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

My rating:

add to my books

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

by M. Scott Peck

3.89 · rating details · 9,968 ratings · 682 reviews

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 dependency from love; how to become a more sensitive parent; and ultimately how to become one's own true self.

Paperback, 316 pages

Published January 24th 1979 by Simon & Schuster (first published 1978)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

Best Books To Frame Thinking

10th out of 190 books — 55 voters

Wise Men and Other Stories by Mike O'Mary

Best Books To Gift

9th out of 142 books — 34 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 14,488)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

May 13, 2007

Jonathan Ridenour rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone

Shelves: psychology, spirituality

This book is by now a classic in the field of psychology. Yet, it's written for a mainstream audience and goes through some of the basic tenets of psychological theory (e.g. attachment, individuation, boundaries, delayed gratification) but does so through the lense of spiritual growth. Peck is an excellent writer and fine therapist who is sensitive to the issues of spirituality. The case examples and stories in the book really bring his concepts and ideas together. This is a book that I woul...more

like 6 likes

· see review

Sep 28, 2007

Laura rated it

Shelves: non-fiction

"Dr." Peck's first doorstop. Inexplicably, this sorry waste of time and paper remained on the NYT Bestseller list for something like ten years. (I don't know why I'm surprised, actually -- this is the same country that elected George W. Bush twice.) If you were unfortunate enough to buy this, or have it given to you as a gift, do yourself a favor now: put this one the shelf right beside that other pop-pseudo-psychology piece of shit Michelle Remembers. Leave them both within spitting d...more

like 9 likes

· see review

Aug 21, 2007

Jamie rated it

Shelves: spiritualandpsych-read

A very insightful book authored by a psychologist/psychiatrist who reveals the secrets to fulfilling, healthy, meaningful and lasting relationships. It really makes you see yourself and others in a different light, as well as words and concepts we think we understand. His hallmark argument is that we so often view love as a noun instead of a verb... as something that just happens to us or doesn't happen to us, instead of an ongoing task we must work at...that work, that action-is love. In fact...more

like 4 likes

· see review

Aug 09, 2010

Birdie rated it

· review of another edition

An. Extraordinary book about Life and the art of Living. It was the most complete and indepth book about personal development from wich one become much more aware of the nature of all kinds of relashionships. This book will help To shape your vision of Life!
Please, just read it. Your perspective about things will never be the same. Notable, indeed!

like 4 likes

· see review

Feb 07, 2011

Chris Wolfe rated it

It gets four stars for the simple truth of the opening lines:

"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."

It amazes me how much damage I have done by expecting life to ...more

like 3 likes

· see review

Jan 14, 2009

Nichole rated it

I initially picked up this book because I was told that this author was the inspiration for a women's retreat I went to a couple years ago. However, I found no connection to the theme of the retreat and this book.

Initially I found Peck's theories on discipline appealing. He promoted fundamental ideas of Buddhism, such as life is suffering and only through acceptance of that suffering can we truly live and be free of it. He believes that the pursuit of the truth regardless of the pai...moreI initially picked up this book because I was told that this author was the inspiration for a women's retreat I went to a couple years ago. However, I found no connection to the theme of the retreat and this book.

Initially I found Peck's theories on discipline appealing. He promoted fundamental ideas of Buddhism, such as life is suffering and only through acceptance of that suffering can we truly live and be free of it. He believes that the pursuit of the truth regardless of the pain involved is fundamental to mental health, and that only through valuing ourselves can we value life and love those around us.

However, while reading examples of cases that Peck has worked on in psychotherapy I felt that his confidence in his prognosis's and what he thought his clients ought to do was rather pretentious. Furthermore as I read I got the suspicion that Peck was rather homophobic or at least that he thought homosexuality was a sign of poor mental health. First of all, in all his discussions on love and relationships not once does he relate his theories in the context of a homosexual relationship. Second he uses examples of actions that his clients took to move toward better mental health including an example of a young homosexual boy summoning the strength to ask a girl out. I was starting to really dislike this author at this point, but it was the next few pages that killed it for me.

Halfway through the book where Peck is saying that love is discipline, he thought it appropriate to use slavery as a metaphor. He states,

"While one should not be slave to one's feelings, self discipline does not mean the squashing of one's feelings into nonexistence. I frequently tell my patients that their feelings are their slaves and that the art of self discipline is like the art of slaving owning"

I can't believe he refers to slave owning as an "art". He continues,

"First of all, one's feelings are the source of one's energy; they provide the horsepower, or slave power, that makes it possible for us to accomplish the task of living. Since they work for us, we should treat them with respect."

