are one hundred percent positive - the eternal optimists, and those that are one hundred percent negative - the eternal pessimists. Now, let's examine the claim that a positive thought is hundreds of times more powerful than a negative thought:
* For the eternal optimist, this is true, because a positive thought is in tune with his sixty thousand, other, positive, daily thoughts, so it is instantly accepted, and resonates within him.
* For the eternal pessimist, this statement is false, because a positive thought clashes with his sixty thousand other, daily thoughts - it is not believed, therefore it will not even be considered before being summarily rejected.
One can test the practicality of the kind of advice given by the author, by applying this advice to some examples of real world situations:
Readers are advised to start their day by thanking the universe one hundred times for the abundance in their lives. Now, if a negative person is giving himself sixty thousand negative messages per day - exactly how much impact is one hundred "Thank you for the abundant universe," statements going to make, when followed by sixty thousand complaints about how unfair and crappy the universe is?
Another example of this type of advice is where the author tells obese people to "Stop thinking fat thoughts." Such people have been in their obese bodies twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, for years. They feel their feet, ankles, knees and backs aching from the abuse of constant overload. They have to stop at each landing of a flight of stairs to catch their breath. Every time they look in the mirror they see with disgust and despair their reality. Their friends and colleagues constantly comment on their weight. They have tried and suffered through every diet they have ever heard of, and their every waking thought is about the embarrassment of their appearance. And they are advised to stop thinking fat thoughts! Almost every one of their sixty thousand, daily, mental messages is related to their obesity - and they are completely unaware of most of these thoughts, because these thoughts are spontaneous, automatic and occur at an unconscious level. So, exactly how are they going to stop these thoughts? Of course, how to actually do the things the author advises one to do, is not explained. This is like telling a beggar, "The solution to your problem is to become a millionaire."
Now, of course, not all people are one hundred percent positive, or one hundred percent negative, as in our simplified example, but the same principle applies - unsuccessful people, who have been struggling all their lives, enduring circumstances and jobs they despise, are in that situation because they are predominantly negative thinkers, and to change their default attitudes, they need an understanding of how and why things work the way they do. Instead of simply telling people how they should be thinking, why does the author not explain why things work the way they do (in detail - the full mechanics of the process, not the same, old, simplistic, "You attract what you think" story), how our default focus causes our reality, and give practical real world tools to address these problems and make the desired changes, and explain in detail how and why these tools work.
Book Review: Nearly Unbearable Depiction of the Powers of Thought
Summary: 1 Stars
I am a firm believer in the significance of psychology regarding human achievement. My own experience has taught me that often what we focus our mind on we tend to bring about, a concept similar to the notion that repetition brings about skill. The Secret is perhaps the most horrendous depiction of these powers of thought that I have encountered as it focuses on the lowest common denominator, is filled with inconstancies, wreaks of arrogance, and advocates an approach that deems results more worthy than personal responsibility.
LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR
The authors suggest that what you think about is what you attract; a reasonable suggestion on it own. However, they assert that this principle, by means of the "law of attraction" is an absolute, that what you think will always come to you. This line of reasoning would suggest that many noteworthy cult members should presently be riding a comet through the universe (are there any other groups as committed to one way of thinking?). Anyone who has ever successfully paid off debt, by the reasoning given by the law of attraction, would have only amassed more debt rather than having paid it off.
The law of attraction as an absolute cheapens the notion that success also involves numerous attributes. To pay off debt, one often needs the discipline to change their spending habits, not just mere thoughts. To train for a marathon, one must be persistent in preparation. Success typically includes a strong work ethic, dedication, passion, all which stem from thought, yet all of which thought alone will not construct.
The Secret is an attractive message to many because it is the easiest of all the traits to gain. One who otherwise might not have the inner discipline to utilize the other traits mentioned would immediately find the idea of only needing to think properly very attractive. It can be difficult to work hard, it is often demanding to persevere, it can be strenuous to remain dedicated to a goal, but it is not hard to think.
