PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death, and God

by Frank Warren

For the past four years, Frank Warren, known as "the most trusted stranger in America," has invited people all over the world to send him creatively decorated postcards bearing secrets they have never before revealed.

Warren's fifth book presents a never-before-seen collection of the most personal PostSecrets he's ever received—those dealing with life, death, and issues of faith and belief. The book lays bare the confessions of people at every stage of life, from every major faith (or from no faith). Warren's latest collection of secrets is his most profoundly moving yet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Memoir, Humor, Adult, Religion, Photography

276 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2009

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you send your most secret confessions (anonymously) to a stranger so he could share them with other strangers? Many people have sent Frank Warren the most intimate details of their life so that he can put them on display - things they have told no one else - but we will never know who they are. Funny, sad, exciting and horrifying; excellent glimpse into our collective questions of what it all means.

[Trudi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Post Secret phenomenon. Who knew the act of baring one’s deepest secrets anonymously on a post card would resonate with so many people all over the world? These sometimes quirky, sometimes tragic, always heartfelt confessions astound me in their beautiful simplicity. Every card is a canvas, where text and images unite in powerful, unassuming ways. Do you have a secret to tell?

[Sparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎"If oblivion is all there is when we die,
If nothing happens other than
Suffering ends, or
A happy life was lived, or
An evil life was snuffed out, or
A boring life is at last over,
I think that's a wonderful alternative
To Heaven and Hell,
And I'd choose oblivion."

My favourite secret. I loved the theme of this book and more of the secrets moved me than the other books. It made me think about my own secrets and made me realize other things that I didn't realize mattered to me.

[Emily Polson]

My inner snoop loved this. I can imagine how incredible this was as an art installation, but reading them in the book was still fun. These are the kinds of secrets I wonder about when I see strangers walking down the street.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

book made me feel I could share one of secrets. And I did. It wasn't really a secret but it still felt good to see my feelings written on paper.

[Eli Seibert]

I don't think I can give this any kind of star grade. How do you grade peoples' deepest secrets?

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for a $0.50 steal at the St. Andrew's Book Sale. (2018)

Nothing like reading other people's troubles to mute my own. (2021)

[Sarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have read all the PostSecret books there are at this point. I find them terribly engrossing, funny, sad, and intimate. One of the neatest things about it has been that I checked them out from the library and patrons had put in their own secrets between the pages. A really fascinating glimpse into the human psyche.


Book Description
Publication Date: October 6, 2009

For the past four years, Frank Warren, known as "the most trusted stranger in America," has invited people all over the world to send him creatively decorated postcards bearing secrets they have never before revealed. He has shared these PostSecrets on his blog, in an internationally traveling art exhibit, and in four electrifying and bestselling books: PostSecret, My Secret, The Secret Lives of Men and Women, and A Lifetime of Secrets.

Warren's fifth book presents a never-before-seen collection of the most personal PostSecrets he's ever received—those dealing with life, death, and issues of faith and belief. The book lays bare the confessions of people at every stage of life, from every major faith (or from no faith). Warren's latest collection of secrets is his most profoundly moving yet.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine your mailbox being filled with bizarre postcards everyday--secrets from strangers all over the world. That's life for Frank Warren over the last few years, ever since he invited the mail to come in. I hope he never sells his house and moves, because that Copper Ridge Rd. address will probably keep getting postcards for a long time. I'm tempted to send him a card myself, after flipping through this collection and seeing some affixed to the staircase wall at the Visionary Art Museum yesterday. My favorite secrets are the funny ones, like the teachers who admit to hating kids. I also appreciate the artistry of some of these postcards... Looks like a lot of good artists came forward to bare their souls! This is Warren's fourth (?) book of PostSecret postcards and probably has more religious secrets than the others, but also has plenty of other topics like the person who doesn't shave on days she might be tempted to have sex with someone she shouldn't.

[KaMi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, I'm more of a fan of the 1000 Journals Project. Still a fun project though.

[melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. There are a few difficult ones though.

[Malarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these secrets are too funny

[Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, I think, probably my favorite PostSecret collection so far. The focus on confession made for some deeply affecting pieces, though certainly not all deal directly with the theme of "life, death, and God." Like other entries in the PostSecret series, these are assembled from submitted postcards consisting of hidden feelings and long concealed memories of participants. The variety is both interesting ; some are heart wrenching, some are simply silly, but all express the human condition. Even if one cannot identify with all of the secrets, it is great to get a little look into how other people process the triumphs, tragedies, and simple joys and annoyances of life. The religious take, from both the faithful and the skeptical, were to me the most interesting. The postcards themselves range from simple cutout printed words pasted to a standard postcard to pure works of art in themselves, again expressing the diversity of human experience. I've enjoyed all of the PostSecret experience, and this really exemplifies what the website project is all about.

[Gus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this at the bookstore that I work at (not knowing that it was about God...silly me, I thought it would be funny!). I wouldn't buy it, it's a quick read and pretty depressing (I know, I know...of COURSE PS is depressing!). My favorite one was when someone says they always think of Jesus as looking like Where's Waldo!

[_ teafunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awed.

This was my first PostSecret book but I've read secrets for years online. This collection was moving filled with secrets about complex issues like faith, death, belief in God/no belief, etc. I was surprised how well each secret fit together in an overall theme. The book kept my emotions bouncing from humor to sadness to delight. Enjoyable read, I'll definitely read another PS book.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book was fantastic; filled with confessions that evoked all the feels. I read a few post cards a day and they served as a reminder that I am not alone in this,what sometimes feels like, tumultous world.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Post secret book I read about a month ago, since then I have fallen in love with the work Frank Warren does and these books are perfect for anyone who feels a bit lost in the world. Its the only Non-Fiction book I will willingly read.

[Jayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy this series. It can help you let out your frustrations anonymously. This one is a bit more sensitive topic wise. It can be a little bothersome to read some but it is someone's honest opinion or secret. I still find this one just as fascinating.

[Kandice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading any PostSecret book.

[Sarah W Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a secret.

[Jessie Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only complaint is that not all the postcards were horizontal. The postcards themselves were interesting, insightful, sad, and/or artful. A good cross section of the collection.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, raw & inspiring.

This PostSecret book had images that came from the souls of their makers.

I'll carry their secrets close to my heart.

[Kara Sabbagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read through it all in one sitting 😯

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with another PostSecret book I've read before this one is also a wonderful work of art that evokes many different feelings in the viewer.

[Kim Reynolds-Jolles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first post secret book I have read, i think the entire project is incredible. Tank You Frank for giving people a place to go...

[Jayde Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cool, I liked the illustrations. How interesting it is to see that people are the same, no matter who you are or who you choose to be, at the heart we are all the same.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

#36

Picked this up at a bag sale today. I remember when it first cake out when I was in college but never read it. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.

[Nichole J · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first PostSecret book. I'm now addicted!!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, tragic, hilarious.