Book Review: The Book of Secrets

This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Purpose of Life. The Purpose of Life is a fundamental philosophical discussion of human existence that has resulted in a wide range of competing answers and arguments, from philosophical, to theological, and spiritual explanations. Lynn Scheurell is the Official Guide to Purpose of Life.nnThe Book of Secrets, by Deepak Chopra is a valuable resource for people interested in Purpose of Life, and it is available through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.nnPublishers WeeklynnAssuring readers that "finding the hidden dimensions in yourself is the only way to fulfill your deepest hunger," bestselling author Chopra shares 15 spiritual secrets for enlightenment. These secrets may sound easy "the world is in you," "what you seek, you already are," "freedom tames the mind" but Chopra offers sophisticated thought to challenge a reader's spiritual status quo. Blending science and spirituality, he shows how the mystery of life can be illustrated by the wisdom and workings of one's body, as "every secret in this book goes back to the existence of an invisible intelligence that operates beneath the visible surface of life." The most important secret is transcending one's egocentric viewpoint and accepting a single, unified reality: "you are not in the world; the world is in you." Each well-written chapter offers a vibrant discussion of these distilled principles, including exercises to help readers apply these secrets to their lives. For example, Chopra focuses a chapter on how death makes life possible: "Only by facing death can you develop real passion for being alive." Chopra recasts death as a way to "imagine yourself into a new form with a new location in space and time." To do this, he suggests exfoliating one's self-image by imagining oneself at various stages of life, past and future: "When you see every earthly vestige of yourself vanish," he concludes, "you realize you will never succeed in extinguishing yourself." This isn't easy enlightenment. Chopra pushes his readers to do hard spiritual work in this thoughtful and thought-provoking book. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.nnLibrary JournalnnFrom birth, writes Chopra, humans are "taught to follow habits and beliefs that totally disregard the mystery of life." His latest book guides readers toward recovering that mystery through oneness of self. Fifteen titular secrets are revealed, each a mixed bag that alternates between resonant and unconvincing. The proposition that there is but a single, essential reality inside oneself is critical to understanding any of them. The sixth secret, for example, explains that suffering is caused by believing in unreality, which occurs when earthly roles or objects become "more important than the reality of your own pure being." Chopra's talent for making his ideas palatable to Americans belies inconsistent application of traditional Eastern and Western metaphysics and ontology; varied material, from Hindu religious principles to medicinal matters, often make the path to simplicity feel like an obstacle course. Still, this blend will feel familiar to readers, as will Chopra's soothing, confident tone. For all self-help collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/04.]-Douglas C. Lord, Connecticut State Lib., Hartford Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.