This book caters to those seeking the easy route rather than the best route - which I expect significantly contributed to its sales figures. The Secret says little of action, resulting in a book for dreamers, not doers.
INCONSISTANCIES
The authors all insist on never focusing on the negative. Yet on page 135, they discuss how all diseases are curable by thought, noting that at some point in time, every so called incurable disease has been cured. To work on finding those cures, someone had to have focused on the disease. The irony was clearly lost on the authors as those who focused on curing those diseases, by the law of attraction, should have been expected to acquire the disease since this was their dominating thoughts. The authors suggest that a clear break from focusing on the negative is essential for success; yet preparation without consideration for all possible outcomes is reckless, and only is practical in fantasy.
On page 13, Bob Doyle says, "The law of attraction doesn't care whether you perceive something to be good or bad. It's responding to your thoughts." On page 34, Bob Doyle then says, "You're getting exactly what you are feeling about, not so much what you are thinking about." It would seem one of the key authors cannot make up his mind regarding the importance of thoughts.
On Page 9, Byrne says, "The law responds to your thoughts no matter what they may be." Yet on page 28, Byrne then says, "by the law of attraction, they (those with negative results) had to be on the same frequency as the event, it doesn't necessarily mean they thought of that exact event." Even Byrne cannot seem to make up her mind about what the law means.
ARROGANCE
The authors lump the law of attraction in with in nature's laws to imply it is science and an absolute. Although science is broad, there is a clear consensus among all scientists on the scope of most known laws of nature (those unknown being considered theory, not factual). Unless the authors purport to be scientists themselves (their biographies at the end of the book say otherwise), then speaking as though there is a scientific consensus regarding the law of attraction is nothing more than blatant propaganda intended to impress the naïve.
On page 21, Bob Proctor writes, "If you don't understand the law that doesn't mean you should reject it. You may not understand electricity, and yet you enjoy the benefits of it." This statement implies the veracity of the law of attraction is on the same basis as electricity, which discounts that electricity is actually fully understood by many, easily accessible for study by anyone curious, and verified with both mathematics and testing. The law of attraction offers nothing of the sort. Proctor's lack of ability to explain electricity has no relevance, yet his lack of understanding and background regarding the laws of nature are evident, leaving him with only circumstantial explanations; hardly anything to be equated with the known laws of nature.
On page 9 John Assaraf asserts, "What most people don't understand is that thought has a frequency", which should leave one wondering what in fact John Assaraf understands, considering his bio in the rear of the book describes him as a business coach, not a scientist. If John Assaraf has an understanding of thought based on scientific studies that surpass the world's top scientists, perhaps he would be better served sharing his research, not his condescension.
On page 59, Byrne states that, "Food cannot cause you to put on weight, unless you think it can." Is anyone honestly supposed to take such statements seriously? Is Byrne so confident in her beliefs to take up a challenge of eating 10 pounds of bacon for 30 straight days and not put on weight?
RESULTS OVER PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Secret speaks little of taking action, leaving one with the impression that thought is so all encompassing that one could just sit on their couch and think their way into all their desires. If such reasoning resonates with you, you may want to assess whether your belief system is set up to justify your laziness.
It is human nature to desire instant gratification; yet the law of attraction takes this one step further to suggest not only can you have anything you want, but now you do not need to even do anything beyond thinking to get it. This mindset is not only unproductive, it is down right destructive. One need only look to those with significant credit card debt to discover the danger of focusing only on the means of acquiring material goods - the law of attraction would suggest the means are the only importance, but reality clearly shows that a blind eye to consequences is irresponsible.
On page 105 Byrne suggests, "The only difference between you and them (the wealthy) is that they thought the thoughts to bring the wealth to them." I will not discount the value of proper thinking, however, the notion that any successful endeavor is a result of only thoughts, completely discounting action, risk, ingenuity, among many other attributes, will leave any enthusiast of the law of attraction seriously lacking and completely disillusioned.
