The Secret

The Secret is a book written by Rhonda Byrne, published in 2006. The book description on Amazon is very much the perfect (self help) salespitch:

"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."

Doesn't tell you much about what the Secret is supposed to be though, does it? Bloody marketing techniques! From what I understand, the Secret is supposed to be about the idea that if you really want something it will come true. That sounds a bit obvious, but it has some more religious connotations. I believe it puts emphasis on imagination for example. If you can imagine yourself be rich and famous, that will bring the realization of it closer. Something along the lines of a Law of Attraction that will see to the actualization of the way you imagine things to be. This is how the manipulation of the physical world is thought to be possible. It seems to draw heavily from diverse currents in what is known as Western esoteric traditions. It might also be considered to be sympathetic to certain mainstream American ideas.

It is also turned into a movie and the trailer is just fantastic. It suggests a whole lot more myth than I was aware of in fact. Who doesn't love a good whoosh wham bam flashy montage video with arbitrary "great men" being stuffed an opinion down their throat while some Carl Orff knockoff music is playing in the background?