the secret - rhonda Byrne

Score 24/40

The secret to making money seems to be to write a book that tells people they can have everything they want as long as they wish for it hard enough!

Cognitive Ease= 3    Technical = 1     Story = 3     Enjoyment =  2    Memorable = 5    Ronseal Effect = 1    Talkability = 5    Longivity = 4
What is "The Secret"?
In a nutshell if you think, believe and act as if something is true the universe will give whatever that is to you.  They call it "The Law of Attraction" and it is, to use the technical term - bollocks.  It is a real shame as there are some really useful ideas and techniques here as well

The worst, the truly unforgivable part of the book though is this on Page 27-28.  

If you are in a car accident then it is your fault.  Dr Joe Vitale.  If you were at the wrong place at the wrong time you were attracted to the event by your negative thoughts.  It is your fault." 

But lets start with the positive.  What makes sense....
  • Thinking positive will make you feel better and help you make better decisions.  Our brains literaly work differently when we are happy.  Martin Seligman
  • Concentrating on where you want to go in life is a good thing - Anthony Robbins driving a car analogy.  Golf shots Dr Bob Rotella
  • Being nicer will result in people being nicer back.  We are a social animal and have evolved as a "tit for tat species" Richard Dawkins Selfish Gene.  Power of reciprication
  • Meditation can help you.  Stood the test of time and the good effects of meditation are accepted almost universally.
  • Chewing food longer will help you determine when you are full and eat less.  Yes. 
  • The placebo effect is real....but it is not well understood and doesn't cure everything.  The brain and the body are inter connected

And what doesn't.....
  • The law responds to your thoughts, no matter what they may be.  It gives you what you are thinking about - period!  So don't think bad thoughts are you are done for!
  • Quantum physicists tell us that the entire Universe emerged from thought.  I have read a few books on Quantum Physics and this is the first i've heard of it  
  • You can heal any ailment/disease by laughter and thinking "right".  If someone tells you about their health problems.  Change the subject or walk away.  This is just downright horrible.  Help the sick - Yes so longas they never talk about it!!
  • You can think yourself into whatever body shape you want.  No you can't.
  • There are many shortcuts.  Don't worry about finding them just believe and like a genie The Secret will provide.  Teaching people especially impressionable kids that there are shortcuts to success is dangerous.  See Mindset, Bounce, Authentic Happiness etc, etc. 
  • The Universe does everything with zero effort.  The grass doesn't strain to grow.  Wrong.  It does everything with the least possible effort.  That is very different.  My garden is testament to the fact that grass does strain to grow.  Maybe I should read it The Secret?
How does it work then?
  • The Secret is the law of attraction and it is the most powerful in the Universe
  • Thoughts are magnetic, and thoughts have a frequency which transmit like a TV tower.  They magnetically attract all like things on same frequency and returns to source.
  • ​Like Aladdin's genie it grants our every command
  • You should only say what you want once 
  • No action to make it happen should be undertaken except to take an opportunity 
  • You must then believe you already have it
  • "I am receiving now.  I am receiving all the good in my life now"
  • Start with something small....like a cup of coffee or a parking space!!
​If it happens then the secret works.  If it hasn't happened yet then you are not believing it enough...or you are not feeling it enough...or you are not on the right frequency.  It's your fault!!


What's the book like to read?
  • The paper is made to look like it is parched to give feel of ancient text
  • The symbols of the "experts" really start to annoy after a while 
  • The secret summaries same the same thing 50%
  • Book takes a common sense/obvious truth and merges it with a outlandish idea to make it sound plausible
  • The book begins by saying that Rhonda Byne found The Secret in a 100 year old book and was initially a film as Rhonda is by trade a TV producer?  

It makes some "take your breath away" claims :

The Secret has been used by almost every successful person ever Plato, Shakespeare, Beethoven, Einsten - obviously this is by inference in most/all cases (we are not told). Dr Dens Waitley tells us The Secret was kept in the few as they wanted to keep the power   

Since the film stories of healing, recovering from illness, a deathbed, money, jobs, life partners.  "From a specific feather to 10 million dollars" claim flooding into Rhonda.  (We do not know whether Rhonda looked into the truth of these reports 

Jesus Christ and many other leaders with very wealthy in their time.   

read

• Started - March
• Finished - April 12th

Score

• Not calculated until completion
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