Customer Reviews:
 Random observations September 29, 2004
Pieter (Johannesburg)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
This book is a compilation of short observations based on the core of Wilde's philosophy. The thoughts and ideas are drawn from his books, articles, unpublished writings, newspaper interviews and excerpts from TV/radio shows. Wilde believes that life was mean to be enjoyed and his writings are dedicated to the rapid and complete liberation of the individual from negative thoughts and emotions and the daily grind. The main themes revolve around how to remain balanced and detached, how to increase one's perception, act powerfully, concentrate on what is real and believe in oneself. In the short entries of mostly one page each that are not arranged alphabetically, Wilde holds forth on subjects like dedication, perseverance, opportunity, dimensions, concentration, relationships, time, energy, opposites, sacrifice, confidence, serenity, service, creativity, and, with a refreshing libertarian approach, on stuff like government and politics. His humorous and engaging style inspires optimism. In isolation, however, not all of these thoughts always make sense: some appear as truisms and some may be wide open to interpretation without a context. But even when one disagrees with him, his ideas often raise a smile. The Secrets Of Life is enhanced by beautiful black and white illustrations by Stephen Smith. It is a handy inspirational guide to his thoughts that I recommend to those who are already fans of Wilde. His popular books like Affirmations, The Force and The Quickening provide a wider understanding and proper context of the insights that he manages to convey with so much wit and elegance and would be more suitable for those readers wishing to investigate his work for the first time.
 Fantastic introdution to the philosophies of Stuart Wilde. April 19, 2001
robertbromley@hotmail.com (London)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful
This book will help you see life through a much more relaxed, liberated view. I once met a good friend of Stuart at one of his seminars, she said, "Stuart frees people", she's right. His philosophy is basically Taoist (Chinese), which has been translated and adapted to the modern world. So you get the relaxed approach of the old Chinese "flow like water" combined with real world make it happen now!, one of my favorites is if I am rushing, saying to myself "relax I have all the time in the world", Stuart says "Keep saying it over and over, you'll soon get it." It has no page numbers, just pick it up and open anywhere, it will make you laugh and lighten your day, mine is permanently in the bathroom, for the last 5 years! Makes a great present.
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