The Deeper Secret by Annemarie Postma

I picked up this book last year from Waterstones on a 3 for 2 offer. It is hardback and seemed to be a book for dipping into by the side of the bed, so I have been dipping ever since.

During this age of Cosmic Ordering and on the back of The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, this book claims that there is a 'deeper secret' that you need to know in order to attain everything from the universe and the tagline on the front of the book asks 'What does life want from you?'

This book offers you the Twelve Laws of Creation that will lead to 'profound self-understanding, and the realization of our true dreams' confirming that 'we create the world around us'.

The Laws are split into 3 groups of 'Wanting', 'Deciding' and 'Taking Responsibility' and each chapter covers a law, explaining it, highlighting key sentences, summarising its main points, giving us a relevant affirmation and giving you exercises to implement its message.

This format makes the book easy to read, either all at once, or in little pieces, and it looks nice, well spaced with simple blue illustrations and quotes to accompany the text.

I am not going to spill out all of its conclusions, but there are familiar themes, such as you get out of life what you put in, if you want something but are not getting it then you may not truly want it or need it, and just saying you want something is not going to get it, and many other lessons.

The author was born in the Netherlands and was partially paralysed by an untreated tick bite while a child. She has since studied law and became a model and is now a writer and campaigner specialising in issues of self esteem.

I liked the look of the book, which is why I picked it up. It would make a lovely gift, or a special book to keep. I agreed with a lot of what it says, there is a lot of sense in its pages. Some of it I felt I had heard before and was nothing new, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to be reminded, to put the lessons at the forefront of your mind again. I haven't read The Secret so cannot compare the two books.

I don't tend to like books that have a 'so many point plan' on solving your life problems. Although it probably simplifies what can be complicated lessons or teaching for the purposes of the book, I always feel it is a bit gimmicky and seems to offer false promises. This book puts the ball in your court from the outset, it is your responsibility to do the work. It is not about attaining what you want, but accepting what you have and that the Universe knows best. However some may get half way through this particular lesson and get bored because the book is not giving them an instant foolproof answer. It is not even recommending that you get all that you desire, which is different from what the overall message of The Secret appears to say, and the link to this book may be confusing.

No book has all the answers and if you know this when you approach a self help book I find you are better for it. I took this as a nice book of tips that make sense for a fulfilling life, for you to utilise as you feel appropriate. Creating food for thought is always beneficial.

You can read more about The Deeper Secret by clicking on the link.