The World of PostSecret - Frank Warren

Frank Warren started PostSecret as a community art project ten years ago - asking people to send him 'artful secrets'. He hoped to receive 365. To date, he's received over a million, with more on the way every day.

I remember being fascinated by this idea when it first came out. I became a devotee of the site, looking for 'new releases' on the PostSecret website on Sundays and reading all the book compilations. And somehow I fell away from it. But, the latest book release (the first in five years), The World of PostSecret, has again piqued my interest.

What is about secrets that captures our attention? To see if others might have the same doubts, hopes, wishes, fears and dreams as ourselves? This latest book is close to 300 pages - and there are many and varied secrets portrayed. Honestly, I'm sure everyone will find one close to home somewhere in the book.

The way the sender chooses to display/announce/portray their secret on a simple postcard is fascinating as well - truly artistic and imaginative. Interspersed throughout the book are some short missives from Warren - and the original postal worker who handled delivery.

I found it hard to just read straight through from first page to last. Although here are many happy secrets, the sad seem to far outweigh them and many are truly heartbreaking. Happy or sad, they will have you thinking, perhaps remembering or planning....

I think this is still a fascinating project and the spins off Warren has pursued are laudable - the PostSecret community has raised over a million dollars suicide prevention programs.

And really, there's no other way to rate this than five stars. Fascinating, thought provoking and addictive. And kind of appropriate at this time of the year as everyone is making resolutions. See for yourself - here's a peek inside The World of PostSecret.