It gets worse,

" One type of slave-owner does not discipline his slaves, gives them no structure, sets them no limits, provides them with no direction and does not make it clear whose the boss. What happens, of course, is that in due time his slaves stop working and begin moving into the mansion, raiding the liquor cabinet and breaking the furniture, and soon the slave owner finds he is the slave of his slaves"

Scott Peck author...phycologist...homophobe....racist.....got it. I'm done with this book!(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Jan 10, 2008

Jennie rated it

Recommended to Jennie by: my mom

I read this book to make my mom happy. Her church book group was reading it, and she got all stoked about it after reading the first section. It was a fairly bland combination of basic common sense (self-discipline is good, laziness is bad), pseudo-spiritual psychobabble (your unconscious mind is God!), and the occasional moral zinger (open marriage is the only real form of marriage). Overall, I was unimpressed, but I wasn't begging the Lord for the 6 hours of my life back, either. I never e...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Sep 27, 2008

Mike rated it

This book starts out extremely engaging and helpful in nature - worthy of four or five stars. But midway through Peck reveals his psychology of teaching his patients and readers to become like God. While I'm certain he means no malice in this objective, he seems ignorant of negative psychological aspects of this philosophy. Indeed, the book "Toxic Faith" cites "You can become God" as one of the twenty-one Toxic Beliefs of a Toxic Faith (p.98). Having observed the deleteri...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jul 07, 2010

Martin Roell rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: love, psychology, relationships, spirituality

Probably the most important book on love, psychological and spiritual development that I have ever read. Clear, straightforward, concise, very accessible. Don't be put off by the criticism of the numerous references to "God" and "grace" in the later chapters: I found them useful and "open" (in the sense that "God" might be substituted by "universe", "energy", "oneness" or whatever you might want to call it. There is no need to...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Apr 17, 2008

Julia rated it

I cherish this book and give praise to Scott Peck for writing this masterpiece, a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
The first time I read it I was in my early 30's. It changed my life, encouraged me to live authentically and with courage. when your raising a family one needs to follow their conscience and make tough decisions. Peck teaches and encourages this process. I have followed up with Peck's subsequent books in the last few years.
I recomend this to any adult searching for a b...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Jan 24, 2008

Melissa rated it

For anyone who has issues....need I say more? The first 2/3 of this book (I didn't care for the last 1/3 at all when he gets into religion) is really thoughtful and helpful when it comes to sorting out your "issues". Issues with family, issues dealing with your strengths/weaknesses and habits, and more. I re-read this often, as every time I read it, I seem to get a different answer/lesson that fits my concerns.

This book has stayed with me, and helped a great deal with ...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jan 29, 2012

Chris rated it

I have run across this book so many times in used bookstores that at some point, I don’t know when, it started to indicate in my mind that a store was overstocked with generic titles. I periodically stop in at thrift stores—hoping to salvage some prophetic oracle from the ravages of being sandwiched and left to die a slow death between the James Pattersons and Julie Garwoods of the bargain aisles—and there this book can be found in droves. The title, extrapolated from a poem by the great poet Ro...moreI have run across this book so many times in used bookstores that at some point, I don’t know when, it started to indicate in my mind that a store was overstocked with generic titles. I periodically stop in at thrift stores—hoping to salvage some prophetic oracle from the ravages of being sandwiched and left to die a slow death between the James Pattersons and Julie Garwoods of the bargain aisles—and there this book can be found in droves. The title, extrapolated from a poem by the great poet Robert Frost, coerced me on multiple occasions to pick it up and flip through it. The subtitle was hardly captivating, “A new psychology of love, traditional values, and spiritual growth.” I finally decided to take one home to determine to what extent my chronic nausea at seeing it and its legion brethren was valid.

From the outset of reading, I was mildly interested. Soon I became intensely interested. Dr. Peck starts with his definition of a neurosis, and points out that people’s biggest problem is the avoidance of pain. He firmly plants his thesis with a quote from Carl Jung, “[A] neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering.” A regular feature of our existence is change, and with the change of the external world, our internal maps of the world must undergo a change as well, or we become fixated on an outmoded index of reality. But this hurts, and to update one’s worldview is considered by many, albeit unconsciously, a hazard and inconvenience that is not worth the trouble. What’s worse, many would rather obscure any reminder of reality than adjust the old comfortable way of life and thinking.

