The week's bestselling books, April 27
2. Audition by Katie Kitamura (Riverhead Books: $28) An accomplished actor grapples with the varied roles she plays in her personal life.
3. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Henry Holt & Co.: $29) An unexpected wedding guest gets surprise help.
4. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $29) A woman upends her domestic life.
5. Strangers in Time by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing: $30) Two London teens scarred by World War II find an unexpected ally in a bereaved bookshop owner.
6. Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (Forever: $28) After one perfect date, a couple navigates family crises and long distances.
7. Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Knopf: $32) The story of four women and their loves, longings and desires.
8. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Riverhead Books: $30) Worlds collide when a teenager vanishes from her Adirondacks summer camp.
9. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (Entangled: Red Tower Books: $30) A dragon rider faces more tests in the 'Fourth Wing' sequel.
10. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Simon & Schuster: $29) A love triangle unearths dangerous secrets.
…
1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House: $30) How to stop wasting energy on things you can't control.
2. Everything Is Tuberculosis (signed edition) by John Green (Crash Course Books: $28). The deeply human story of the fight against the world's deadliest infectious disease.
3. Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus and Dan Ozzi (Dey Street Books: $33) A memoir from the vocalist, bassist and founding member of pop-punk band Blink-182.
4. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life.
5. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (Knopf: $28) Reckoning with what it means to live in a West that betrays its fundamental values.
6. How to Work With Complicated People by Ryan Leak (Maxwell Leadership: $30) Strategies for working effectively with even the most challenging individuals.
7. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (Penguin: $32) The music producer on how to be a creative person.
8. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (Pantheon: $27) A meditation on freedom, trust, loss and our relationship with the natural world.
9. The Next Day by Melinda French Gates (Flatiron Books: $26) The former co-chair of the Gates Foundation recounts pivotal moments in her life.
10. Who Is Government? Michael Lewis, editor (Riverhead Books: $30) A civics lesson from a team of writers and storytellers.
…
1. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18)
2. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial: $22)
3. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press: $17)
4. North Woods by Daniel Mason (Random House Trade Paperbacks: $18)
5. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $19)
6. Table for Two by Amor Towles (Penguin Books: $19)
7. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Vintage: $19)
8. Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage (Dial Press Trade Paperback: $18)
9. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (Grand Central: $20)
10. The Husbands by Holly Gramazio (Vintage: $18)
…
1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12)
2. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20)
3. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18)
4. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21)
5. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17)
6. Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch (Tarcher: $20)
7. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (Knopf: $36)
8. Eve by Cat Bohannon (Vintage: $20)
9. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $18)
10. Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman (Picador: $19)
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Rhonda Byrne is best known in the United States as the visionary behind The Secret , the self-help juggernaut that reignited America's obsession with the Law of Attraction. But beneath the glittering surface of her message— ask, believe, receive —lies a sophisticated commercial framework that turned a single idea into a multi-platform empire. This article explores the Rhonda Byrne business model, focusing specifically on how she monetised belief in the U.S. market through publishing, media, licensing, and digital strategies. With a sharp focus on monetisation mechanics rather than metaphysics, this article maps out how a spiritual concept evolved into a billion-dollar American business. The rise of Rhonda Byrne and The Secret 's influence on American consumer habits When The Secret first hit American bookshelves in 2006, few anticipated the cultural firestorm it would ignite. Based on New Thought philosophies and the age-old concept of manifestation, Byrne's brand of positivity offered something uniquely American: a promise that personal desire, if focused correctly, could translate into financial success, romantic relationships, or even health. The book's appeal was amplified by the Oprah effect—Byrne was featured twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show , instantly turning The Secret into a household name. But this was not merely a stroke of luck. Byrne's team had a meticulously prepared U.S. strategy: targeted marketing, viral DVD sales, and syndication-ready messaging that aligned perfectly with American consumer psychology, particularly in the post-9/11 era of anxiety and economic uncertainty. From self-publishing to global licensing: The monetisation of belief Initially self-published in DVD format in Australia, The Secret took a calculated leap into the U.S. through Byrne's independent media company, Prime Time Productions. This allowed full control over production and distribution—critical for maximising early profits and leveraging licensing rights. Once the product gained traction, Byrne negotiated with Simon & Schuster for U.S. book distribution, securing lucrative royalty terms while retaining key international rights. The licensing deals exploded from there: translated editions, branded journals, calendars, mobile apps, audio books, and classroom curricula. Byrne tapped into a global appetite, but it was U.S. licensing revenue—aided by Barnes & Noble deals and mass retail presence at Target, Walmart, and Amazon—that constituted the lion's share of initial earnings. She transformed a philosophical idea into an intellectual property portfolio. How The Secret was marketed as an American lifestyle product Rather than promoting The Secret as an esoteric text, Byrne positioned it as a lifestyle framework—accessible, digestible, and highly brandable. In the U.S., this meant aligning the brand with wellness, personal finance, self-empowerment, and productivity. Promotional materials often mirrored the aesthetics of life coaching and motivational content, appealing to the same demographic that consumed Tony Robbins seminars or Suze Orman books. The visual branding—sleek maroon tones, parchment-style fonts, and antique script—gave the illusion of ancient wisdom while being entirely repackaged for a modern American market. Byrne's U.S. strategy drew heavily on emotional branding, tapping into personal agency and aspirational living, two core pillars of American consumer culture. The spiritual economy and targeted wellness branding in the U.S. In America, the spirituality industry is less about doctrine and more about utility. Byrne's brilliance lay in her ability to reframe Law of Attraction as a toolset, not a belief system. This resonated especially with Millennials and Gen Xers looking for secular spirituality. Her products were marketed not through churches or religious circuits, but through wellness expos, YouTube testimonials, and self-help influencer networks. Additionally, the U.S. version of The Secret movement attracted an audience of women between the ages of 25 and 50—predominantly middle-class, self-motivated, and interested in holistic health, business success, and personal transformation. Byrne effectively monetised U.S. wellness branding trends decades ahead of today's meditation app and coaching subscription booms. The business backbone of the Rhonda Byrne empire Beyond the initial success of The Secret , Byrne expanded her brand into a multi-product business ecosystem. While many associate her only with books and DVDs, the full business structure involves real estate holdings, streaming services, limited-edition releases, and private publishing contracts—all orchestrated under her corporate entities registered across the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Two decades later, the Rhonda Byrne business model has evolved into a long-term revenue machine powered by repackaged content, re-releases, and evergreen messaging that continues to sell to new audiences. Product diversification: Beyond books and documentaries Byrne didn't stop with The Secret . Follow-ups like The Power , The Magic , and Hero were timed strategically for holiday seasons in the U.S., often bundled with journals, vision boards, or guided affirmations. These books were not standalone projects; they functioned as modular expansions of the same core message, enabling customers to buy into a continuity marketing loop. By 2020, Netflix premiered The Secret: Dare to Dream , a feature-length film starring Katie Holmes. The movie wasn't just content—it was an elaborate content marketing tool reinforcing the brand's legitimacy for a younger, more digitally native U.S. audience. Every product served a dual purpose: revenue and lead generation for future sales. U.S. publishing deals and royalty structures behind the scenes While Byrne retains much creative and brand control, her partnership with Simon & Schuster in the U.S. has been pivotal. Unlike typical first-time authors, Byrne reportedly negotiated above-industry royalties, sometimes as high as 25% on hardcover sales. Add to that the back-end licensing of audiobook rights through Audible and streaming rights via Netflix, and Byrne's U.S. royalty stack is deeply diversified. Also crucial: republication rights. Her business entities license older works in repackaged forms—gift editions, e-book bundles, and anniversary releases—ensuring long-tail profitability from existing content libraries. Her team leverages these deals across major American book fairs and online marketplaces, particularly Amazon and Apple Books. The role of exclusive distribution in building brand scarcity Unlike many self-help authors who flood multiple platforms, Byrne's strategy emphasized selective exclusivity. For instance, early editions of her DVDs were only available via the official The Secret website or specific American retailers. This helped build a sense of rarity and desire—similar to luxury fashion drops or limited edition sneakers. This scarcity strategy also applied to Byrne's speaking engagements and media appearances—they were infrequent but high-impact. By limiting access, she increased perceived authority and demand within American self-help and spiritual circles. Rhonda Byrne's digital strategy and influence on new-age entrepreneurship As digital platforms exploded in the 2010s, Byrne adapted quickly. She understood that the future of spiritual and motivational content wasn't on bookstore shelves but in online ecosystems. Her website, became the central node in an expanding web of content, courses, and streaming options tailored to a U.S. market increasingly hungry for 24/7 access to self-help. and monetising an online following Launched as a basic companion site in the 2000s, evolved into a subscription-based streaming platform offering exclusive content, including affirmations, masterclasses, guided visualisations, and member-only film access. Users could pay monthly or annually—introducing a recurring revenue model uncommon in spiritual publishing at the time. Beyond video content, the site hosts affiliate products, branded merchandise, and ticketed digital events, all monetised through e-commerce integrations and Stripe-based payment portals. The platform also leverages email funnels and behavioural tracking, retargeting U.S. users with product suggestions and exclusive offers. Byrne's influence on the U.S. motivational speaker circuit While Byrne herself is not a prolific public speaker, her influence shaped the U.S. motivational speaker economy. Speakers at events like Mindvalley Live or Hay House summits frequently cite The Secret , with some even licensing Byrne's messaging in seminars. In return, Byrne's team has engaged in content partnerships and cross-promotion across high-traffic U.S. podcasts and social media channels. This integration not only enhanced visibility but created downstream revenue—many motivational coaches now serve as de facto brand ambassadors, funneling new American audiences back to The Secret ecosystem. How her brand shaped online coaching