The Secret
01/12/23 • 42 min
10 Listeners
Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" sold millions of copies based on a simple premise: All of science is fake and the only reason anything ever happens is because people manifest it by communicating with the universe.
Where to find us:
Sources:
- Power Lines
- Oprah's Ugly Secret
- The Staggering Bullshit of The Secret
- Death by “alternative” medicine: Who’s to blame?
- For Some Seeking Rebirth, Sweat Lodge Was End
- A Little Secret About The Secret
Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!
Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" sold millions of copies based on a simple premise: All of science is fake and the only reason anything ever happens is because people manifest it by communicating with the universe.
Where to find us:
Sources:
- Power Lines
- Oprah's Ugly Secret
- The Staggering Bullshit of The Secret
- Death by “alternative” medicine: Who’s to blame?
- For Some Seeking Rebirth, Sweat Lodge Was End
- A Little Secret About The Secret
Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!
Previous Episode
The Population Bomb
3 RecommendationsHow a Stanford lepidopterist convinced the world to fear the breeding habits of the poor. Again.
Support us on Patreon
Where to find us:
Sources:
- Sonia Shah’s “The Next Great Migration”
- Barbarian Hordes: The overpopulation scapegoat in international development discourse
- Optimism and Overpopulation
- The Population Bomb Revisited
- The Strange History of Birth Control
- Birth Control for Others
- How the World Survived the Population Bomb: Lessons From 50 Years of Extraordinary Demographic History
- Why the Population Bomb is a Rockefeller Baby
Next Episode
Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus
1 RecommendationsIn 1992 a yoga instructor with a distance-learning PhD had the courage to ask: "Are women not getting help around the house because they're using the wrong modal verb?"
Support us on Patreon
Where to find us:
Sources:
- The Myth of Mars and Venus: Do Men and Women Really Speak Different Languages?
- A critical response to John Gray's Mars and Venus portrayals of men and women
- The Gender Similarities Hypothesis
- The Rebuttal from Uranus
- Coming home upset: Gender, marital satisfaction and the daily spillover of workday experience into couple interactions
- FDA warning letter
- Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus: An Analysis of a Potential Meme
- Women, Men and Language
- Women, Men, and Gender: Ongoing Debates
- Women and Men Talking: Are They World’s Apart?
If Books Could Kill - The Secret
Transcript Summary
In this episode titled "The Secret," Peter and Michael delve into the controversial book of the same name by Rhonda Byrne. Claiming to hold the key to life's mysteries, "The Secret" proposes that thoughts have the power to manifest anything and everything. However, the book has been widely criticized for its pseudoscientific claims and lack of evidence. Peter and Michael question the practicality of the Law of Attraction, which suggests that positive thinking can solve all problems, disregarding societal structures and environmental factors. They mock some of the book's anecdotes and highlight its failure to address real-world issues, such as poverty and disease. Furthermore, they discuss the negative consequences of "The Secret," including individuals making life-altering decisions based on its teachings, resulting in hospitalizations and even deaths. Ultimately, "The Secret" is seen as a prime example of the self-help genre's tendency to offer simplistic solutions to complex problems, promoting disconnection and shallow desires.
Transcript
Peter: Michael.
Michael: Peter.
Peter: What do you know about The Secret?
Michael: All I know is that for two weeks now, I've been visualizing having a good opening zinger for this episode.
[If Books Could Kill theme]
Peter: All right, I am going to set the vibe by sending you a YouTube video.
Michael: Ooh.
Peter: And I
The Secret Top Questions Answered
What is "The Secret" and what is its premise?
"The Secret" is a self-help book by Rhonda Byrne published in 2006. It proposes the concept of the law of attraction, where thoughts attract like things, as the secret to life.
How did "The Secret" gain popularity and what controversies surround it?
"The Secret" gained popularity through promotion on Oprah Winfrey's show. Controversies arose when a woman with breast cancer decided against chemotherapy due to positive thinking, and a retreat hosted by James Ray resulted in deaths and hospitalizations.
Does positive thinking have limitations and potential negative consequences?
Yes, positive thinking can be problematic as it may blame victims and hinder practical solutions to complex problems.
Is there any scientific evidence supporting the claims in "The Secret"?
The book presents the law of attraction as a scientific claim, but fails to provide sourced scientific evidence. The hosts of the podcast find the book's claims lacking scientific explanation and evidence.
How does "The Secret" apply the law of attraction to weight loss?
"The Secret" suggests that focusing on losing weight attracts the need to lose more weight, claiming that being overweight is caused by thinking fat thoughts. It disregards factors like slow metabolism or hereditary body size as disguises for fat thoughts.
What is the impact of positive thinking on personal suffering and circumstances?
"The Secret" implies that human suffering is caused by thinking thoughts that attract negative experiences, and promotes the idea that people can improve their circumstances through positive thinking.
Who are some of the experts mentioned in "The Secret"?
"The Secret" references experts, including grifters and individuals with dubious titles, but lacks credibility in its selection of experts.
Are there parallels between the thinking in "The Secret" and religious beliefs?
The podcast hosts draw parallels between the book's thinking and religious beliefs, highlighting the repackaging of power-flattering ideologies for those with less power.
What is the general criticism of "The Secret" and its oversimplification of poverty?
"The Secret" simplifies poverty as a personal failing, neglecting systemic factors. The hosts of the podcast criticize this oversimplification.
Does "The Secret" address the limits and impact of manifestation on others?
Some chapters of "The Secret" discuss using the law of attraction to make the world a better place, but fail to clarify the impact on others or the limitations of manifestation.
Show more Questions
Show more Questions
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Featured in these lists
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/if-books-could-kill-218138/the-secret-27386538"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to the secret on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy