61 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sharing the real magic leading to a better life, April 28, 2007
This review is from: The Secret Behind The Secret Law of Attraction (Paperback)
I have to come clean at the start. I bought the original DVD of "The Secret" when it came out, and I enjoyed it. I wanted it to be true and to be the real deal. There were many people presenting on it whose work I admire, and I have purchased many books and programs from some of them before they starred in the DVD.
Slowly the bloom came off the rose as I watched and listened to "The Secret" and thought about the pain and suffering people bear in the world and how they did not bring it upon themselves. How they responded to the effects of the things that happened to them as choices I can agree with, but not they were causal agents calling down horrors like rape, genocide and cancer.
The authors of this book - Bob Beverley, Dave Lakhani, Blair Warren and Kevin Hogan - have taken on a marketing megalith and knocked away some of the stones holding it up. At a time when others in the fields of multi-level marketing and persuasion are lining up to get on the bandwagon of Secrets-To-Come, they showed up and stepped up to say their piece about what you DON'T know about The Secret.
I imagine they've been slapped around a bit for speaking out as they have done here, and in other forums. I hope you read this book with an open mind, and not jump to the conclusion these authors are unrepentant skeptics who would dash the hopes of people wanting a better life. They show their integrity and respect for us by telling the truth as they see it, and backing it up. They trust us to listen to the truth they tell.
They also expect a level of paying attention that some readers may not be up to. This is not "The Secret For Dummies", and the authors are writing to make a point that they support with reason and example that are not spoon-feeding. You need to pay attention and put your critical thinking cap on (by `critical' I mean the part that thinks, not the part that kvetches) to get the most from this book. It's worth it.
How so? What are some of the things they share? Among them are the fast-and-loose treatment of quotes attributed to famous people by Ms. Byrne with an eye toward legitimizing The Secret. You know it's an old trick to make a message look better by linking it to a famous person, right? And, when you do it and it is true, it helps back a position with integrity. When you use quotes out of context, as was done here, it is l-a-m-e lame. I can just imagine what Churchill would say to someone twisting his words...I doubt it would be secret.
They are balanced in terms of looking at the way different people have talked about The Secret and its impact on them; both pro and con. I appreciate that balance in the face of some very emotional, personal attacks expressing their opinion has led to.
There is the harder truth, beyond the feel good glow, of those who put faith in The Secret and have been harmed by that faith. The authors care about the people who can be, and have been, hurt, and are eloquent in their concern -
"But what happens if we accept responsibility for everything in our
lives and it turns out we aren't responsible for everything?
What happens if it turns out the Law of Attraction isn't quite so
obedient and doesn't work every time?
And what happens if getting what we want using the Law of
Attraction isn't as easy as just placing an order with the Universe?
What happens is that a darker side of The Secret becomes readily
apparent as guilt quietly moves in and takes the place of hope."
Again, you are straightened up and called to think. How many people will live in hope and see that hope turn to guilt if all they do is `place their order', but take no action to pick it up and to pay for it, since the Universe is supposed to be picking up the tab?
Back in college I read the book `Blaming The Victim' as part of my social work studies. I think the authors capture that blame game approach taken by the purveyors of The Secret when it does not work as advertised. It is not that the supposed "Law" failed; but the people who do not get what they are seeking to attract have not been up to the challenge.
They did not do attraction `right' somehow. Or they did it right and brought down horror on themselves -
"Speaking about Ms. Byrne -
Here is her response to a question about the women and children being raped and butchered in Rwanda: "If we are in fear, if we're feeling in our lives that we're victims and feeling powerless, then we are on a frequency of attracting those things to us ... totally unconsciously, totally innocently, totally all of those words that are so important."
Yup, she's saying it's the women and children's fault. So, ladies, the Law of Attractioner advocates are obligated and would have you believe that if you have been raped, it's your fault anyway. You deserved it because that was the result you got."
Is your skin crawling, too?
I like that Kevin Hogan talked about scrapping a book he had written thirteen years ago, one that would have let him get on the coattails of the Secret because the evidence came rolling in and told him this was not true. Sounds like he could be making a pretty penny if he chose to sell it in today's climate of Secrecy, but he likes being able to look at himself in the mirror, thank you.
Your jaw may drop like mine did as you read about the viral marketing approach leading to the huge success behind The Secret. Hoo boy! Bring in a bunch of people to present The Secret who have a history of sharing good information (as I said, I have spend more than a few dollars on the other products of Secret Teachers, and I have found them helpful) and draw from a pool of people who believe in them. Then let the buzz build.
Their discussions about critical thinking are great, and the history they describe as relates to larger movements, propaganda and the way The Secret has spread are well-considered and interesting. They offer a series of questions you can apply to the debate around The Secret or any information you want to evaluate carefully and deliberately. Keep them handy.
So how DO you succeed? Thoreau said that "If you Advance (read it as take action) confidently in the direction of your dreams, you will meet with a success unimagined in waking hours". The authors spell it out this way -
"There is nothing magical about that, it is how all problems are solved - Identification, Attention, Focus, Action, Outcome, Reevaluate. That is the process for solving any problem or getting more of anything you want. And that may in fact be the ultimate edge.
Many of the products the Secret Teachers have created before The Secret rolled out that I have bought contain variants of just this philosophy. Interesting....
The last chapter, `Real Magic' really is magic with its sleeves rolled up, eager and ready to get down to getting it done, and hanging in as long as it takes. Savor it.
I have to lay one more quote from the book on you. "Coincidence favors action."
Read this book, make the real magic your own, put a growling smile on your face and GO FOR IT, writ large and excited, whatever the `it' is you want in this life. That is a secret worth sharing.
