The Secret of the Secret: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Runaway Bestseller

Kelly wrote a great piece, well researched, on the success of a booklet/dvd and thought that seems has taken the world by storm. Kelly does not ridicule but takes a tep back to be able to figure out why and how 'the secret' became a hit, as well as what is true and not true about the many claims made by its author and the people Byrne decided to use for her dvd and book. Does quantum physics really hold a key to acquiring wealth? Is that really what the scientists say? Kelly makes it abolutely clear that sitting down and dreaming of success has never been a proven formula for succes, and also makes a strong point that contentment in life does not necessarily come from eating the fruits of one's labour, but from actually getting out there to search for those fruits; i.e. the journey is more interesting than the goal. That messsage might not be as popular as the promise of 'instant gratification' through the acquisition of great amounts of matter carried by "the Secret", but definitely more realistic. AZ - Cape Town, South Africa

I love this book! Karen Kelly examines The Secret... breaking it down into the law of attraction's historical aspects, opening up the real secret of the secret and goes in-depth to give the reader a better understanding of this phenomenon. I was always wondering why the book The Secret created such as stir, now I know thanks to The Secret of the Secret!

In a world of junk science, hype and advocacy/journalism, Karen Kelly's book is a delightful exploration of the phenomena of the multi-media shooting star, The Secret. I give The Secret full credit for being a brilliantly marketed concept. I also believe that something that gets the masses thinking about their own development serves a useful purpose. But, I felt that the DVD, especially, did not strike the right balance between "manifesting" and swinging into action. And, I felt that some of the claims frequently over-reached in the interest of making a product/message that was attractive to the masses. With that bias before reading this book, I was an easy mark for the author's very analytical and well researched inquiry into many of the claims of The Secret. What impressed me most was that Ms. Kelly did so without resorting to a muckraking style. Her writing is very balanced and seemingly very, very well researched. Beyond learning the apparent truth about matters involving The Secret, I thoroughly enjoyed the author's explanation of some of the roots of the self-help movement and her analysis of the more recent claims with regard to quantum physics. Now, if only a fraction of those who have viewed or read "The Secret" would read this book, Ms. Kelly would have raised the intelligence and consciousness of many. Regretfully, I don't see that as likely happening. In the instant gratification world in which we live, this book doesn't provide any hope of magic pills. As such, the road to best seller will be challenging. Ms. Kelly, I - for one - will be rooting for you and your book. This is one very fine effort.

... don't worry: you can still read this. If you found The Secret DVD uplifting and euphoria-inducing - but felt it was a little too good to be true - then this book can help you balance your enthusiasm with some practical insights and facts. That doesn't mean stop feeling good! The Secret of the Secret just puts the so-called power of positive thinking in perspective, gives it a historical context, and lets you think for yourself. Very refreshing - and a great companion book to The Secret!

Like most people in this country, I was intrigued by "The Secret." After reading The Secret and taking note of the publicity that it generated, I was left with many unanswered questions. Mainly I was curious about why "The Secret" had such a huge impact on so many people in this country. Not only did this book answer my questions, it took me on a journey full of suspense and fascinating revelations. I couldn't put it down! One of the best things about the book is that Ms. Kelly tells her tale with complete objectivity. It's obvious that she isn't trying to blow the lid off "The Secret" or in any way defend it. It was refreshing to read such an unbiased and balanced explanation. On top of all that, this book is extremely well written. Ms. Kelly shares her discoveries with intelligence, wit and humor. I recommend this book not only to folks who are interested in "The Secret," but to anyone who is looking for an exceptional read.