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Derren Brown
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A Book of Secrets: Finding comfort in a complex world THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Paperback – May 26, 2022

by Derren Brown (Author)
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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Enlightening, thought-provoking and illuminating. Derren Brown asks questions about the world, and his intelligent curiosity benefits us all.'ELIZABETH DAYIn A Book of Secrets , the star of 'Showman', and internationally bestselling author, Derren Brown shows us that it is in those moments when we are faced with adversity that we can find life's most lasting rewards.In thirteen fascinating chapters, Derren takes us on a personal journey - to the scene of a childhood humiliation, to lonely evenings on tour, to being paralysed by shyness at a dinner party, to navigating middle age and to finding love.Sharing moments of anger, frustration, loneliness and loss, Derren reveals how it's possible to find consolation and compassion. Even in our most challenging times we can find meaning and grow.'Derren Brown is a mine of wisdom, humanity and kindness - everything we need to sustain and nourish ourselves.'ALAIN DE BOTTON***** 'This is the most I've seen Derren lay himself bare'***** 'Funny, moving and always, always meaningful'***** 'Derren's best book to date and the best book I have read this year'***** 'Everything you need in this is a gem. I can't wait to read it a second time'
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  1. Print length
    293 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin (Transworld)
  4. Publication date
    May 26, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    8.5 x 5.43 x 0.72 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0552177105
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0552177108
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin (Transworld) (May 26, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 293 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0552177105
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0552177108
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 5.43 x 0.72 inches

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Derren Brown

Derren Brown

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
486 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

James C
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2022
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His wisdom never fails
One person found this helpful
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Rusty Shakelford
4.0 out of 5 stars Tell me a secret
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2014
My uncle found this book on a bookshelf in a thrift shop. I'm addicted to this book, so put down your coffee and start reading it. I started reading about liars and got hooked so quickly, no other book can top it. So now my life is complete :-) (well almost)!!!
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Top reviews from other countries

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GFY
5.0 out of 5 stars Stark
Reviewed in Germany on May 5, 2024
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Wirklich starkes Selbsthilfebuch von Derren Brown. Der Meister der Mentalmagie weiß wie er Leute erreicht, und auch diese Buch hat mich erneut begeistert. Man muss nicht unbedingt erst Probleme haben um sich einen Ratgeber zuzulegen, jeder der dieses Buch aufmerksam liest, wird davon in seinem Alltag zehren können. Klare Kaufempfehlung.
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Albert Morcerf
5.0 out of 5 stars Good companion to Showman - came at the right time
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2021
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Picked this up after seeing Derren's 'Showman', and it's an excellent corollary to that performance. If you're yet to see that show and you've already bought this book I'd highly recommend waiting until you've seen him before you crack this open.

Having not read any of Brown's previous efforts I can't place this in the canon, but the show was unexpectedly thoughtful and moving, and thought this might expand on some of the themes explored there. On that count, it doesn't disappoint. As someone who lost a parent to COVID-19 last year some of the writing in this book elucidated things I've been feeling, but haven't been found a way to express. I won't go into much more detail - that would be to ruin some of the effect - but suffice it to say that there are consolations to be found in some of the most surprising places out there. Even, sometimes, when you don't really know it.

A few reviewers have mentioned the style of Brown's writing. It is noticeably flowery at times, but the man is a consummate performer, and this book feels like a performance of a sort, like a one-man show in words. And the arc it takes you on, from Broadway to Sainsbury's, is always eminently relatable, even if you're not the type of person who spends their days working out how best to pull the wool over the eyes of others.

To some degree we're all tricksters, misdirecting even ourselves if it means taking the path of least resistance. What this book helps you realise is how universal that feeling is, that niggling that tells us things are not quite right if they're not how we imagine they should be. And how, despite being more effort, it probably is worth taking the time to push through all of that, and to consider a full life as opposed to a merely "good" one.

So, in summary - if you've seen his latest show this will deepen and expand that experience, and if you don't intend to see it this is a great read, especially if you're ludicrously busy and want to take something in parts.

It came at the right time for me.
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Dr. Claus Wunderlich
3.0 out of 5 stars Na ja. Eher anstrengend und wenig informativ.
Reviewed in Germany on November 15, 2022
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Bin ein alter Fan von Derren Brown und wurde durch dieses Buch dann doch ziemlich enttäuscht. Habe es im Englischen Original gelesen und war auch diesmal wieder von seiner sprachlichen Finesse fasziniert.

Leider ist es inhaltlich nicht sonderlich ergiebig. Liegt vielleicht auch daran, dass es darin auch viel um den zur Zeit des Verfassens stattgefundenen Tod seines Vaters geht. Mithin durchzieht eine gewisse Melancholie das ganze Buch, die jedoch - jedenfalls bei mir - nicht die durchaus mögliche emotionale Anteilnahme ausgelöst hat, die dem Ganzen einen gewissen Reiz gegeben hätte.

Zusätzlich finden sich noch langatmige pseudophilosphische Ausführungen sowie Tipps zum Umgang mit Midlife Crisis und anderen Unpässlichkeiten, die kaum über Binsenweisheiten hinausreichen. Viele Möglichkeiten wurden dabei verschenkt.

Ein paar interessante Anregungen enthält es indes dennoch, daher will ich hier auch keinen Total-Veriss abgeben. Insgesamt fand ich es jedoch recht anstrengend, es zu lesen; und nach der ersten Hälfte lag es dann auch den ganzen Sommer irgendwo im Eck, bevor ich mich doch noch aufraffen konnte, es zu Ende zu lesen.

Jedenfalls kein Vergleich mit Derrens sehr gelungenen, unterhaltsamen, erkenntnisreichen früheren Werken 'Tricks of the Mind' und 'Confessions of a Conjurer', die beide auch noch voller Esprit waren, und in die ich ganz und in Teilen immer mal wieder reingeschaut habe.

Derrens vorheriges Buch 'Happy' fand ich auch schon nicht mehr ganz so gelungen, jedoch enthielt es noch allerhand Erkenntnisgewinn und Einblicke in interessante Betrachtungsweisen.

Fazit: Kein Muss, auch nicht für Derren Brown Fans.
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Milton
5.0 out of 5 stars Magical! Helpful and charming. Maybe not always an easy read, but definitely a rewarding one.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2022
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The author's willingness to tell secrets of his inner world and childhood experiences, to share his intelligent, articulate reflections on his personal life and his wide reading of literature, his conclusions on some of the important things in life ... so many aspects of this book contributed to my enjoyment and delight in reading it, and subsequently to seeing his live 'Showman' show. Thank you for your work, Mr Brown. Truly appreciated.
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Amazonian Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and interesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2022
Verified Purchase
A Book of Secrets is filled with Derren Brown's wisdom and unique insights into how to live a better life.

It builds on the philosophy described in his previous book Happy. He talks about taking stock of life as we approach middle age, and advises refocussing from striving for often unattainable goals to working on our relationships with those around us as a path to fulfilment and contentment. We should not avoid friction and struggle, but instead try to embrace these as a means to growth. He advocates treating both others and our own past selves with kindness and compassion.

His musings are interspersed with anecdotes that lay his own perceived shortcomings bare, making it relatable as well as instructive. Unlike Happy however, it's harder to understand how to apply it all to real life. So, maybe not my favourite Derren Brown book - perhaps because this deeper dive into his philosophy of life demands more of you - but as ever he is insightful, interesting and above all, thought-provoking.
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