and wellness marketing models The Byrne brand prefigured the now-common coaching economy—think Law of Attraction coaching, manifestation mentors, and mindset consultants. Many of today's digital wellness entrepreneurs credit The Secret as their inspiration and often structure their business models similarly: digital downloads, email courses, private Facebook communities, and branded merchandise. Her approach gave rise to a template for belief monetisation: package an ideology, attach it to a lifestyle, build community, and layer it with content upsells. This structure is now common among American wellness influencers and spiritual coaches. A unique business legacy: What Rhonda Byrne's model tells us about U.S. spirituality commerce Rhonda Byrne didn't just publish a book—she catalysed an entire economic movement rooted in individual agency, emotional branding, and spiritual consumerism. In the United States, where belief and capitalism often intersect, Byrne's business model offers a textbook case of how spiritual ideologies can be turned into commercial IP portfolios. 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Modern figures like Jay Shetty or Gabby Bernstein have replicated aspects of the Rhonda Byrne business model, monetising mindfulness, manifestation, or spiritual insight via digital memberships, workshops, and product sales. Why the Rhonda Byrne business model may become a Harvard case study Given its unique blend of ideology, IP management, media strategy, and emotional marketing, the Rhonda Byrne business model offers a rich case study for American business schools. It intersects key subjects: branding, publishing economics, cultural psychology, and platform monetisation. In many ways, it's a model of soft power capitalism, where personal transformation fuels commercial transactions. Conclusion: Rhonda Byrne and the monetisation of belief in America's digital spiritual economy Rhonda Byrne's billion-dollar success was never just about The Secret —it was about strategically packaging belief for a country where hope sells. Her brand preceded the modern wellness boom, prefigured the influencer monetisation playbook, and created a repeatable framework for how spiritual ideas can thrive in America's digital economy. Like Calm or Headspace, Byrne built a business not from tangible products, but from an emotional and cognitive experience. The difference? She did it before mobile apps or Instagram ever existed. As U.S. consumers continue to spend billions on spiritual self-help, Rhonda Byrne's model remains a blueprint for monetising metaphysics—one that continues to shape the future of belief-driven capitalism in America. This article is intended for informational and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute endorsement or promotion of any individual, company, or entity mentioned. Business Upturn makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided.
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MGK revealed he was considering the audition for the role of Bert, who was ultimately played by Peter DreimanisNEED TO KNOW MGK appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, July 31, episode During his conversation, he revealed his aspirations to act in film and TV He explained to the host that, along with productions passing on him, he recently passed on auditioning for Sinners after he learned he would be required to say a racial slurMGK reveals he almost auditioned for Sinners before declining the opportunity. The musician, formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly, appeared on the Thursday, July 31, episode of The Pat McAfee Show, and revealed that he denied an audition for Ryan Coogler's box office hit after he saw he would be required to say a racial slur. The 35-year-old singer confessed to the host that he has 'a lot of aspirations to be in movies. It just hasn't panned out that way,' adding, 'I'm on universal timing, though, so we'll see.' MGK continued, 'I mean, there's there's been plenty of movies that come out that I'm like, 'Ah, I was supposed to be in that.' Or, 'Oh, I did auditions for that.' Like Sinners, I was supposed to be in that." The "Wild Boy" rapper considered auditioning for the role of Bert, who was ultimately played by Peter Dreimanis. The character is married to Lola Kirke's Joan, and the two become vampires after they unknowingly let mysterious vampire Remmick (Jack O'Connell) into their home. 'The vampire — they had me set up to do the audition— it's the one that's in the house, so he's the second vampire, the one that the guy comes and eats the family," MGK remembered. "In the audition, he has to say the 'n-word' and I wouldn't do it.' Set in 1932 Mississippi, identical twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by Michael B. Jordan, return to their hometown to leave their troubles behind and turn an abandoned mill into a blues nightclub. Backed by stolen money and joined by their cousin Sammie (Miles Caton), the club's grand opening draws in more than just curious locals. Among the guests is Remmick, Bert and Joan, whose arrival turns the celebration into something far more sinister. Despite his decision to pass on the film, he told McAfee and his panel of guests that he's still eager to act in film and TV. "Hey, dude. I'd like to be in cinema while I still look young," he cheekily said directly to the camera, as McAfee added, "Okay. All right. That was the message to Hollywood." "I would really like to be recruited into a movie while I still got some looks," MGK reiterated, and McAfee declared, "We're part of an Oscar run here." Sinners premiered in theaters on April 18, earning $45.6 million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend. It reportedly made over $365 million in theaters, per Deadline, and became the highest-grossing original film since the pandemic, according to Forbes. The movie's wild success even knocked the popular A Minecraft Movie out of its top spot — and made history as the first horror in 35 years to receive an A from CinemaScore, a company that polls opening-night audiences. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Sinners is available to stream on HBO Max. It is also available for purchase on Prime Video, Fandango At Home and Apple TV. Read the original article on People
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Machine Gun Kelly Claims He Refused ‘Sinners' Audition Offer Because ‘I Wouldn't Say' the N-Word'
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