After this prelude to the meaning of confusion and pain, he pulls back further to the beginning of our psychological development—birth. As a psychoanalyst, following most closely to the traditions of Jung and Freud, he maintains that a much of our malfunctions as adults stem from how we were raised by our parents. A parent who has never learned to discipline their own lives will not know how to affirm or discipline their children in healthy ways. Parenting involves knowing how to suffer with your child to help them learn to overcome their challenges, but without this ability to endure and hold out for the higher good, a parent will remain self-focused and unable to create an environment of stability and trust for a child to feel they are safe, and therefore, valuable. Feeling valuable and rooted is the most important prerequisite for self-discipline and the ability to delay gratification because, understood for what it really is, “self-discipline is self-caring”.

And yet, the author does not espouse a fatalistic sort of hard-wired neurology derived solely from one’s genes and upbringing. He believes firmly in the unique human ability to override past conditioning and forge new paths. He says this autonomous responsibility for one’s self is “perhaps the one [characteristic] that makes us most human...our capacity to do the unnatural, to transcend and hence transform our own nature.” And yet, ironically, this capacity is what we fear, referred to as the “pain of freedom”, for it means that we are master of, or at the very least partly responsible for, our choices, and thus our destiny is what he make of it.

Having established that we have a choice to delay gratification and suffer for the things we value and that will bring joy to our lives, he segways into the goal—and ultimately the deepest impetus—of self-discipline: love. Love, in the mind of Dr. Peck, is the goal of all nature. He defines love by contrasting it with what is often misunderstood as ‘falling in love’. Here Peck provides what I have found to be the most compelling and cogent explanation of physical-emotional infatuation that I have ever heard or read. He describes the phenomenon of falling in love as a total collapse of ego boundaries—the felt perimeters of the limits of one’s body and being—and pouring one’s self into another person’s cramped ego ‘container’ hoping to escape one’s lonely, and loathsome, existence. This inevitably leads to disillusionment as one or both parties realize that they did not extend their world in love, but only squeezed into the already crowded space of another lonely soul.
From there Peck defines genuine love as the extension of one’s ego boundaries without collapse, a thinning of the walls of one’s being to slowly blur the line between one’s self and others. Here Peck admits he leans on a mystery—the progress of a person who loves becoming more and more “identified with the world”. This process of investing one’s self, without losing one’s self, is referred to as cathexis, and Peck develops this by adding that “when we cathect an object outside of ourselves we also psychologically incorporate a representation of that object into ourselves”, and thereby broaden ourselves into less of an isolated and lonely entity.

I truly appreciated Peck’s elucidation of the dangers of co-dependency, referring to it as a form of parasitism. “When you require another individual for your survival, you are a parasite on that individual.” Nasty imagery. Next time you see a parent that refuses to acknowledge the autonomy of their child, refusing to accept that the child may grow up and not need them anymore, try to imagine the parent as a giant leach sucking the life and will out of the child, leaving only a limp, bloodless shell of a thing that will never develop strong legs to run from the giant bloodsucker with its razor-toothed mouth to their throat. Peck believes that for a person to truly benefit from another person, they must both develop firm boundaries or they are both liable to be harmful for each other. “Ego boundaries must be hardened before they can be softened. An identity must be established before it can be transcended.” He even goes so far as to call dependency ‘anti-love’. He urges his readers not to fool themselves into thinking that anything ought to be done exclusively for another person. Some things we must do because they put us right with ourselves, with others, and with God. The right thing is as much for us as it is for another. “Whenever we think of ourselves as doing something [solely] for someone else, we are in some way denying our own responsibility.” He returns again and again to this simple but often terrifying principle: to love another, we must first love ourselves.

The first 150 pages or so were the best. The rest I found to be somewhat speculative and even a bit rash in spots. I believe he is correct in his view that science is first founded on a belief of some sort, an implicit value system, and the denigration of religion by science is often not only as bigoted as any religious belief, but also backwards. Religion and science are mostly concerned with subject and object respectively, and there should be a healthy respect one for the other. Peck recognizes this dichotomy of roles, and does a great job of defending religion against science for the most part, but his book seemed to lose steam as he dabbled in subjects that weren’t his forte. He attempted to wax philosophical, and though I think he did all right and many may find his conclusions enlightening, I found it to stray too far off topic. It is true that his original thoughts in psychoanalysis are indebted to the linking of his philosophy of life to psychology, and his bravery in owning up to personal values in scientific pursuits is a huge leap beyond his peers, but I was more interested in the application of his beliefs in psychoanalysis, rather than a full review of his personal values and faith. That being said, I was much more familiar with the philosophical/theological roots of his work than some of his readers might be, and I recognize that I might have otherwise criticized him for leaving us hanging if he didn’t take the time to unfold how he developed his ideas.

