Comments on: Book review of “The Secret”, by Rhonda Byrne: A skeptical review of a subjective reality

By: Andy Kaiser

Andy Kaiser — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:54:11 +0000

Maria, I believe that there is big part of our brain that we have not use and here is where the positive thinking can have its effect. What part is that? Beware of such statements, they're undefinable, and therefore allow all sorts of supernatural definitions. More info here: The ten percent of the brain myth: A fractional truth The other side of the coin So we have only two choices - positive thinking and hidden brain powers, or a depressing fatalism? I respectfully disagree. There are many more choices, and many are positive, life-affirming, and should be cultivated. And they have nothing to do with supernatural powers. Andy

By: Maria Nieves

Maria Nieves — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:12:32 +0000

It seems the secret has the same concept that the bible has, call it faith or positive thinking. I believe that there is big part of our brain that we have not use and here is where the positive thinking can have its effect. Jesus used powers beyond human comprehension at that time and did incredible things. I think we need to exercise our minds and explore the possibilities within us.
The other side of the coin is falling into a fatalism where we are left without hope waiting for our life to unfold in our very eyes and unable to do nothing about it.

By: Lani

Lani — Mon, 11 May 2009 04:19:24 +0000

Just read the “Science of Getting Rich” – “The Secret” is based in it I think – in it, the author quotes Christian scripture and then turns right around in instructs the reader to IGNORE scripture/religious instruction that conflicts with it’s principles.

By: ty

ty — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:54:07 +0000

Points taken but there is one point in interepretation of science and scientific method that I have a problem with.
Before that though, I should say I believe in the secret. I haven’t read the book but know only what I’ve read here. I think we are in a matrix in that brick walls are from all or one of our minds and can be changed and made to disappear through thought alone but we aren’t strong enough mentally to do so right now. Physics nowadays thinks that all matter is thought too, last I heard, because they got down to the smallest particles and they aren’t there, they are only motion. which I don’t get. However you can make particles move or disappear by a group looking at them with the intention of making it disappear or move, it’s been done.
But also look at the documented princeton/art bell experiments. Art bell is a radio host and he worked with princeton to make it rain over drought plagued parts of texas at will by having his 16 million man audience concentrate on this. He also made hamsters go crazy at will with the same method, so it appears we are in a thought matrix. The reason this info is not broadcast more often is because the military industrial complex is trying to use it to their advantage it seems, so covert ops is necessary. Also you can look at psychics who ARE used successfully by detective agencies. This is the same category because the universe is matter energy space and time and so they are doing something with at least space and matter there.

Anyways, about scientific method, you can’t take a random sampling of people or even a focused sampling of people with this “the secret” ability and do a test and come to a conclusion. You can do that if you’re a statitician with a large sampling, however that’s a narrow scope of science. Actual science includes doing tests to MAKE this hypothesis work by taking some of these adepts and having them try in different ways to improve their skills to see if maybe this “secret” idea could work. That’s legitimate science too. Science is not only taking people into a lab to disprove them, you could work with them too and work on new angles inside a lab. Scientific method would be used to test it when the time is ripe that is true but don’t confuse the goal of more understanding with the final test of a rigorous method.

In that way Science becomes changed into something smaller than it is and is co opted falsely by “skeptics” who focus only on turning it into a disproving ground of stale subjects. The point is that paranormal research is implied to be not part of science when it is it’s cutting edge.

By: DB Skeptic

DB Skeptic — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:56:58 +0000

Certainly it would be hard to beleive that victims of rape and incest brought it on themselves because they weren’t thinking happily enough.

This is a big point that I’m amazed Secret proponents seem to gloss over: if the Law of Attraction actually works, you’ve got to face the bad stuff too. It’s not all about making more money and finding love. There are terrible things that happen to people. To suggest all victims’ tragedies are self-induced is to misunderstand physics, cause and effect, and worse, shows a lack of humanity.

By: Techskeptic

Techskeptic — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:22:31 +0000

“Hopefully, you will eventually come to accept the secret and let it into your life.”

Wow, isnt that what christians say about jesus and muslims say about allah?

LOL. Every time I have a conversation with a Secret person I come to find out that all the benefit they received came form actions they did. Things that they did differently.

OK maybe reading the book made them do things they would not have done before. Possible, but it certainly doesnt mean there is some magical law of attraction, it just means that they did things differently. Certainly it would be hard to beleive that victims of rape and incest brought it on themselves because they weren’t thinking happily enough.

By: DB Skeptic

DB Skeptic — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:21:21 +0000

Thanks, Nina and Esther. What evidence do you have that The Secret did something for you that’s beyond chance?

By: nina

nina — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:50:37 +0000

I agree with Esther. The Secret has changed my life. It has opened my mind and helped me live the life I could only dream of. Of course The Secret will not work if you don’t believe. That is the whole basis of it.
Hopefully, you will eventually come to accept the secret and let it into your life. :)

By: Maria

Maria — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:44:12 +0000

I 100% agree with this review. I started reading The Secret, and by page 3 I was sure I was beign fooled. To Esther Sabo: probably when you read the book, you finally started to do something for yourself that was not self pity, so you got out of your hole, and you should be happy and proud about it, so congratulations.
I’m also sure Ms Byrne is by now way more rich than she was before writing her book.

By: Esther sabo

Esther sabo — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:58:02 +0000

Dear madam, perhaps the secret is a scam to get rich beccause I have become a millionaire. I was in a wheelchair and I thought to myself how could I think good thoughts when I feel so miserable and depressed, how could I lose 100 pounds when I weigh 200 pounds. HOw can I pay my bills, HOw can I take care of my child in a wheelchair, how can I take care of my autistic child. I read the secret. My life has changed and I am so thankful every day for “the Secret” I bless it everyday and I bless people like you! I am happy.

The only thing the secret does not explain is death and how to deal with it. I am thinking happy thoughts. I am even receiving insurance money from my grandmother’s soon demise, but I do not know how to feel– and the The Secret did not explain this, but I know as I medidtate it will come. I am thankful for all the blessing I have!!!!!