The Secret - Rhonda Byrne

If you haven’t heard of The Secret yet, you either live in remote outer Mongolia or don’t read magazines, newspapers or watch TV. This book is probably the most talked about tomb since, well, The Bible! It’s sold millions of copies worldwide, has featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show twice and has claim to helping to change the lives of those who read it and embrace it.

So what’s the big deal? Written by an Aussie ex-TV producer, this chick lays claim to having discovered The Secret and wanting to share it with the world. has created a movie, CD and book. The basic premise is this: what you put out to the Universe is what you get back. So, if you think negative thoughts, negative and bad stuff will continue to happen to you. If you think positive stuff and feel good about yourself you will attract good things to you.

Based on the universal law of attraction, none of this is new or groundbreaking. The cleverness of The Secret is its ability to package all this stuff that has been universally known for ages into a sexy little marketing mix.

What’s good about it? It is all good positive stuff that can actually help with a mind shift – making you like yourself and your life more, being more appreciative of what you have, thinking positively, not letting the little things get you down and having a generally optimistic and positive outlook on life. All good stuff.

What’s bad about it? It’s based on the premise that the Universe is your own personal shopping mall – whatever you want is yours for the taking. You want a million dollars, think it and you will have it. You want to be thin, think thin and it will happen no matter what you eat. You want to live in a palatial waterfront home, visualise that home and believe you will have it and it will be yours. You want an Orlando Bloom look-alike for a boyfriend, visualise, believe and it’s yours. You get the drift.

The mantra it preaches is ask, believe and you will receive. To me this is the downside of this manual. It is irresponsible to allow people to think these things will happen with certainty if you follow this mantra. It certainly has the potential to set people up for disappointment or unrealistic expectations.

I personally think anything that encourages us to be more positive, believe in ourselves more and have goals and aspirations is all good but I’m not sure that if I ask (for a lifestyle of the rich and famous) and I truly believe that, then I will one day wake up and discover I actually have an undiscovered talent which is miraculously discovered, which then results in me becoming a global iconic sensation, with palatial homes around the world and the likes of Madonna, Britney, Scarlett and Justin on speed dial on my Blackberry. Ok, extreme example, but I am trying to make a point.

Yes, take from it all the positive self affirming stuff and sure, try the ask, believe and receive, and if it works for you cool! If not, don’t be too disappointed and just think how much fun you are having visualising all the stuff you could possibly want. Sure beats focusing on the stuff that’s crap!

BB rating: 4/5

Playing Hard to Get - Dr Cindy Pan & Bianca Dye

There’s something to be said about learning from your elders girls, and not that these girls are old, they’ve just been there done that and have much wisdom to impart about the whole dating/mating ritual. Reading this book is a bit like being a fly on the wall of a therapy session, with Bianca the much misguided patient in need of HELP and Dr Cindy as the wise, all-seeing, all knowing psych. And, who doesn’t love a little voyeuristic journey into someone else’s lives – particularly the sordid and often sad details of their love life or lack of?

Bianca is hilarious and her anecdotes are ones that we can all relate to. For you younger girls, don’t worry, you will relate at some point! Dr Cindy is her sounding board and mentor that puts her on the straight and narrow and on the path to the inner secret of playing hard to get. You got it girls, don’t be a doormat, don’t fall all over a man, don’t be an over-enthusiastic puppy or worse still a potential bunny boiler. Sounds simple, hah? But, how many of you are guilty as charged of texting a guy 5 times a day? What about doing a drive by his house on the night he dumps you at the last minute just ‘cos you have to see if he really is at home sick? Dumping a date with a girlfriend at the last minute ‘cos man of the moment has graced you with a call and a summons for your company? Hmmmm, looks like a lot of guilty girls reading this I reckon.

This little guide is just what you need when someone has treated you like crap or you yourself feel crap. Full of great empowering stuff that will leave you feeling ready to take on anything. Reassuringly does not represent singledom in a Bridget Jones tragic sense, but rather teaches you to enjoy yourself – with or without a significant other. Great book for yourself or an ingenious buy for your girlfriends.

BB rating: 5/5