So, the end felt anti-climactic and wound down. But there are other things too that I would warn people of before they read it. He refers to controlling one’s feelings as “slave-owning” (couldn’t he have used employee management or dog-training?) and he was entirely unapologetic about the slave-owning metaphor, riding it hard without even a nod towards the relatively recent struggle of civil rights; he briefly mentions a few times that he condones open marriage to some degree; he believes in psychic healing; and he is intrigued with a fanciful version of Jung’s synchronicity. But in spite of all this, I still consider him to be eminently respectful of the tension between science and religion, and that is a tonic to find in his field of typically aggressive anti-religion and a reductionist view of humanity and a purpose to our existence. He’s a brave psychologist, and his openness to certain ideas, however disagreeable to me, still seems like an honest result of his personal best of reason and love, not a sloppy acceptance of novel psychology.

For me, the first 150 pages were worth the read, and I’ve already purchased another copy for a friend to benefit from the thoughts contained in the first part alone. For the rest of you, check your local Goodwill—I’m sure they have a few copies.
(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Jan 21, 2012

Loy Machedo rated it

· review of another edition

Loy Machedo’s Book Review - The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck

It amazes me to know I had purchased the book when I was 19 years old without any knowledge of its contents or even an understanding of what psychology was all about. In fact even though my grasp of the English language was still in its infancy, the only driving force that compelled me to buy this book was the big bold red letters printed at the bottom ...more

· see review

Jan 06, 2012

Harmonybites rated it

Recommends it for: Those Interested in Philosophy, Psychology and Personal Growth

Shelves: non-fiction, philosophy, psychology, reference, religion, self-help, spirituality, ultimate-reading-list

I found the book shelved in "Self Help" in the Barnes and Noble bookstore. Yet The Road Less Traveled is on The Ultimate Reading List for "inspirational non-fiction." For that read "spiritual" and most often "Christian." That's fitting, because although the author was a practicing psychiatrist, it's obvious that the spiritual theme is to the fore just from a perusal of the section titles: I. Discipline II. Love III. Growth and Religion and IV. Grace. In hi...moreI found the book shelved in "Self Help" in the Barnes and Noble bookstore. Yet The Road Less Traveled is on The Ultimate Reading List for "inspirational non-fiction." For that read "spiritual" and most often "Christian." That's fitting, because although the author was a practicing psychiatrist, it's obvious that the spiritual theme is to the fore just from a perusal of the section titles: I. Discipline II. Love III. Growth and Religion and IV. Grace. In his Preface Peck states he makes "no distinction between the mind and the spirit, between the process of achieving spiritual growth and achieving mental growth. They are one and the same." He claims that "mental illness occurs when the conscious will of the individual deviates substantially from the will of God, which is the individual's own unconscious will." It's easy to see why this book would be popular among those who follow Twelve-Step Programs, where accepting a "higher power" is one of the steps. Regardless, that doesn't mean you have to be religious to get anything out of the book. I'm not. But I thought the book had interesting insights into the process of maturity, growth and change and though Peck is Christian, the book cites tenets not just of Christianity but Buddhism and Hinduism. His very first sentence is "life is difficult" and he connects this to the central belief of Buddhism that life is suffering. In other words, that a fulfilling life takes work--discipline--that neurosis is often an effort to avoid necessary suffering. Reportedly Random House turned the book down as "too Christ-y," but I think even the last parts on religion and grace could be put into secular terms--although it would be a bit of a strain, and I admit the second half didn't really speak to me and is a major reason I didn't rate this book higher. Nevertheless, Peck reads as non-dogmatic and as psychologically and spiritually eclectic.

I found his examination of romantic love particularly interesting. He doesn't believe in what he calls the destructive "myth" of romantic love. He feels that falling in love is always a temporary, fleeting sensation involving a seeming collapse of ego boundaries. That "true love involves an extension of the self rather than a sacrifice of the self" and is an action, decision and choice more than a feeling. Love as he defines it is the "will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth."

