A Book of Secrets

Finding Solace in a Stubborn World

By: Derren Brown

Narrated by: Derren Brown

Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The Sunday Times best seller.

Perhaps being happy is not the answer after all.

In this thoughtful and brilliant new book, the internationally best-selling author of Happy considers the value of friction in our lives.

In chapters revealing his own moments of anger and prejudice, anxiety and shyness, loneliness and loss, Derren Brown examines the means to a more rewarding life, be it saving yourself from small talk or navigating middle age. Referencing the ideas of some of the world's great philosophers, he has to wonder if the Greeks were right - unless we tend to all aspects of our lives - our whole flawed natures - the snubbed secreted aspects of ourselves will wreak revenge. Perhaps we need to accept and experience complexity, and allow uncertainty? Is anxiety in fact a pointer for growth? Rather than being true to ourselves, might we instead prioritise better interaction with other people?

Considering these questions leads him to surprising sources of consolation and compassion.

©2021 Derren Brown (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Must-listen for those in the “middle passage”

I remember when I got curious about Derren Brown - he was a guest at one of the sports podcasts, and he said something along the lines that precise goals are tricky in that they provide a fuel to move towards them, but once achieved the person might feel lost, as life, at least temporarily, loses its meaning.

So this book is partially about what happens when we meet goals that were supposed to make us happy and accomplished, or when we just realise midway those might not be the goals to pursue, yet we can’t tell what is it that we should pursue. It’s about middle life crisis when the “old way” of doing things just doesn’t work anymore, and new ways, along with one’s true personality, are yet to crystallise.

I heard Happy and Bootcamp for the Brain from the author, and Derren Brown is very confident in what he broadcasts there, he has it figured out, the narrative just flows and makes it an entertaining listening.

In this book though, one could hear this is the subject that author is yet to fully settle in, this is still very sensitive matter for him. It is even clear from the manner of narration and how his tone of voice changes depending on the chapter (from rambling to calm recollections of the past).

So, this is not a book from celebrity, that wants to simply entertain, but rather a book from a person in search of a meaning (who just happens to be a celebrity). This also feels like a very personal book, and I imagine it required quite a lot of courage to let it out into the outside world. There’s a lot of wit and humour, but also plenty of very personal details and thoughts and observations.

To sum up these chaotic thoughts about the book, it’s not a must-read for those who just enjoy Derren Brown the entertainer as it is not an easy listen. It would be interesting to those who want to know him as a person, but it is certainly a must-read for those who are in the “middle passages” of life themselves.

…and big thanks to Derren for mentioning James Hollis and other authors when doing promo for this book, Passages were right on time for me.