The Secret

The Secret, a self help book written on the universal laws that guide and govern our lives, became a national obsession after being showcased on The Oprah Show. The book is based on the premise of universal laws, the most important of which is The Law of Attraction, and the idea that humans have the power to manifest their own destiny through the power of the mind. The main author, Rhonda Byrnes, joined with several contributors to create a synopsis of universal laws and personal stories.

The Law of Attraction is rooted in quantum physics and posits that the universe will match the vibration of a person's thoughts and beliefs. Thus, the person attracts and creates his own reality and has the power to effect change by changing his or her thoughts. These principles are not new, but rather age old philosophies taught by most monotheistic religions, motivational speakers, and even cognitive behavioral therapy (offered by psychologists to treat a variety of diagnoses). The 'secret' is embedded within a more spiritual framework in this book, which may cause many readers to feel religious conflict. Critics also claim that people across the world are born into unfortunate circumstances (consider the children born with AIDS in Africa), and had no part in attracting such atrocities.

While not really a secret, the message is presented in a new, creative way that motivates and fascinates many readers to practice the principles and effect positive change in their lives. However, real change is a long term effort. It is a process rather than an event, and many times it is not exciting. At the very least, the book will inspire interesting conversations at your next cocktail party