This is pop psychology, no question, but his book is not all "just love yourself" pablum. I have to admit, having known people who have spent years in psychotherapy, I'm skeptical of Peck's claims for it, and at times he himself comes across as a bit self-aggrandizing, especially in his 25th Anniversary Introduction--in that it's-not-me-but-God-wrote-it-way. He controversially wrote in the original edition that if having sex with a patient would help, he'd do it. And given at least one anecdote, I get the distinct impression Peck considers homosexuality disordered. (Remember, this book was published in 1978. The American Psychiatric Association had declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder only five years before that.) So I don't read this book as if I'm a believer reading scripture. But he's thought-provoking, was an experienced working psychotherapist and his ideas are worth considering. The first book I ever read by him and still on my book shelf was actually People of the Lie which I picked up precisely because evil is a subject few psychologists seem to take seriously, and I found his examination of the subject fascinating.(less)

· see review

Oct 05, 2011

Kathryn Hilton rated it

Shelves: nonfiction, psychology

This book talks about becoming a better person. Peck, unlike many of his compatriots in the psychotherapy business, is not afraid of icky religion. He talks about the need to evolve beyond a simplistic understanding of religion as taught by your parents into a more logical, rational worldview, and then beyond that into what is essentially Christianity. It’s kind of funny to read a description of a basic tenet of Christianity (for example, he has a section about evolving into God, which means ...more

· see review

Apr 07, 2011

Radwa rated it

M. Scott Peck’s The Road Less Travelled: “The Ten Million Copy Bestseller”

This is what the front cover says, and after reading the book you get to see why it is so popular. If you have watched that movie "Faithful," starring Cher, then you would have heard the psychiatrist referring to this book that starts with “Life is difficult.”

It is not only this harsh truth that makes this book worthwhile, though it certainly lingers on in the minds of all readers, but it ...moreM. Scott Peck’s The Road Less Travelled: “The Ten Million Copy Bestseller”

This is what the front cover says, and after reading the book you get to see why it is so popular. If you have watched that movie "Faithful," starring Cher, then you would have heard the psychiatrist referring to this book that starts with “Life is difficult.”

It is not only this harsh truth that makes this book worthwhile, though it certainly lingers on in the minds of all readers, but it is also the topics that interest a wide range of people. The book falls in 4 chapters: Discipline, Love, Growth and Religion, and Grace, with each chapter divided into short well-contained sections for more convenient reading; this way one can digest bit by bit.

Perhaps by now you are thinking “So what? These are the worn-out topics. Love is a main dish in reading meals.” You are not in the wrong. The above 4 topics are no novelty, but the approach, the vision, the ideas and concepts are the reason this book stands out from the crammed piles. This is where I learnt about bracketing, mapping, delaying gratification, pet love, love as opposed to dependency, and a longer list of missed realities; this is where love is said to be a choice; this is where illusions are destroyed and truths are unveiled, and, it is all about us, human beings.

This “New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth” is a helpful book that sneaks to the depth of the soul swiftly and broadens your mind with the values it holds. It has been read and reread and now there is the 25th anniversary edition. As an Irish friend of mine puts it, The Road Less Travelled grows to be your friend, and each time you reach for this book, time after time, every time you turn its pages, you learn something new.

In a nutshell, I would count myself lucky having read this book that I always keep at my bedside and keep revisiting its pages with the notes I took down in the margins.

P.S. Did you know that whether you eat the frosting first or the cake sheds a light on your personality? I suggest you go digging out about yourself in that book.
(less)

· see review

Sep 03, 2010

Bryan rated it

"Life is difficult. Once we know that life is difficult - once we truly understand and accept it - then it ceases to be difficult."

