THE POWER
(by Rhonda Byrne)
“The Secret”, 2006, was Ms. Rhonda Byrne’s first book that earned her megabucks. Thereafter, in 2010, she launched a sequel to it named “The Power” that basically speaks what the first book said before, except in a new way. Whereas “The Secret “introduced us to what “The Law of Attraction” is, and how to use it and benefit us- that is just the vehicle that bring us the life we desire;”The Power“ that teaches/preaches the concept of “The Power of Love” is the fuel that will get us there! In the book, Rhonda Byrne has borrowed a lot of ideas from the historical figures and promoted the idea that negativity promotes more negativity. She talks about freeing yourself from the destroying cycle of hate and negativity. Just like “The Secret”, she talks about how you can attract anything into your life by loving it with all your heart. Like how the world is a cave and it echoes your thoughts back to you. So you should feel nothing but love for things - it’s the highest frequency of feeling.
On the plus side, I think there is a lot to learn in the pages of the book. Yes, we have the power to attract goodness into our lives (to a point). Yes, love is (usually) the answer. Yes, we can manifest many things that do come true (but not always). Yes, being positive and putting a positive spin on life is helpful, supportive and can change a bad day into a good one (sometimes).
What I really object to is the emphasis given on mere thinking about things you want and loving them with all heart and soul to make them yours. I mean, what about the “ACTING” part? Simply thinking of becoming a millionaire won’t make me one. The book doesn’t talk about the necessary actions one needs to take in order to accomplish those goals. Also, it gives an implication that everything that comes into our lives is due to our own “Law of Attraction”; that we manifest the bad things that happen to us, through our own bad/negative thoughts! This kind of “doctrine” is a direct slap in the face of every innocent person who has been a victim of crime, abuse, neglect, etc.
Well, despite the grey areas, there surely are good lessons to be learnt from the book even though they are historic quotes that have been repeated numerous times. But via “The Power”, Rhonda Byrne has at least reminded us to think about them and how significantly they can affect our lives once again. My favourite quotes from the book are -“Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere” and “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving”!
-Rashmit Kaur Khanuja
‘THE CONFESSION’
-John Grisham
‘The Confession’ is a legal thriller with a serious purpose. This is a book about which ‘John Grisham’ clearly felt deeply - perhaps because he has recently become concerned about wrongful convictions, and the treatment of that theme here has a very passionate edge. Grisham has translated his thoughts about what the real killer might be thinking and doing into an unsettling narrative, as the last hours of life ebb away for an innocent man.
This book tells that: For every innocent man sent to prison, there is a guilty one left on the outside. He doesn’t understand how the police and prosecutors got the wrong man, and he certainly doesn’t care. He just can’t believe his good luck. Time passes and he realizes that the mistake will not be corrected: the authorities believe in their case and are determined to get a conviction. He may even watch the trial of the person wrongly accused of his crime. He is relieved when the verdict is guilty. He laughs when the police and prosecutors congratulate themselves. He is content to allow an innocent person to go to prison, to serve hard time, even to be executed.
Texas at the end of the last century. Travis Boyette is a deeply unpleasant man, unhappy with his worthless life. He abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.
Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime; Donté is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time, in his miserable life, he decides to do what’s right and confess.
‘The Confession’ is an airing for the beliefs of the author, but it is also a page-turner. Grisham is careful never to preach. He is much exercised by the fact that men have died in miscarriages of justice, and has pointed out that DNA evidence is forcing people to look again at such cases.
However, this novel suggests that perhaps Americans have become addicted to the speed with which conviction and execution can be carried out - and that opportunities for more careful consideration are too quickly passed over. It's this motivating force which perhaps makes the book one of the most personal Grisham has written, even though (largely speaking) he never forgets his primary purpose, which is to entertain. That mission he has been faithfully carrying out since his first book. There are no stylistic flourishes, but Grisham-fans will find all their buttons pressed.
Jaya Sachdev
'THE SECRET’
‘THE CONFESSION’
-John Grisham
‘The Confession’ is a legal thriller with a serious purpose. This is a book about which ‘John Grisham’ clearly felt deeply - perhaps because he has recently become concerned about wrongful convictions, and the treatment of that theme here has a very passionate edge. Grisham has translated his thoughts about what the real killer might be thinking and doing into an unsettling narrative, as the last hours of life ebb away for an innocent man.
This book tells that: For every innocent man sent to prison, there is a guilty one left on the outside. He doesn’t understand how the police and prosecutors got the wrong man, and he certainly doesn’t care. He just can’t believe his good luck. Time passes and he realizes that the mistake will not be corrected: the authorities believe in their case and are determined to get a conviction. He may even watch the trial of the person wrongly accused of his crime. He is relieved when the verdict is guilty. He laughs when the police and prosecutors congratulate themselves. He is content to allow an innocent person to go to prison, to serve hard time, even to be executed.
Texas at the end of the last century. Travis Boyette is a deeply unpleasant man, unhappy with his worthless life. He abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.
Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime; Donté is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time, in his miserable life, he decides to do what’s right and confess.
‘The Confession’ is an airing for the beliefs of the author, but it is also a page-turner. Grisham is careful never to preach. He is much exercised by the fact that men have died in miscarriages of justice, and has pointed out that DNA evidence is forcing people to look again at such cases.
However, this novel suggests that perhaps Americans have become addicted to the speed with which conviction and execution can be carried out - and that opportunities for more careful consideration are too quickly passed over. It's this motivating force which perhaps makes the book one of the most personal Grisham has written, even though (largely speaking) he never forgets his primary purpose, which is to entertain. That mission he has been faithfully carrying out since his first book. There are no stylistic flourishes, but Grisham-fans will find all their buttons pressed.
Jaya Sachdev
'THE SECRET’
BY RHONDA BYRNE’
‘Secret’ By Rhonda Byrne was initially launched as a DVD.
Later on it was- transformed into a book titled as “The Secret”.
It basically reveals about how one can transform one’s thinking, way of life into one in which he or she is able to develop into a good as well as successful human being.
‘The Secret’ belongs to the genre of self-help and spiritual and was published in 2006.The book is successful in establishing a spiritual connection with world as well as it–readers.
The claims made by the film and the book were highly criticized – but inspite of this the book came to be listed among the best conceptual books ever.
The book talks about the law of attraction claiming that whatever you ask in your prayers, will be yours if you believe in it.
The law of attraction stated talks about:
-Know what you want and ask the universe for it.
-Feel and behave as if the object of your desire is on its way.
-Be open in receiving it.
Despite the controversy and criticism surrounding the book, it has created in its readers hope, positive attitude and deep thinking.
The book is liked by almost all the age groups, even the youngsters.
The Secret has definitely shown us the path and magic of positive thinking not in fictional or misleading manner but in such a way that the readers respect others as well as the universe, while thinking positively.
By:
Dharmendra Paliwal
