The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Retro Review



The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
Self-Help on Audio, 18+ Hours
BUY
The Secret’s 10th Anniversary Edition includes a new foreword by Rhonda Byrne, and 10 of the most life-changing insights she’s had over the last 10 years of practicing and living The Secret every day. The 10 insights alone will accelerate your understanding and mastery of the law of attraction.

I listened to this on audio because my daughter insisted I needed it in my life. I love her so I subjected myself to this for the third or fourth time. It has some good advice but is basically one note and focuses way too much on materialism for my liking.

Be gracious, be thankful for what you have, think good thoughts and change your state of mind when you find yourself dwelling on negative things. That's what I'm taking away from it at any rate. I don't buy into everything it's selling, especially the points that say negative attracts negative and you basically dump life's shit on yourself by thinking bad thoughts. Uh, no. I did not bring my horrid childhood upon myself by thinking negatively. Nope, I was lucky enough to be born into that. No thinking necessary.

Seriously though, this book can't hurt if you take away the good and take action to change things and don't focus or take too seriously the ridiculously bad advice including "don't look at fat people" and other crap that it spews. It never hurts to focus on a better life for yourself and improving your health and surroundings but it does hurt to allow yourself to wallow in a pit of self-pity and negativity. Focusing on getting more "things" isn't my thing (unless the "things" are books!) and isn't all there is to life and this book preaches too much on that. I'd rather visualize good experiences I'd like to have instead and when life leaves a big ol' pile of dung in my path, I won't allow it to drag me down for too long because crap is going to happen.

Also, in order to change your life YOU need to take ACTION (this can't be stressed enough). Thinking all the happy thoughts in the world won't get you out of a craptastic job or relationship and make your debt go away. There's your secret and I gave it to you for free. You are so welcome.

Also, that parking lot magical visualization thing? It works. Every time. But I'm still waiting for some sucker to buy me a free Starbucks overpriced frappe when I summon it ;) Hasn't happened yet.

Comments

  1. Joy Wednesday, January 18, 2017

    My brother swears by this book as well. One of these days, I'm gonna have to see for myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bark At The GhoulsWednesday, January 18, 2017

      I read it with a stink eye. She spouts a lot of nonsense but there are a few take-aways if you ignore the other stuff.

      Delete
  2. Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerWednesday, January 18, 2017

    I have always been curious about this one :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bark At The GhoulsWednesday, January 18, 2017

      You can find it on audio but the actual little hardcover is kind of cute ;)

      Delete
  3. Carole's Random LifeWednesday, January 18, 2017

    I have never been even a little bit tempted to read this book. I do remember when it seemed to be everywhere. Thanks for sharing the secret :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. GregWednesday, January 18, 2017

    Sounds like some great ideas and some not so great ones. I do agree that positivity along with action are a great way to change our circumstances, and yeah realistically bad things are going to happen (or have happened) regardless of how we "think"- so I'm with ya there. And thanks for providing the secret :):)

    Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bark At The GhoulsThursday, January 19, 2017

    It does have a good take-away message underneath it all. It never helps to dwell on the negative.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Linda @ (un)Conventional BookwormsThursday, January 19, 2017

    I think that trying to have a positive outlook as much as possible really helps me, and that's what I took away from this one... I've tried the thing she said about the person who needed glasses, then decided they didn't anymore... And trust me, I really believed I'd be able to see OK. (I still have glasses *grins*)
    However, if I have a hard day, finding the positive that happened helps me stay energized and hopeful, and that is something The Secret helped me do way back when :)
    Great review.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bark At The GhoulsFriday, January 20, 2017

      lol, if I tried that thing without the glasses I'd be a danger to society and would have my drivers license pulled! I am so ridiculously blind without them.

      Delete

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