This is the opening line of the book. His object is to describe the path of spiritual development over the course of our lives. He believes that most people avoid the difficulties of life, the pain and suffering that will provide us the most beneficial spiritual development our mortal lives have to offer. Because people avoid the lessons G...more

· see review

Jan 22, 2010

Bre Cregor rated it

The five stars is less about how well the book was written and more about how the definition of love absolutely changed my life nearly two decades ago.
Without the book in front of me, I can basically quote Dr. Peck: To love is to extend oneself beyond one's own ego boundaries to help oneself and/or another person grow spritually.
Peck defines love in a way which removes the need to be "in love" with one's partner ( which Peck connects to biological feelings---which are...more

· see review

Oct 31, 2009

Wendy rated it

· review of another edition

The Road Less Traveled is a philological book that is highly recommended. I feel that this book along with other reasons inspired me to become a counselor one day. This is one of those books that is great to read on a cold winter day drinking hot chocolate indoors. It took me a while to finish the book because it is a book that is not meant to be rush read but instead read and reflected on.
My favorite parts of the book were the real life stories. One of my favorite was about this woman na...more

like 1 like

· see review

May 08, 2009

Andre rated it

I loved sections I-III. Section IV turned pretty biblical on me, and very fast, although I got the point. Going into section IV, it was a solid 4 stars.

Afterwards, I'm not sure so much. Maybe that might change as my spirituality grows, but it just seemed like I was reading the bible instead of a book on Psychology.

"What I Learned From This Book" - what a freaking loaded question this is - you always take out of something what you *want* to take out of it. As M...more

· see review

Jun 08, 2011

Rohan and Mohan Perera rated it

We have all come into one world and, undoubtedly from one inception, on a single conscious journey to one destination. A destination unknown to us all. A destination many Gurus on the subject of the afterlife claim to perceive. A destination almost all of us wish would be paradise.
The Road to heaven, is the least travelled by most, for most are busy creating heaven at the semester. Those who wish to get back on the road to paradise must read this book.
The beginning of our consci...more

· see review

Sep 30, 2009

Davis Aujourd'hui rated it

"The Road Less Traveled" will make you realize that you CAN take charge of your life and your destiny. It is a journey toward self-acceptance that will affirm that life is worth living. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

I was introduced to the book when I first began 12-step recovery over twenty years ago. I have had a long road to travel in coming to terms with my past and learning to accept myself. This is a powerful book for anyone who has come from a troubled...more

like 2 likes

· see review

May 25, 2009

John Mlinar rated it

Strong beginning, end with a bing. It starts in the first of four parts with sagacity of tone, conservatively analyzing discipline and how this relates to happiness and mental illness. His ideas aren't entirely profound, but they snugly fit the psychiatric philosophy-wannabe tradition of the mid-twentieth century, which means that his writing is a literary analog of psychotherapy -- calm voice, gentle points (even if they're substantially hard to hear), patience in progression -- decked with t...moreStrong beginning, end with a bing. It starts in the first of four parts with sagacity of tone, conservatively analyzing discipline and how this relates to happiness and mental illness. His ideas aren't entirely profound, but they snugly fit the psychiatric philosophy-wannabe tradition of the mid-twentieth century, which means that his writing is a literary analog of psychotherapy -- calm voice, gentle points (even if they're substantially hard to hear), patience in progression -- decked with truly interesting stories that flesh out his points nicely (the unique advantage of therapist authors). That's great, four-and-a-half to five stars, keep it going.

With each chapter change, however, another frightening head is added to the Medusa of pseudo-intellectual secular spirituality. He keeps the prose engaging in the second part, and it's nice to hear ruminations on the subject of love (especially the potent-but-romantic idea that psychotherapists should "love" their clients in the sense that they will the best for them), even if many of his thoughts are a little strange (like the idea that love is selfish). But by the third part and fourth parts (on growth and religion, and grace) he's completely in his own self-created New Age semi-mysticism, almost a pure non-sequitur in relation to the other two parts. It's not quite Christian. Actually, I don't know what it is. He arbitrarily adds the subject of grace as a finisher, which he implicitly defines as divine providence rather than anything remotely close to common theological interpretations. By now it's virtually over. "Love is conscious, grace is not." "God is the goal of evolution." "Original sin does exist; it is our laziness." All enough illogical metaphysical speculation to make a creationist blush, and have Carl Jung haunted with thoughts of a shrink crucifixion.

