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Related Reading:

If you liked The Secret, you also might like these books about the law of attraction.

From Secret teachers:

Law of Attraction by Michael J. Losier teaches you “the science of attracting more of what you want and less of what you don’t.” The book provides exercises and other activities to keep you focused on using the law to your benefit.

The Attractor Factor by Joe Vitale gives you “five easy steps to creating wealth (or anything else) from the inside out.” The first step? Knowing what you don’t want. Find out the other steps and learn how Vitale became a wealthy and successful businessman.

The Science of Success by James A. Ray shows you “how to attract prosperity and create life balance through proven principles.” The book aims to teach readers how to let go of what’s hindering them to create fulfillment in life.

More on the law of attraction:

The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham by Esther and Jerry Hicks promises to “take the guesswork out of daily living” by providing a deeper explanation of the law of attraction and how it connects you to the universe and the people around you. (The Hickses refer to Abraham as a spiritual being who speaks through the couple to offer teachings.)

About.com has an informative page providing even more information on the law and links to other carefully selected websites. An instructional slideshow on creating a “manifesting picture book” could be the jumpstart your new life needs.

What people are saying:

Love it or hate it, Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret never fails to get people talking. These online articles examine everything from Byrne’s persuasive language to a writer’s stuffy nose and how The Secret may have helped.

In a “rare interview” with Perth, Australia’s Sunday Times, Secret author Rhonda Byrne talks about life before and after she created the bestselling DVD and book:

“Byrne admits she’s only recently experienced wealth as The Secret’s focus is to give.

‘I was in debt for millions of dollars creating the film of The Secret,’ she says. ‘Now I’m having the time of my life keeping up with the universe and am delighted to bring joy to billions of people who are pioneers of a new era in humankind.’”

Rhonda Byrne answers the Associated Press’ questions through e-mail, addressing the DVD’s and book’s take on human suffering, healing, “blame the victim mentality” and “one of the most frequent criticisms of The Secret, that there is a lack of action outlined in the book and the DVD.”

This Chicago Sun Times article asks readers, “Are we finally discovering the truth that’s been hidden from us for centuries, or is this new phenomenon just taking advantage of us?”

The article examines language used in the book and explores possible motives for the way it was written.

The Washington Posts writes about The Secret’s place in the mental health community.

Several mental health experts weigh in on the book’s effect on their patients and readers at large.

One therapist worries, “People start to think that they don’t have to use their free will, that they don’t have to have power anymore, that they don’t have to make choices. They don’t realize they have to do the work. And that’s the conversation I keep having to have with people.”

One expert admits she hides her copy of The Secret from visitors and can see the value of positive thinking, but remains skeptical of following the book word-for-word: “I think the secret is that everyone has their own secret, and everyone has their own dream. And the book is one of the tools we can use to get it, but I don’t think that it’s a little magic wand.”

Slate.com contributor Emily Yoffe tested The Secret for two months, applying the law of attraction to everything from finishing her floors to defending her sinuses from pollen.

Follow Yoffe as she experiences optimism — “I had to admit just sitting back and letting my desires manifest freed up a lot of time — and was much more relaxing than trying to take care of things myself …”

… And utter impatience — “Or perhaps the problem is that millions of people are now putting in their orders and the universe’s servers have crashed” — as she puts her all into living the lessons of The Secret.
John Gravois of Slate.com writes a letter to Oprah discussing her role in making The Secret a national sensation. Gravois pleads with her to call her viewers back to logical thinking and notes one viewer wrote Oprah to tell her she was canceling cancer treatments after seeing her two episodes dedicated to Byrne’s teachings.

“But don’t worry, Oprah. You still have the power to turn this entire misguided craze into a ‘teachable moment,’” Gravois writes.

Gravois also points out a book that’s an excellent counterpoint to The Secret, Karen Cerulo’s Never Saw It Coming.