If that first book was Dyer's most fun to read (the play on the word erogenous is an indication), his most complete and arguably finest book is Real Magic. Packed full of insights, it is a self-actualisation guide for real life that borrows freely from the best thinkers of East and West.

Dyer took the phrase 'real magic' from Harry Houdini, the famous escape artist. For Dyer, real magic is the paradoxical truth that anyone can become a magician, a miracle-maker in their everyday lives. This might seem far-fetched, but as Dyer says, it is simply a matter of changing the way you define your existence. He quotes Teilhard de Chardin: 'We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.'

Dyer sees three basic forms of enlightenment:

    .    Enlightenment through suffering

This might also be called the 'why me?' path. Events occur, suffering takes place, and something is learned. But when suffering is our only teacher, we shut off the possibility of the miraculous.

    .    Enlightenment through outcome

In this path we have goals and ambitions that make sense of life. While superior to enlightenment through suffering, we must still be reactive and struggle, missing out on the higher awareness that creates magic.

    .    Enlightenment through purpose

Everything in the universe has a purpose, and by living according to our true purpose we begin to walk in step with it, magically creating what we want instead of battling against life. Apart from purpose, we create a miracle mindset through withholding judgement ('you do not define people with your judgements, your judgements define you'), developing intuition, knowing that intentions create your reality, and surrendering to the universe to provide for your needs.

Purpose extends to love life, too. Dyer says all our relationships are part of a divine necessity; they were meant to be, so make the most of them. Spiritual partners go beyond what they may superficially have in common to see that their relationship has to do with the evolution of their souls. With this basic insight, we treat people as a gift, not a chattel. We try to be kind, rather than right. We allow people as much space and time as they need, which renews the relationship. Lastly, since we know each person is a wonderful mystery, we no longer have to understand them. We 'honour the incomprehensible'!

The very personal way Dyer speaks to the reader has made him a favourite to millions. People identify with him as a person who has managed to combine the spiritual path with the patience-snapping demands of family life. Dyer's secret is meditation, and he is fond of quoting Pascal that, 'All man's miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone.'

If sitting quietly in a room alone seems an impossible task for you, a good alternative would be to read this book.