Indeed, as you said, I, too find it “unfortunate that so many good ideas can be dismissed just by saying that they’re ‘new age’ or ’self help.’”

Thanks for providing a forum for discussion. Can’t wait to hear more from your readers!

I also resonate with the Hero’s Journey metaphor with the twists and turns along the way.

“New age” doesn’t imply there’s no usage of old ideas — in fact, it usually refers to an eclectic modern synthesis of past spiritual ideas. Also, The Secret is on the bestseller list for New Age on Amazon.

But it doesn’t much matter whether this book and The Secret are called “new age” or not. The fact that they have some shared DNA is important for potential readers to know.

I think Rhonda Byrne did a tremendous job of starting the conversation. Introducing the masses to the idea that their thoughts create their lives is a good thing. Living “The Secret” and making it work for you in a positive way is a matter of daily focus and growth. This is where Susan’s book, and her coaching services are tremendously helpful.

Susan understands the way energy works. She can take what looks like an unorganized pile of passions and turn them into a viable and successful business. Along the way, the “Accidental Pren-her” falls in love with herself and her life. And THAT is the essence of The Secret.

Thanks for your great book! Truly inspirational. I especially loved the idea of two priorities — one month. Such a powerful way to approach what’s important.

I don’t think of “new agey” as necessarily bad — I’ve always loved Shakti Gawain’s books, for example.

Since the cover of your book mentions The Secret twice along with the law of attraction, that suggested to me a new age bent. I haven’t read The Secret myself, but from what I know of it, it strikes me as new age rather than Zen Buddhist.

I’ve been an armchair Buddhist for a long time now and I do definitely see some Buddhist underpinnings in the ideas in Discovering Your Inner Samurai. I see more than that too. I see ideas and practices relevant to a Western world where we value individualism and authenticity and achievement and doing rather than being. That’s where, for me, it looks “new agey” for lack of a better word.

I called out the warning because many of my friends/readers are technologists like me, with a super-rational viewpoint. I didn’t mean it as a criticism. I find it unfortunate that so many good ideas can be dismissed just by saying that they’re “new age” or “self help.” Those aren’t necessarily bad things.

Thanks again for your book, and thanks to Greg and Yvonne for inviting me on the tour. There is a real feeling of energy around it.

I do take issue with the concept that this book is new agey. Rather, the foundational philosophy of this book is Zen Buddhism. So, spiritual, yes. New agey, not so much.

The Heroine’s Journey is one of my favoirte chapters, too. We all owe Joseph Campbell a debt of gratitude for his research into and synthesization of world mythology.