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Thursday, July 12th, 2007The Secret has taken the world by storm.
Have you wondered - what’s so “secret” about it ? What’s behind the eye-catching cover that claims to be an ancient “antidote” which can give you anything you want, if you apply it ?
I am a book fanatic. The local bookstore is my favourite hangout and I can easily spend hundreds of dollars a month on books. However, there is this thing about books with flashy cover, which makes me want to linger around it longer before forking out the extra dollars. I want to base my decision to buy on the substance, not the cover.
Perhaps the marketing hype is too loud. Perhaps the title is just too “secret” and therefore enticing to a curious consumer. After a couple of trips to the bookstore, I finally succumbed to my inquisitive nature and bought it. I want to find out for myself what the hoopla is all about.
What ”The Secret” Is Really About…
The book is a compilation of quotes by well-known people - living and ancient (i.e. dead). The author tries to give a structure to the quotes and breaks the book into different categories. However the essence is the “law of attraction” - the weaving thread through the chapters.
The basic concept is visualisation and belief in the thing you want, hence in the process attracting it into your life (hopefully).
If you keep thinking about bad things, likely you’ll attract the bad things into your life. if you visualise and cultivate strong positive emotions, etc about your desired object, your mind will tend to notice the paths to attain your goal. hence, it seems that you are “attracting” it into your life.
So Is “The Secret” Really A Secret ?
If you are an ardent reader of self-help books, you’ll find that the concept is nothing new or “secret”. It’s the marketing hype that makes it take the world by storm.
Having said that, visualisation, strong desire and belief are the first steps to achieving what you want. So a book with this focus is a good read too…
Ultimately, action has to follow to actualise the mental “exercise” as in the law of attraction. Otherwise, it’s like building sand castle in the air. No matter how beautiful the sand castle is, it is still … in the air !
If by reading this book, you can get so inspired to take that first step to start the process of attraction - by thinking right - then I think you would have reaped the benefits from reading it and the money is well spent.
Hey, you could even present this as a gift and capitalize on the sensational-looking cover !
See also … The Secret
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Freedom and Responsibility
Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007
Freedom is only part of the story and half the truth … That is why I recommend that the Statute of Liberty on the East Coast be supplanted by a Statute of Responsibility on the West Coast.
– Viktor E. Frankl in “Man’s Search for Meaning”
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Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason
Friday, December 29th, 2006
This is a book written in the 1920s and is touted as a classic in the topic of personal wealth. It’s a small book, just over 100 pages but it contains many gems of wisdom on personal wealth illustrated through avid storytelling.
My views on personal finance have changed somewhat after reading this book. Do check it out if you have not already done so.
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Bullshit
Friday, December 29th, 2006
Can you believe this… Someone has actually done an academic research on the topic of ‘bullshit’ and published a book on it.
I was at a bookshop the other day and chanced upon such a book. I did not believe my eyes and had to blink a few times to confirm. Yeah there it was.. B.S. staring squarely into my face.
The subject is given serious treatment, though, not some book written in jest. It contained the basics of an academic writing - definition, terminology, different types, schools of thought, etc… the author is a Professor of Philosophy in the University of Princeton.
Some of the discussion which I found rather amusing :
* bullshit is likened to hot air embodying empty talk
* talking bullshit is different fm lying. a person who lies does so with intent to deceive, while he who bullshits may not begin with such an intent.
To read more about B.S., visit your local bookstore, say ”philosophy” section and look for a small palm-sized black-covered book with the topic boldly printed.
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J.K. Rowling
Friday, December 29th, 2006
Harry Potter … on 60 Minutes
Amazing woman who persisted to achieve success against all odds.
She’s pretty talented - see her artwork of Harry Porter characters.
I find J.K.Rowling a humble person and just like any man-in-the-street. Hers is a story which proves that ordinary people like you and I can achieve greatness.
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Asterix
Wednesday, December 27th, 2006
My favourite comic series. I have a vision to collect all comic books of Asterix. Wish me success !
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Which is to be master - that’s all
Wednesday, December 27th, 2006
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more or less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master - that’s all.”
– Through the looking glass, Lewis Carroll
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