Road Less Travelled

Bad Points

If one is not very religious this is not a good book to read. It has actually changed my perspective on how I view God. My belief in God has diminished from reading this book.

General Comments

M.Scott Peck, The Road Less Travelled (Arrow New-age): When writing a book and referring to a religion "Catholicism", and being a Buddhist at the time, one may mix up his points on building a true faith in God.

Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

by Peck, M Scott, M.D.

About this title: One of the most successful self-help books of the 20th century, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED stayed on the New York Times Best Seller List for 10 years, and has sold millions of copies. Morgan Scott Peck begins simply: "Life is difficult." His main message is that life is about change, and that personal growth is a process or a journey for which each person bears responsibility. Peck's background as a psychiatrist informs much of this book. He uses terms and concepts such as "transference" and "cathexis," and refers to case studies of his patients to illustrate his points. However, the key words in the book are simple ones that carry much weight: discipline, which he says is required to solve life's problems; love, which he reworks and clarifies in an extended meditation on what true love is and is not; and grace, which is the highest goal--an awareness of, and aspiration to a powerful force outside of us. Throughout the book, there is a call for responsibility, for values and good behavior, and for a sense of both independence and interdependence. Peck's insight into human suffering, his rigorous call for discipline, and his grasp of the importance of the spiritual dimension in a good life appeal to modern readers