The entire book is based upon inconsistent and terribly faulty lines of reasoning, and caters to those seeking an easy answer in lieu of a practical and honest dose of reality. I highly recommend not wasting a moment with this book and adhering to a more sensible approach to success.
Book Review: The "Secret" to Life, Love, Happiness, and Pepperoni Pizza
Summary: 1 Stars
Job was a good man. He was righteous in the eyes of the Lord. Yet, his wife and children died, his wealth disappeared, and hideous boils covered his body, leaving him sitting on a dung heap, left to ponder the meaning of his existence while his three self-righteous friends accuse him of sinfulness, since--of course!--anyone suffering misfortunate must be receiving punishment from God for something he did.Job pleaded with God for an answer. `Why, oh Lord, must I suffer?' God gives Job no answer. God points out the simple truth that He, God, is creator of the world. It is His place, and His alone, to know. It is Job's job (so to speak) to shut up, get on with his life, and keep his faith in the Lord.
If, say, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson were to rewrite the Book of Job, they might substitute God's silent answer with Jack Handey's response to a little kid's question about rain, `why is God crying?': "Because of something you did." Falwell and Robertson, after all, were the guys who blamed 9/11 not on the people who actually flew the planes into the World Trade Center, but on God pulling his providential hand of protection away from America because of the gays, feminists, secularists, and friends.
The response of the American people to these two preachers was a collective `what are they thinking?' Yet, the wisdom of the Book of Job is lost on many, not just fundamentalist preachers. Just look at the latest New Age fad, Rhonda Byrne's New York Times best selling book and Oprah favorite "The Secret."
The Secret consults great thinkers across the fields of psychology, physics, medicine, philosophy, and education to reveal the hidden truth about the greatest force in the Universe. Is this great force gravity? Is it any of the other laws of physics? Is this great force God, for the religiously inclined? No, it is none of these things. The most powerful force in the Universe is YOU!
That's right, you are more powerful than gravity, the speed of light, a Nolan Ryan fastball, a teenage boy's body odor. You are even more powerful than God. There is this mystical thing out there called the Law of Attraction. It says that whatever you are attracted to will be given to you. Let's say I am attracted to--I don't know--Jessica Alba. My attraction will send energy waves out into the universe and bring Jessica Alba to me since nothing is more powerful than the Law of Attraction. Are Jessica and I currently together? You'll have to wait and see; first, there is a book review to finish.
Do you want wealth? Envision yourself being rich, and it will happen. Do you want a nice job? Imagine that cushy desk, fancy computer, and stunning secretary, and it will all be yours. Do you want to improve your golf game? Picture that ball rolling onto the green for a hole-in-one, and you will be the next Tiger Woods.
`Ah,' a detractor might say, `but what about the people who don't get what they want? What about the poor schmucks who get what they don't desire?' The Law of Attraction is still in play, says Rhonda Byrne. Whatever you are envisioning or thinking about will come to you through the Law of Attraction. A person who loses his job may say he doesn't like unemployment, but when he was thinking, `I don't want to lose my job,' his energy field sent out vibes attracting that job loss. You see, the Law of Attraction may be the most powerful force in the Universe, but it has trouble reading certain words in the dictionary. The Law of Attraction does not understand negative words like "no," "don't," "can't," and "won't."
Imagine yourself walking down the street after a nice meal at the local Mexican restaurant. That pretty girl from your high school class (whom you haven't seen in years) randomly walks by. You start a nice conversation, catch up on life, but all of a sudden, the beginnings of Montezuma's Revenge appear. You let out that wet fart. Inside, you say to yourself, `please God! Don't let this one smell.' But the Law of Attraction does not hear "no." The Law of attraction hears `let this one smell.' The pretty girl from high school gets a whiff and quickly needs to leave.
