Book Review : The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

BOOK REVIEW

Introduction

1. Title : The Secret 

2. Author : Rhonda Byrne

3. Publisher : Atria Books, New York

4. Genre : Nonfiction, self help book

5. Reason of choice : It's a book which had the most profound influence on my life and changed my outlook and made me more optimistic.

I first heard about the book in an interview of my favourite actor, where he mentioned it as the book which gave him clarity in life. That sparked my curiosity and I set out to search high and low for the book. Along with that, the title of the book and the cover design were both intriguing enough to get me to pick it up from the bookstore shelf.

Review

Self - help books have turned out to be the new big thing in the book market. They have become quite a rage owing to the advice and assistant they offer;  which is much needed in today's hyper - accelerated, over - stressed up world. Tons of such books are to be found in the market, but few can claim to be a revolutionary success like "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. 

"The Secret"  is a New Thought book which focuses on the "Law of Attraction" and suggests simple tips and tricks to engage the Law in practical life. Even though it carries along a fair share of criticism, the 2006-released book is getting increasingly famous with each passing day and is one among the  hot favourites of the masses.

The author of the book, Rhonda Byrne is an Australian who was initially into television production and later turned into  a bestselling author and a spiritual entrepreneur. The book is said to be an outcome of the life lessons she had learnt during a traumatic phrase of her life. 

The book is contains inputs by 24 other people besides the author, who have all shared their opinions and experiences and about the Law of Attraction. Given how each carry their own strong sense of individuality, it is astounding that they all speak as one voice. There is no hint of any disparity or conflicting views in the book.

Simply put, the book elaborates on the fundamental principle that our thoughts have a profound impact on our lives as we tend to attract what we always focus on or  think about.

Within its 200 pages, the book gives a number of detailed  techniques and methods (along with real life examples and experiences) to implement the Law of Attraction in our daily lives in order to bring about positive changes and live the life of our dreams. 

What makes the  book appealing is it's clarity and simplicity. There is neither any ornamental language nor any ostensible content. Every word in the book seeps down directly into the heart of the reader and it is possible for the reader to develop a deep connection with the book and be able to relate with its contents.

Due credit has to be given to the designers of the book. The book cover, illustrations on the pages and the placement of content in the pages are all done in such a brilliant manner that they elevate the book to another level and add their own bit of philosophical touch to the book. 

"The Secret", which was first released as a standalone book, has now grown to be  "The Secret" series, with "The Power", "The Magic", "The Hero" and "How The Secret changed my Life" being the succeeding books in that order. The evolution of a single book into a series testifies the widespread influence and popularity of the book.  Furthermore, it has been translated into more than 30 languages and is read and celebrated all around the globe.

"The Secret" can act as a spiritual gateway to people who are willing to embark on a life discovering journey and help them in tapping into their own innate power. It can also probably make people dig deep into their own roots. This is because the book clearly states that it has been inspired and drawn from the teachings of many ancient religions and cultures.

Criticism

The book has been criticised by sceptics who doubt the truth and functionality of the Law of Attraction and call it out for being unrealistic and impractical.  It is also rejected or harshly judged by people with a scientific bent of mind, as they demand the logical / scientific proof of the Law of Attraction. While such criticism is valid, it is upto people to have a deeper and subtle understanding of the concepts and draw the line between being a fanciful dreamer and being an optimistic person.

Conclusion

To sum up, "The Secret" is surely a book which is highly recommended for everyone. It's for people of all ages and from all walks of life. A book which is bound to open a whole new world of light and hope to everyone who reads and absorbs it; there's no wonder that even with a strong backlash, the book continues to shine forth and illuminate the lives of people all around the world.