The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck, M. D.
Paperback, 320 Pages, Published 1998, 2nd Edition
$14.00 USD
ISBN-10: 0684847248
ISBN-13: 9780684847245
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Perhaps no book in it’s generation has had a more insightful impact on our intellectual and spiritual lives than The Road Less Traveled.
With sales of more than 7 million copies in the United States and Canada, and translation into more than 23 languages, it has made publishing history, with more than 10 years on The New York Times bestseller list.
Told in a voice that is ageless in its measure of understanding, The Road Less Traveled continues to enable us to explore the nature of loving relationships and leads us toward a new serenity and fullness of life.
It helps us determine how to distinguish reliance from love; how to become a more sensitive parent; and ultimately how to become one’s own true self.
Recognizing that “Life is difficult” and that the journey to spiritual growth is a long one, Dr. Peck never bullies his readers, but gently steers them through the hard and often painful process of change toward a higher level of self-understanding.
Combining profound psychological insight and deep spirituality, this is an book that provides inspiration and understanding.
As Phyllis Theroux wrote in The Washington Post when the original edition of The Road Less Traveled was first published, “It is not just a book but a spontaneous act of generosity”
Customer Reviews
The “bible” of life- more than that, a book to live by by B. Lyons (Wales)
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“I have read many books in my lifetime but none has had such an impact as this one. This is easily, hands-down the best book of its kind. I have read Further Along the Road… by Peck and while it had useful information, it was not as informative and enjoyable as this book. ( I would also highly recommend “People of the Lie”) I enjoyed the stories of his personal life as well as the patients he helped (and that had helped him) along the way. This is a serious book that still made me laugh & cry sometimes.
It touches on so many issues of responsibility and discipline that no review I could write could possibly do it justice. Despite a previous reviewer’s comments that this book is inaccessable- it is not! Very easy to read & not too technical. This is a book that anyone who is willing to open themselves to the pain of change & challange, will forever be changed & enriched. And the author himself admitted that any definition of Love would be subject to criticism from others- but dealing with something as nebulous and intangible, I think Mr. Peck does a terrific job. Especially when he notes what love is NOT. It has helped me to identify when someone’s motives are not out of love- which seeks to help the person it touches.
I really cannot think of another book that is as important as this one. Give it to a loved one as a gift–a gift they will never forget and hopefully- if they aren’t “character disordered” they will see that this book can help them perhaps more than any other.“
A classic self help, spiritual discovery book by Annie Quaker
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“The book opens with the words “Life is difficult.” Once you accept that, it becomes a lot easier!
But most of us don’t accept that. We think if we do things the right way, or if other people would, then eventually life would become easier. Our material needs will be met, love will bloom forever, bad things won’t happen to us, and life will unfold according to our individual needs and wishes.
Guess again. If you’re constantly trying hard and finding life to be a major disappointment, you may find comfort and practical help in the reading and re-reading of this book.
Peck writes in an easy to read, easy to understand manner, writing of his life and that of many of his own patients. He begins with a section on Discipline; the next is on Love; then Growth and Religion; closing (how appropriately) with Grace.
When first I read this, in my mid-twenties, (living life in what one of my ‘friends’ called Life in the Breakdown Lane) the sections didn’t look like they’d offer anything to help me. Discipline was something I wanted to act out against, not find solace in. The section on Love, I was disappointed to find, did NOT provide any instructions on how to find a knight on a white horse. Growth and Religion seemed some kind of a paradox to me, and I was sure that Grace was nothing more than a name I wished I had.
But within those Sections I have again and again(at different levels) found peace of mind through solutions that at first I didn’t fully understand, but came to believe in — for anyone looking for help in improving their lives, from a non-dogmatic, non-fundamentalist point of view, I’d strongly recommend this book.
Read it, learn from it, and just as happens to the bunny in the children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit, you’ll find yourself becoming more alive, and more ‘real.’
I’d also encourage the reading of Sheldon Kopp’s “If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him” and (if you’re looking for some comic relief, always good when stressed) watch “Groundhog Day.”
This is truly a gem of a book (though I haven’t liked many others of his).”
Worth the effort by L. Rephann (Brooklyn, New York United States)
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“The way this book is writtenat times light, nurturing, and joyous but often heavy, challenging, and confrontationalis a metaphor for Scott Peck’s perspective on life. The first sentence of the book, “life is difficult,” reflects Scott Peck’s idea that spiritual/mental growth must be worked towards, that human beings are generally lazy, and that growth of consciousness is a life-long process. Everything is generally working against our growth: laziness; defense mechanisms employed to maintain the status quo of mental illness over the struggle for accepting responsibility; confusion over the true nature of love; resistance to “grace” (the idea of being open to our unconscious and the symbolic language of God); lack of discipline; adults being mentally and spiritually immature; poor parenting resulting in nuerosis and character disorder; and a culture that generally defends, accepts, and nurtures sickness over health.
Sometimes Scott Peck’s language is a little heavy, but it’s only because he packs so much valuable information and insight into each page. The first chapter on Discipline (a tool to solve our problems. Another great Peck idea: see problems as challenges, and it is in our response to problems that life takes on its meaning and color) was a bit dry to me, but contains excellent information on delaying gratification, balancing and bracketing (attempting to listen to others/view situations with objectivity), dedication to the truth, and a key to anyone seeking to grow: ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY.
The second section on Love was fascinating to me. Scott Peck does a great job debunking the myth of romantic love, but perhaps most valuable is the idea that real loving is about nurturing your own or another’s spiritual growth. Love is an action and a decision, not just a feeling. It’s so easy in our culture to imagine love as a feeling, red roses, wine, dinners, etc. That is the illusion of romance but has nothing to do with the work and courage of real active loving (Scott Peck says if an action doesn’t involve courage or work, it’s not loving!). Also in this chapter are a few controversial ideas, namely open marriage (Scott Peck’s extension of the idea that loving involves encouraging an individual’s total development…hmmm…sort of vague extension to me to involve plural relationships. what happened to discipline?) and even Scott Peck’s suggestion that he would have sex with a patient if he felt it would further both their spiritual development! (do not agree with this at all. any person in treatment is not in a position to navigate such power dynamics)
The final section on Grace reminds us to look to our unconscious for information and guidance. Dreams, nagging thoughts, sudden insights, etc. from our unconscious, which Scott Peck says knows more than our conscious ever could, are signs that there is a God, and he/she/it is a loving God interested in our spiritual development (reflection of Scott Peck’s idea of love, and a good idea if you ask me). These signs are meant to prod us into action.
In general, although at times you will be re-reading pages to make sure you got the meaning, and sometimes Scott Peck’s language will seem heavy and plodding, this book will help you see where you can expand the boundaries of your spirit, your mind, and your life, how you can love bigger and better (and make it mean more to everyone), how your life can have meaning and consistency, and how to be a loving, conscious person, parent, lover, mate, and friend. I underlined a LOT in this book, and going back to read just my underlines I am amazed at the amount of loving, valuable insight in this book. Growing and truly accepting responsibility for the quality of our lives is not as easy as it sounds. Scott Peck is very aware of this and gives a lot of support to keep on journeying this road less traveled.”
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