Rhonda Byrne has an interesting theory, but has she ever considered that maybe the Law of Attraction--being the most powerful force in the Universe and all--actually CAN hear the word "no," but people, when they are thinking these negative thoughts, think them in bad English? Maybe that kicker hoping not to miss a field goal is really a Spanish guy who speaks bad English. He thinks, "I no wanna miss no kick today." Or it could be a factory worker thinking in ebonics, "I don't wanna be losin' no job today." Then, the Law of Attraction would correctly interpret the proper intent of their language by giving them what they didn't want but couldn't articulate properly in their minds.
In case you are still wondering, no I am not with Jessica Alba. Maybe I emitted negative feelings, such as "please don't let Jessica Alba and me be apart." Or, maybe this Law of Attraction is just a lark, plainly seen when the book suggests that the victims of the Holocaust, somehow, someway, pulled negative energy towards themselves through some deep seated attraction to the Auschwitz ovens.
There is no "Secret" to happiness, success, and wealth. There are no energy fields out there attracting things to you through the subconscious. Sometimes, like in the story of Job, bad things happen to good people. Unlike what Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Rhonda Byrner believe, not everything that happens to us is our fault. Sometimes we need Robin Williams' bearded psychologist character Sean McGuire to tell us, like he told Will Hunting, "It's not you fault."
In real life, you don't get rich through happy thoughts. You get rich through (mostly) luck and (occasionally) hard work. That pretty girl isn't going to date you if you imagine it in your head. She will date you if you are good looking, smart and funny. If you're not, you better start looking lower in the gene pool if you want a mate. There is no magic formula for happiness. There is no guarantee of contentment. You can't really be anything you want to. Even the holiest people sometimes suffer. Look at Mother Teresa. She felt the absence of God her final 50 years and still went on helping the poor.
People don't need false dreams. They need a dose of reality. Yes, we should work hard, treat others well, and keep our faith in God. But, even doing that, there is no guarantee of happiness, wealth, or love. The only secret formula is to follow the example of Job; be a good God-fearing person and accept that some things are beyond our control.
Book Review: Think and Grow Rich Meets The Power of Positive Thinking in Brief Quotes
Summary: 2 Stars
I am in complete agreement with the idea that our thoughts need to be carefully marshaled and focused on what we want. My comments focus on how Ms. Byrne has expressed that point in this book.
Everyone I know swears by the DVD version of The Secret. I decided to read the book first and then look at the DVD.
In grading this book, I am comparing The Secret to the many books that encourage you to create your own reality through mental focus including books written by those quoted in The Secret.
First, what is the secret? As stated in a quotation by Bob Proctor:
"The Secret is the law of attraction!
Everything that is coming into your life you are attracting . . . by virtue of the images you are holding in your mind."
Second, what causes the law of attraction to work? According to Ms. Byrne on page 11:
"You are the most powerful transmission tower in the Universe. Your transmission creates your life and it creates the world . . . . And you are transmitting that frequency with your thoughts."
Third, what's the evidence that this secret is true? Each of 24 authors tells anecdotes of people who overcame hurdles after envisioning a more positive result. A few claims are made that quantum physics supports this conclusion, and Ms. Byrne confides that she understands a great deal about this subject.
Fourth, why is this a secret? Because Ms. Byrne had never heard of the law of attraction prior to a year or so ago.
Let me make a few observations about the development of this idea in the book:
First, science has shown us that we ignore almost all of the sensory input we receive. Our minds focus on a small percentage of what's considered relevant through something called the reticular activating system. Change what you focus on, and you notice things for the first time that have been there all the time. That's one reason why envisioning what you want works: You notice helpful resources around you that you've been ignoring. That observation, however, has never been tied to any evidence (to my knowledge) that we physically create anything with our minds beyond our own bodies, except by manipulating the physical world in various ways.
Second, religion points to a different phenomenon. Christians, for example, read in the Bible that God has filled those who have been saved by repenting their sins and believing in Jesus with the Holy Spirit which permits good works (including miraculous works) to be done by the desire of the believer. The source isn't the believer's mind, but rather God's spiritual resources which are greater than the physical world. Anyone who read these Biblical texts would say that an individual is far from a powerful source of creating reality: An individual can do nothing to change reality without God, but can do anything good with God's help to change reality.
