The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Culture & Lifestyle›Self-Help›The Secret
Culture & Lifestyle • Self-Help

The Secret

The Secret is a 2006 self-help book by Australian author Rhonda Byrne.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Secret is a 2006 self-help book by Australian author Rhonda Byrne. It presents the law of attraction, arguing that thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can influence outcomes in a person’s life through practices such as asking, believing, and receiving. The book became a major international bestseller and was adapted from an earlier film of the same name.

Overview

The Secret is a self-help title that argues people can improve their lives by focusing their thoughts on desired outcomes. It frames positive thinking and gratitude as tools for attracting health, wealth, and happiness.

Law of attraction

The book presents the law of attraction as a universal principle in which like attracts like. It suggests that mental focus and emotional state can influence what happens in a person’s life.

Reception

The book became highly popular and widely translated, but it also drew criticism from scientists and commentators who said its claims were pseudoscientific and unsupported by evidence.

The book is based on an earlier film titled The Secret, and its success helped extend the brand into broader self-help and popular culture discussions.

Key facts

  • The book’s central claim is that the law of attraction governs how thoughts and emotions shape life outcomes.
  • It describes a three-step process: ask, believe, and receive.
  • The book combines anecdotal examples with quotations attributed to historical and spiritual figures.
  • It was released in 2006 and became an international bestseller.
  • The book has been criticised for lacking scientific support for its claims.
🍁
Canadian context

The Secret has been widely sold and discussed in Canada as part of the self-help and popular wellness market, making it familiar to Canadian readers interested in personal development.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Secret about?
It is a self-help book about the law of attraction, claiming that thoughts and emotions can influence life outcomes.
Who wrote The Secret?
The book was written by Rhonda Byrne.
When was The Secret published?
It was published in 2006.
What are the three steps in The Secret?
The book describes the process as ask, believe, and receive.
Is The Secret based on science?
The book’s claims have been criticised as lacking scientific foundation.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_(Byrne_book)
    Supports: Publication date, author, genre, sales, translations, criticism, and relation to the film
  2. Readingraphics — https://readingraphics.com/book-summary-the-secret-rhonda-byrne/
    Supports: Core concept of the law of attraction and the book’s main ideas
  3. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwmdzv5Jhn0
    Supports: Three-step process of ask, believe, receive and the book’s core self-help themes