The Secret by Rhonda Byrne – A New Review
Oprah Club Self-Help Book Discusses Law of Attraction
Aug 17, 2009
Though Rhonda Byrne is credited with the book’s authorship, it is actually co-written by a number of spiritual leaders, healers, philosophers, teachers, and authors who preach self-empowerment and a positive outlook – all of whom believe in The Secret. These co-authors include Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul series), Dr. John F. Demartini, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Lisa Nichols, Loral Langmeier, Marcie Shimoff, and Bob Proctor.
And even though the book was published in 2006 and became famous almost instantly through such celebrity promoters as Oprah Winfrey, it still deserves a fresh look today, as the principles taught as The Secret are powerful and will, at the very least, lead to a more empowered life by all who strive to employ them.
What is The Secret?
The book begins by explaining what is meant by its title and the actual power that is called The Secret.
- Bob Proctor says: “The Secret gives you anything you want: happiness, health, and wealth.”
- Dr. John Demartini says: “This is the Great Secret of Life.”
- Michael Bernard Beckwith says: “I’ve seen many miracles take place in people’s lives.”
- Rhonda Byrne, who writes explanations of and expounds upon the co-author’s statements and stories, says: “You not only create your life with your thoughts, but your thoughts add powerfully to the creation of the world. If you thought that you were insignificant and had no power in this world, think again. Your mind is actually shaping the world around you. This is your life, and it’s been waiting for you to discover it! Up until now you may have been thinking that life is hard and a struggle, and so by the law of attraction you will have experienced life as hard and a struggle. There is a truth deep down inside of you that which has been waiting for you to discover it, and that Truth is this: you deserve all good things life has to offer. You are the creator of you, and the law of attraction is your magnificent tool to create whatever you want in your life."
Rhonda Byrnes says: “The Great Secret of Life is the law of attraction.” And that is The Secret.
What The Secret Is Not
Just as important as knowing what The Secret is, is knowing what it is not.
- The Secret is not saying that God, or Spirit, or a Great Creator, does not exist, lest it be misunderstood. Rather, it describes and explains how humans can be co-creators working with God to receive all of the good waiting for them in this plain of existence, by believing and visualising their deepest, fondest wishes already in their hands.
As Rhonda Byrne points out, Albert Einstein’s research proved that time is relative, and so, in another dimension, those things most desired already are in people’s hands.
The Secret, therefore teaches how to focus concentrated mental powers on what is desired, rather than on what is not desired or merely longed for, because wherever the focus is, that is what will come to be.
Practical Applications of The Secret
Rhonda Byrne includes chapters on various day-to-day ways to use The Secret to build a life that includes all things desired.
The chapters include:
- How to Use The Secret;
- The Secret to Money;
- The Secret to Relationships; and
- The Secret to Health.
The book is well-structured, because it is important to first understand The Secret, and then how to apply its power to practical, everyday matters.
This book, though some may not rate it as literature, actually can be classified as such. One of the definitions of “literature,” as listed in New Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language, College Edition, is: “…the literary productions upon a given subject or a particular branch of knowledge…”
Therefore, The Secret, which is very specific in what it is trying to teach readers, can be classified as modern literature. Indeed, Lord Byron was in fact a follower of The Secret’s principles, as was Leonardo da Vinci.
The Secret describes how people can improve their lives on both spiritual and practical levels, starting with how they think about the world and their place in it.
The information is easy to follow, and what could be more important than building a creative, fulfilling life? The Secret is worth finding out, or rediscovering, and then sharing.
Sources:
The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, TS Production LLC, 2006.
New Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language, College Edition, Delaire Publishing Company, Inc., 1975, 1981.
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