Third, in Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill reported the results of many years of intensive interviews with the most successful people on Earth of his day. Many of them believed that their thoughts physically changed the exterior world by opening the door to possibilities that otherwise wouldn't have existed. But Mr. Hill presented the idea as expressed opinions, rather than as a proven fact. He also pointed to many other things that these people had done that helped them succeed. Mr. Hill reported that it takes more just focusing on what you want: There are other steps involved such as working with a mastermind group.
Fourth, our own bodies are very strongly affected by our thoughts. Scientific research keeps showing new dimensions of that fact. Think certain thoughts and your immune system is stronger. Think other thoughts and your immune system is weaker. In addition, placebos do heal people who think they are getting real medicine when they are not. Why? Because people are really healing themselves. You can extend that influence by behaving well or badly towards others, causing a mental reaction in them, which in turn creates a change in their body chemistries.
By comparing those earlier works, my sense is that what The Secret really represents is one woman's quick attempt to make sense of this kind of information. In doing so, she seems to have oversimplified and misstated what is known about the role of thought in creating life experiences. I doubt if the intent was deliberate or not well intentioned. But after all, she is a film maker, not a student of thought.
By ignoring the full range and roots of the evidence, Ms. Byrne runs the risk of discouraging some people who feel like they are real losers because they cannot evince a perfectly positive reality. If it were as simple as The Secret suggests, we would have billions of people living trouble-free lives. To my knowledge, even the most successful practitioners of The Secret aren't as wealthy as those the most successful people who don't. That would make an interesting study, and a far more valuable book than this one.
Here's an example of a misleading example. Ms. Byrne argues that food doesn't make you fat; it's what you think about food that makes you fat. The punch line of her story is that "I now maintain my perfect weight of 116 pounds and I can eat whatever I want." Every person I have met who is an authority cited in this book is noticeably overweight. Why don't any of them want a perfect weight and be able eat anything they want?
My point for you: Avoid this book.
I encourage you, however, to think positively and learn about how your thoughts can improve your life!
If you want to learn about how to improve your life through your thoughts, consider reading more reliably based and carefully presented sources. If you prefer a secular book, try Think and Grow Rich or The Success Principles. If you would like a book that half-way between a religious and secular focus, try Your Best Life Now. If you want to draw totally on the Christian or Jewish religious roots, read the Bible.
I'll look at the DVD now and let you know what I think of that.
Book Review: If you need The "Secret," I'm sad to say (not really!) you probably also need Dr. Phil, Government Handouts, & Montel Williams!!
Summary: 1 Stars
P.T. Barnum said: "There's a sucker born every minute!!!!" This is verified in the five-star, sheeple reviews of praise for this excuse of a book. The "Secret" is a barely hidden sc*m which preys upon the most vulnerable. Those that fit that brand include the gullible, naïve, undereducated, wishful-thinking, lazy and feeble-minded.
The "Secret" is harmful because its "advice" is neither sensible nor productive; it actively encourages degenerate values in the adherent/reader. Under "self-help" guise, this "book" misdirects its sheeple-readers not to work for goals but rather wish for them with stubborn fantasy. This is the root of its ills. It hamstrings the reader to actually not help himself, but childishly daydream about wants. Everyone who's attained success knows the root of that is hard work based on education/experience, yet this "book" decries said qualities. The "Secret" over-simplifies the alleged formula for success to such asinine lows that one has to question the author's audacity and the mental stability of the readers/adherents.
The "Secret" is the law of attraction; this concept is misapplied with insanity and insolence. The shockingly idiotic claims are so ludicrous that adherence to them will retard the reader. The overly simplistic basis is that by emitting positive thoughts seeing oneself attaining what one desires, one will end up getting said desires because the "Universe" picks up this frequency, returning it. This asinine imitation of a thesis invites heavy-duty skewering.
