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Book Review: The Secret by Rhonda Bryne
A couple of months ago, I watched the movie, The Secret. I was so intrigued by the ideas presented by the movie, that I looked for the book. I purchased the book and the gratitude book as well. The gratitude book is basically a journal that encourages you to start thinking positively and sending out positive vibes to the universe.
From the dust jacket cover:
Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all th epieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it.
In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life-- money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life.
The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers -men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.
This book has a lot of good advice in it. There are quotes from people whose names you will recognize. Successful people. Jack Canfield. Dr. John Gray. Henry Ford. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Alexander Graham Bell. Albert Einstein. Buddha. The New Testament.
It is true that if we focus on the positive of life that life is better to live. It is also true that if we are thankful for what we already have, that we feel more positive in general. If we focus on what we are thankful for, it is hard to sit around being negative and wishing for things we don't have. A positive outlook goes a long way in this life.
This book presents that if we just believe that we already have things, that the universe will provide. There is mention of God in this book, but mostly it seems to portray that the 'universe' is what is giving us what we need. I have a problem with that.
I also have a problem with the idea of asking for things. The book presents that we make a list of what we want (a big house, a new car, a better relationship). Then we start thanking 'the universe' for these things. Basically we say...thank you for the new house I have. It is beautiful. It is roomy. Etc. Believe it and people state in this book that their continuous belief has ended up bringing the thing into their lives that they are pretending like they already have.
First, this promotion of 'getting things' bothers me a bit. We live in a material time where we all have way more stuff than we need. Where we are egged on by commercials, magazines, television show, movies to want more than we need. This book seems to encourage materialism (though it does also address things like better health and better relationships).
The other thing that bothers me about this book is memories of a story that intrigued me as a child. The Monkey's Paw. In the Monkey's Paw, the old man and his wife make wishes on this bewitched withered monkey's paw. But their wishes come at a terrible price. They ask for a bunch of money and viola, it shows up at the door along with apologies from their son's employer who state he has died a horrible death in a factory machine and this is compensation for his death. When I start sitting around and thinking thinks like, I have an abundance of money or I love my new big house...my rational mind shouts out that the only way these things are going to happen is if someone dies and leaves me a lot of money. And since I prefer to have my husband and parents around, I shy away from wishing or pretending that I have such things.
Maybe I am too rational. If so, that would explain why so many have trouble making the universe give them the things that they want and deserve. We want to believe it, but deep down, it just seems to fantastical or too likely to really bring us sadness and that is what the 'universe' is responding too. The book says there is plenty in the universe for us all to use the Secret and for no one to want. It stresses that the more we say negative things like...I'll never have the money to pay all the bills or I'll never find the perfect mate that the universe hears this and provides us with exactly what we are saying.
Sounds a little far fetched doesn't it? But then the amazing story that Jack Canfield shares does make one wonder.
So, take some time, read the book and see what you think. I think the overall message of having a positive outlook is a good one and I believe that if you get nothing else out of the book besides that message and how to work on having that positive and thankful outlook, it will be money well spent on the book. Will I receive the things I have been saying I am grateful for? Only time will tell.
I am SO glad someone I know (with honesty) read this book. It's been on my "wish list" for a while now.
I too, like the idea of "I think I can, I think I can". But yeah, this does seem very materialistic.
You saved me money & time reading it! Thank you!!!!!
September 5, 2008 9:06 PMThe Secret is the latest and by far the worst example of a HIGHLY profitable trend where self-help gurus with fabricated new age titles and little relevant education, credentials or legitimate expertise brainwash us into believing that they know what is best for us, our marriages and our families.
Often their only contribution to society is introducing some exotic sounding, new age philosophy. However, they often cleverly form an incestuous group of like-minded “experts” who cross-promote each other by swearing their success is due to following the beliefs of another member of their “cult!” All the while, they ply the airwaves jockeying for an ever-larger audience by appearing in the national media to garner third-party endorsements.
The Self-Help Movement has become the Self-Destruct Movement by diminishing or destroying our critical thinking skills to choose and evolve on our own. We have given up the freedom to build healthy lives, marriages and families based on our unique history and life experience. Instead many victims, blinded to the value of their own life experiences, are attracted to the latest secret in self-help, in an attempt to find out what they should think, feel and how they should act... this is the definition of a cult.
The solution is a return to our (common) senses! The best way out of this learned “self-helplessness” is to go cold turkey. Stop following ALL self-help gurus now. Begin, instead, to reclaim your natural, God-given ability to think for yourself. The common sense that was once readily available to all of us is still there free of charge and waiting to be applied to just about any challenge we might face in life… all you have to do is use it.
Please, let's all work together to stop the flock of "sheepeople" who blindly move from one UNPROVEN concept to the next, looking for the answers to life's challenges that you already possess and that is the OBVIOUS!
September 6, 2008 7:54 AM:0) I've given you an award...go check it out.
http://knowledgehouseacademy.blogspot.com/2008/09/bloggy-awards.html
Also, how do I get my own domain? (is it free?)
