‘The Secret’ is a book that is both loved and hated passionately by those who have read it. And I can certainly understand why.
Nevertheless, when I finished reading the book, I had mixed feelings about it…
On one hand, it is a book full of positivity. For most people (especially those who haven’t read books like Think Rich Grow Rich), the book gives a lot of good vibes and encourages positive thinking and positive habits that you are likely to benefit from for life. You are likely to just ‘feel’ good by reading this book. This is why I partly liked the book and I’m certain this is why the book has a gargantuan fan following; there will be many dreamers who will adore the book simply because it makes them feel good, really GOOD!
On the flip side, it takes positive thinking to ludicrous levels by suggesting that the ‘law of attraction’ is an all-powerful genie that grants every wish you desire just because you wished and believed that your wish would come true. That’s something I am taking with a grain of salt and I’m certain that anybody with a fair scientific temperament will too.
The Secret somehow seems to mock modern medicine hinting that faith alone will cure any disease in the world. Medicine of course has several examples where absolute faith with positive thinking has lead to the body healing itself but disregarding medicine altogether is foolhardy especially when not backed with researched scientific evidence. A few outliers do not mean it is a complete alternative to modern medicine.
Other things I can’t relate to are the liberal use of references to quantum physics (I couldn’t find any supporting evidence for many of the claims) and claims that people can sit and think about getting rich and become millionaires, without any real physical effort whatsoever because their positive brain waves can tune in to the right universal frequency and give them what they want (Duh!).
Wise people will say that God (for those who believe in God) or the Universe (for those who are just spiritual) helps those who help themselves; if you put in consistently good effort and if you are driven far more than most people, eventually the dice will turn in your favour. Good luck to those who want to sit in a chair dream up a body like that of Chris Hemsworth and believe it will come on its own, or believe with all their heart that they will become millionaires by only sitting on a chair with a fake million dollar bill stuck on the ceiling. If you happen to be one person who actually attains one by actually just thinking and believing, I’d love to hear about it. Why bother sweating for months in a gym or working your ass off grooming a business if there are easier ways to get what you want?
Despite these shortcomings, I will still rate the book a 3/5 because
1. The audiobook (which I listened t0) is extremely well made and without a doubt is soothing to the senses and is full of positive vibes.
2. There are still some valuable takeaways one can get from the book. (I’m certain that feeling gratitude for everything will vastly improve one’s quality of life and I know people who used vision boards effectively to stay focussed on their goals -I’m going to get one myself)
3. If you take out the elements of ‘mysticism’ from the book, a lot of what is said makes good sense. Example, if you think negative bitter feelings, you will attract more of it (take it from personal experience) and if you stay positive you will attract more of it (think of it this way: most people like being around a positive person because they make you feel better and stay away from negative ones because their negativity is contagious).
Feel intrigued enough to read the book? Go ahead, you might just like it But don’t suspend your good old common sense while reading and you might still actually gain something useful from this very popular book.
Six Strings For Supper 