Book Description

Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it.

In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life -- money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life.

The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers -- men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.

So what is The Secret? - Simply it is the Law of Attraction: "The law of attraction is a law of nature. It is impersonal and it does not see good things or bad things. It is receiving your thoughts and reflecting back to you those thoughts as your life experience. The law of attraction simply gives you whatever it is you are thinking about." - From the book

Criticisms:
(a)I personally thought the DVD was better. The author of this book has been criticised for adding her own thoughts on The Secret that some people have found to be not in keeping with the original spirit of the DVD (ie: shallow, prejudicial and lacking in compassion).However, I did enjoy the book overall as it served as a handy reminder of much of the ideas shared in the movie.
(b)I have found the promotion of the monetary wealth side of the Law of Attraction used in The Secret to be quite distasteful. The website is of the "Get rich quick and receive a free set of steak knives" variety http://www.thesecret.com.au/ Why is anything involving money always marketed in such a crass way?

Latest News February 2007 for the distribution of The Secret DVD

"A self-help film made in Melbourne and initially rejected by the network that funded it has proved to be a massive success," writes Jacinta Le Plastrier Aboukhater.
"It's another of those quirky self-help marketing phenomena.
It begins as a quiet word-of-mouth idea, gets spread further, globally, via email and the internet, and then gains a momentum of its own. Think The Alchemist or The Celestine Prophecy. There's obviously a big market out there for works about the meaning of life.
The latest entry in the field is a Melbourne-made film and accompanying book called The Secret. Along with the many thousands of official copies in circulation, there are a plethora of dodgy copies doing the rounds as word-of-mouth spreads.
Its makers say the film has earnt multi-million dollar profits, always a feat for an Australian film, but especially the case when they have sidestepped mainstream cinematic or television release.
Figures about sales of anything on the internet are notoriously difficult to qualify but according to the makers, DVD sales of The Secret now sit at more than 600,000 globally,
Melbourne-born creator Rhonda Byrne, 55, has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show February 2007,
Having re-located to Los Angeles in preparation for the production of The Secret 2, which this time will be made with Hollywood backing. Channel Nine, which partially funded the film but initially decided against screening it, broadcast it Saturday 10th February 2007.
Nine's reluctance to air the film last year ironically appears to have contributed to its success. It forced Byrne, a former television producer and her Melbourne-based Prime Time production house, to consider selling directly online.
The 91-minute film represents a shift in direction for Byrne, her producing career dating back to segments on the Don Lane Show, and including more recently What's Cooking (Nine), The World's Greatest Commercials (Seven) and Sensing Murder (Ten).
A life crisis, accompanied by the death of her father and workdriven exhaustion, inspired the producer to make The Secret after she was given a 100-yearold book by her daughter Hayley.
She then approached dozens of thinkers and teachers with similar philosophies. Made for about $3 million, it began as a project for Nine, who commissioned and substantially financed its production in 2005 and 2006."

BookRing Instructions:
1. Join this BookRing by sending me a PM - this Ring is still OPEN!
2. When you receive the book, please make a journal entry so everyone knows it has safely arrived.
3. When you finish the book, make another journal entry telling us what you thought - did you like it? Did you think it was well-written? Or was it not to your tastes?
4. Continue the BookRing by checking this journal entry for the latest list, and sending a PM to the person after you on the list requesting their postal address.
5. If you are last on the ring PM me back for my address.
6. Happy Reading!

**Since I also have a copy of the DVD I am going to include it in the bookring too. By no means are you obligated to watch it but if you do please feel free to add what you thought of it in your journal entry. Please pass on the DVD with the book to the next bookcrosser in the ring.

Order of Participants
Senna1
magicjessnrach
BellaMack
astro2480
ShilpaM
freelunch

**Book and DVD made it home safe and sound :)

Received today - thank you so much! CANNOT wait to read it/watch it! Uni started this week but this book has priority - it could help me with uni! Thank you again.

WOW!! Okay, go with me on this. About a month ago, I caught the end of The Secret on TV late at night. I became OBSESSED with seeing the whole thing. I checked out the website, Ebay etc. but it was just too expensive to buy. But I knew I HAD TO HAVE IT! Then I'm reading the BCAUS digest which I don't always do and Bodhi has offered the book. I think to myself, "Great! Close enough!" But then I receive the DVD with the book! Lucky? You could think that, UNLESS you have read/seen The Secret!
I thought both the book and DVD (which are almost identical) were FANTASTIC! They could honestly change your life. You just have to accept the principles, don't question, don't doubt! I know I sound like an ad for the products but they're just so amazing. I totally get this and want others to know that it works if you commit.
Thanks for lending me this book/DVD Bodhi - a great 30th birthday present!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it!
Good luck to everyone else who reads the book.
Will message magicjessnrach for address.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent either yesterday or Tuesday...Hope the rest of the ring enjoys it as much as I did. I bought my own copy from BigW!

Received in the mail yesterday. Thanks! I shall read and watch ASAP.

Received today, thanks, will get to it asap

Sorry I've had this book so long, I have enjoyed it and shared it with my daughter. I will pass it on to sarahbear today.

Thanks for letting me butt into this bookring Bodhi.

I enjoyed the book. Thanks for sharing Bodhi. Posted to astro2480 today.

YAY!! Arrived today, thank you.

Edit 9/2/09 ... Oops! forgot to journal ... Found this very interesting and only hope I actually put it in to practice! Thanks for making it available.

(ShilpaM asked to be skipped - sent on to freelunch)

received today, thanks to -Bodhi- for arranging this ring, and to astro2480 for passing the book and DVD on.

I'm sorry to have had this for so long - I originally signed up for this 'ring because my wife was interested in reading the book. By the time it arrived she was no longer keen but my sister-in-law was so I loaned it to her (she's very reliable, if a little slow) and it came back today, ready to be sent home :)

posted home to -Bodhi- today

A very big thank you to everyone who participated in this bookring! The book and DVD are back home safe and sound just over two years after they began their journey :)

Left in the cafe area.