ABOUT THE BOOK

The book has sold more than 19 million copies since its publication in 2006. Byrne also wrote and produced a documentary for The Secret, which went directly to video and sold more than 2 million copies to date. The book earned a spot on the New York Times Bestseller List for 146 consecutive weeks after gaining popularity thanks to Oprah Winfrey, who promoted it on her TV show. The Secret has been translated into 44 languages including Macedonian, Afrikaans, and Icelandic. The book has been criticized for its unrealistic premise, but the controversy has actually fueled sales, making The Secret one of the most popular books of the last decade.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Diana Bocco is a full-time freelance writer and author. Her publishing credits include over 200 articles for national, international and online publications such as Men's Health, Marie Claire, Adirondack Life, Writer's Digest, and Self. She was also a contributor to the bestselling book Vegetarian New York: The Essential Dining, Shopping, and Lodging Guide, edited by Suzanne Gerber and with a foreword by Paul McCartney. You can find more about her work by visiting her website at www.dianabocco.com.

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

The Secret is a self-help book about the power of positive thinking by Rhonda Byrne. The book is based on a pseudo-scientific theory called the law of attraction the principle that like attracts like. Specifically, Byrne focuses on the idea that your dreams do in fact come true thinking about money and wealth will attract these very things, causing them to manifest in your life. Likewise, fretting over a worst-case scenario will only cause your fears to be realized. Hence the importance of positive thinking. There are no accidents and bad luck. Instead Byrne writes, Your life right now is a reflection of your past thoughts.

Throughout the book, Byrne intersperses quotes from proponents of the law of attraction, such as Jack Canfield, creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. These experts believe the law to be supported by quantum physics, arguing that it is a law of nature like gravity. According to Byrne, the mind is a magnet, emitting and receiving frequencies to and from the Universe. Each thought sends out a signal, which is turn gathers similar frequencies due to the law of attraction before returning back to you. In this fashion, your mind can bring you anything you desire dream of a new house, and somehow, someway, it will come to you. On the flip side, dwelling on war and poverty will only perpetuate these evils. Byrne even proposes that too much negative thinking can put you in the path of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

The rest of the book explores different methods of using the law of attraction to your advantage. The primary technique is ask, believe, receive. This process involves imagining what you desire and pretending that you already have it. For example, Byrne suggests filling out a fake check and pretending to buy all the things youve always wanted. Doing so, she says, will make you wealthy.

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CHAPTER OUTLINE

Introduction

+ Background Information for “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne

+ Overall Summary of “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne

+ Important Characters in “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne

+ Key Takeaways for “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne

Chapter Summaries

+ “The Secret” Summary, Chapter 1: The Secret Revealed

+ “The Secret” Summary, Chapter 2: The Secret Made Simple

+ “The Secret” Summary, Chapter 3: How to Use the Secret

+ “The Secret” Summary, Chapter 4: Powerful Processes

+ …and much more

Additional Reading

+ Related Online Content for “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne

+ Trivia for “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne

Quicklet on The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (Book Summary)