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, thought-provoking & eye-opening!, June 6, 2007
This review is from: The Secret Behind The Secret Law of Attraction (Paperback)
"The Secret" (By Rhonda Byrne) is one of the Amazon's bestselling books & dvds, but the most of the reader's reviews suggest that there's something wrong with the underlying premise, the Law of Attraction (LOA). For the uninitiated, here's what the LOA teaches:
You're a Magnet! Thinking good thoughts creates positive vibrational energy that enables you to attract your dream lover, wealth, success and happiness beyond your wildest dreams.
You're a Creator! You can think anything you want into existence. After all, the Law of Attraction is a scientific fact, just like the law of gravity.
You're got the Power! Forget about your higher power, the universe is at your command. Think, speak and write down your intentions... and don't forget to give thanks in advance for what's coming to you. Your "good vibrations" will be richly rewarded, but be sure to leave the outcome open-ended, so whatever happens is in your best interest.
You're a Look-the-Other-Wayer! Don't focus on anyone but yourself. That's right, look the other way when you see obesity, rape, abuse, injustice or crime. It's best to protect yourself by being in a positive vibrational energy all the time. The risk of attracting something you don't want is too great, so make it your practice to look the other way.
You're responsible! Yes, everything that happens in your life is your responsibility. Even events that seem out of your control are brought on by the magnetic energy of your thoughts. The downside is that you are also partially responsible for the Collective Social Consciousness that says, "It's not my problem." Yes, you're partially to blame for the holocaust, but don't worry about that. Let someone else worry about it who is ignorant about vibrational energy.
If you're reading this and shaking your head in unbelief, "The Secret Behind the Secret LOA" is for you. The book takes a critical look at "The Secret" as it examines it's magical thinking, something-for-nothing message, get-rich-quick appeal, and the "you're-one-product-away-from-success" upsell that's behind the bestselling book and movie.
Surprisingly, the authors admit that they'd love for the "Law of Attraction" to be possible. Contributing psychologist Kevin Hogan admits to doing a visualization exercise after discovering he had hyperkeratosis / Leukoplakia. Hogan found the surgical procedure for removing leukoplakia in a medical textbook, and memorized it. He then mentally performed the surgery on himself (by visualizing the operation in his mind) 50 times a day. When Hogan returned to the doctor, it was discovered that his hyperkeratosis was gone. It's a medical miracle that Hogan attributes to the "Attraction Factor" and priming (or using mental imagery to prepare your mind for the best possible outcome.) Hogan suggests the attraction factor is worth experimenting with, but admits it does not work all the time.
There are lots of gems in this book. Blair Warren says we think 60,000 thoughts daily, making self-monitoring (and consistent "good vibrations") just about impossible. Thinking isn't always black and white; as many things in life may feel bad (exercise, fasting, staying on a budget, etc) yet may be good for us. Dave Lakhani offers compelling reasons why "The Secret" resembles a cult, and suggests six alternative ways to get the edge. Bob Beverly shares seven keys to success and well-being.
Each of the four authors (Hogan, Warren, Lakhani, Beverly) take turns writing chapters, making this book a lot like a roundtable discussion. Together, they knock down the "house of cards" created by the Secret and it's followers. By reading this book, you too will be ready to offer an intelligent and sensitive rebuttal to "The Secret." Plus, think of all the time, money and energy you'll save by avoiding "Law of Attraction" books, cds, and seminars. That makes this book worth every penny of its cover price.
This book is recommended for anyone who had read or watched "The Secret" and wants to work through the issues surrounding the Law of Attraction. Personally, I've struggled with these issues myself, and this book really opened my eyes. Now, I realize that it's good to dream about what I want to accomplish in life, but "good vibrations" are not enough to make my dreams a reality.
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Someone Had to Say It, May 7, 2007
This review is from: The Secret Behind The Secret Law of Attraction (Paperback)
"Wishin and hopin and thinking and prayin .... Won't get you into his heart."
From Brenda Lee to Dusty Springfield to The MerseyBeats, how many people have to tell you that you have to actually do something to get what you want? Well if you are not into oldies pop radio, a new book has arrived on the scene to remind you that you are actually going to have to get off your butt to achieve your goals.
The authors of The Secret Behind the Secret Law of Attraction (Kevin Hogan, Bob Beverley, Dave Lakhani and Blair Warren) logically dismantle the claims made in The Secret, starting with proof that the Law of Attraction is not a physical law at all. From there the authors add proof of faulty quantum physics, misleading and falsified references and outright stupidity. Of course, people who want to believe that they can achieve anything they want simply by visualizing and accepting are not going to be deterred from the teachings of The Secret by something as mundane as logical argument. The authors are on a fool's errand and know it. But they felt compelled to speak out nonetheless.
This is not to say that the authors don't find some value in The Secret. Visualization and goal setting have long been tools towards achieving more and greater things. People with a sense of purpose in their lives reach out and live larger lives and The Secret encourages people to do this.
The aspect of The Secret that seems to have been the catalyst for the book is that the people behind The Secret blame the victims of crime and illness by saying those people attracted misfortune to them. The authors of The Secret Behind the Secret Law of Attraction cry foul out of a sense of common decency and compassion. More people should be doing so.
But the real value of the book is the analysis of how The Secret was and is marketed along with a stunning comparison of that marketing with how a cult recruits and brainwashes its followers.
For anyone who wants to learn how to ethically launch a marketing campaign that will create a loyal client base, this is the book to read. The Secret is a marketing phenomenon. So was the Pet Rock. Take The Secret as a great marketing example and apply it to your business. The Secret Behind The Secret Law of Attraction will show you how.
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