-Byrne doubtfully advises to dispel negative thoughts as they'll cause more negativity in a snowballing effect.
This "advice" is cruel because it blames victims for mishaps that are beyond their control! I want the contributors of The "Secret" to tell 911 victims their loved ones were to blame for being on the "wrong" frequency! I want The "Secret's" contributors to tell Iraqis who are getting bombed by Al-Qaeda terrorists they're on the "wrong" frequency!
-Byrne claims pretending to act like one's already received what one wants moves events to obey one's wishes.
This misdirection is particularly noxious because it prods gullible people into delusion and something like schizophrenia (acting like you've already got results when they're not real!). Byrne abuses this "advice" to where she insolently forges a scenario in which she claims to have lost weight using the "Creative Process." This sloganeering consists of ludicrously focusing on eating so one absolutely enjoys food. This will allegedly cause the person to "assimilate" food perfectly, resulting in "perfect" bodies!!!! Realistically, limiting carbohydrates and controlling portion size are the only ways to lose weight and keep it off.
-Byrne purports that expecting things one wants and being grateful for one's present state manifest "good things" to come along.
Assume someone has cancer for which there's no cure. No amount of Byrne-esque expectation is going to cure said terminally ill person despite the expectation that the cancer's going into remission. When someone's cells are devoured by cancer excessively, she dies; no expectation to the contrary's going to reverse that.
Gratitude for something DOESN'T guarantee attracting more "good things." Take the 110th Democratic Congress which was under the hallucination things were going their way after November's elections. Fresh from the euphoria of repossessing control after GOP rule, Democrats assumed they could manhandle Bush, especially on Iraq. What's occurred is successive victory for Bush regarding Iraq and laws relating to domestic surveillance despite the scant, Dem majority. The Democrats' gratitude for their November victory failed to result in prosperity; the opposite occurred with their approval ratings hitting the teens, lowest EVER for Congress.
-Byrne alleges ignoring lack of wealth, pretending one can afford everything, and visualizing checks builds wealth!
This promotes relapse into role-playing, something destructive to anyone who wants to appreciate money, as an appreciation of money comes from hard work, education, financial literacy!!!! Byrne misleads the reader to fictionalize how swell things will be after wealth attainment; this ideology is the surefire way to remain underprivileged. One of the con-men "experts" (Schirmer) impudently advises readers to follow his doubtful path. His clownish "philosophy" was to "visualize" checks in the mail instead of bills! Based on this lame sc*m, Schirmer falsifies that today he gets only a few bills but mostly checks!
-Byrne proselytizes that the reader IS God and the Creator.
Byrne destroys any semblance of believability by her sacrilege. Her ploy is to pep-talk gullible readers into over-confidence. By this sacrilege, she's not only affronting religious people, she's also stretching credibility beyond feasibility. The contradiction is the reader who's desperately lured to this book due to struggles in life is brainwashed into thinking he's in a position of strength...ABSURD in the EXTREME!
The book's presentation is censurable because the brainwashing should've been condensed into one paragraph. Instead, the book repeats the message (think positive to use the law of attraction to your benefit) ad nauseum to where it's simple-minded brainwashing. Byrne's cultivating a cult mentality in readers by repeating the same, hypnotic mantra in all chapters. This also is boring reading.
I'll use The "Secret" against itself to wean suckers off this sc*m. I'm not thinking negative thoughts about The "Secret"--though I should--because they'll just boomerang to me. Instead, I will attract the desired result of getting the gullible readers to burn The "Secret" by wishing on it intently. I'm using the Creative Process to visualize my desired result of getting gullible readers to burn this book. That way, I'm putting myself on the right frequency with the Universe to attract my desired result of "Secret" readers liberating themselves. I'M GOD, the UNIVERSE, the SUPREME MIND, and THE ONE altogether, so it won't be hard for me to achieve.