Still, I liked it, mostly for the first half, and even in the latter chapters there were fruits of independent thinking. But it's impossible to express how smoothly and subtlety the book progresses to a religious worldview. I felt during the latter half of the book that at any succeeding paragraph he would end one of his far-out contemplations with "Oh yeah, Jesus is God, you know." And in any other context that's fine, but here it's downright deceptive. The book starts so nicely thoughtful on daily problems and some of the steps needed to transcend them, holding to secular steering. Then one thing leads to another, and another, and before long you come to realize that the road less traveled is the road smoothly downhill to the land of blurry theology.(less)

· see review

Apr 30, 2009

Aimee rated it

I started this years ago and decided to reread and finish. Excellent book full of wisdom. It got a little boring 3/4 the way through then got interesting again. I was reminded of a great line in The Princess Bride: "Life IS pain princess, and anyone who tells you differently is selling something." He makes the point that when we accept that life is difficult it gets much easier. Life is a series of problems to be solved. When we're growing spiritually the legitimate suffering of ...more

· see review

Nov 18, 2011

Alan Hughes rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy, psychiatry

This is a book of two parts. The first part is a reasonably well written introduction to psychotherpay and some general advice on how one may face up to life's challenges as see them as an opportunity to grow and change. This portion in well written with an easy relaxed style and probably underpins the books success as a best-selling self-help manual.Although a little heavy on the cliches there is a fair amount of common sense and reasonable advice.

For the lay audience there is a goo...more

· see review

Jul 10, 2009

Mehrsa rated it

I give this book five stars because I can honestly say that reading it has made me a better person. I have plenty of criticisms, which I will get to, but the bottom line is that there are a lot of difficult truths in this book and it stands as a challenge and a guide to the reader to progress and develop beyond where you may be comfortable. I do not often read or like this genre of book, but my mom has been recommending this book to me for years and I finally borrowed her copy (which incidentall...more

like 1 like

· see review

Sep 15, 2011

Laura Niebruegge rated it

This book changed my life in the late 80's. I was in my third year of college and never felt like I "measured up" to the other students. I felt uneducated, unrefined and unworthy. This book, along with a couple of excellent people, taught me to love and appreciate my differences. We are all unique and gifted. The meaning and the excitement of life, in my opinion, is the search for the inner gifts we have been given. It's the Serendipity of Life! Grace, as M. Scott Peck explains;...more

· see review

Apr 29, 2009

Kressel Housman rated it

Shelves: non-fiction, parenting, psychology

This book was recommended by one of my seminary teachers whose specialty was mitzvos bein adam l'chavero, i.e. the Biblical laws that govern interpersonal relationships. It was the only non-Jewish self-help book she respected, and considering her own expertise, I think that's quite a compliment.

As the subtitle states, this is a book about the union of psychology and spirituality, or more specifically, how psychotherapy and spirituality are so close, they are almost one and the same....moreThis book was recommended by one of my seminary teachers whose specialty was mitzvos bein adam l'chavero, i.e. the Biblical laws that govern interpersonal relationships. It was the only non-Jewish self-help book she respected, and considering her own expertise, I think that's quite a compliment.

As the subtitle states, this is a book about the union of psychology and spirituality, or more specifically, how psychotherapy and spirituality are so close, they are almost one and the same. Having been through a fair amount of therapy myself, I long ago came to the same conclusion: therapy, when done right, is the practical application of the self-improvement ideas of religion. As a matter of fact, this book was my Shabbos reading, far more appropriate than any fiction or politics I'd otherwise choose.

Having said that, I must warn my Jewish friends that the author writes from a Christian standpoint. Some of the ideas can be translated into Jewish terms, particularly the concept of "grace," which we Jews see as "Divine Providence." The words "yetzer hara" and "yetzer tov" are also not in the book, but the concepts are certainly there. The quotes from the Christian Bible - and there weren't that many - I just skipped over.

Actually, the author doesn't get too into Christianity until the second half of the book. The first two sections, called "Discipline" and "Love," are pretty much free of this, and I found them absolutely riveting. I'd read something like, "Listening is an act of love" and then find myself trying to listen better to my kids, which is what any self-help book should do to its reader. I found myself looking forward to reading more so that I could apply more ideas. To put it in Jewish terms, this book is an "avodah."

Naturally, I disagreed with some of his Christian-based conclusions. We are not commanded to become G-d, which is impossible, but to emulate His ways. I don't know if the author would consider that a "cop-out" on my part, but that's the Jewish point of view. G-d is much greater than we are. It's not an avoidance of responsibility to say so.

So overall, I thought it was an excellent book, one that I learned from and one that encouraged me. And I consider it a bit of "grace," (read: hashgacha) that I read the publisher's afterword at the end. The author's next book, The Different Drum, takes these concepts to the community level. Community involvement is something I've been thinking about quite often lately, so now I've been shown a new step toward that goal. May Hashem help that I use His guidance toward real growth.(less)

like 2 likes

· see review

Mar 27, 2011

Megan rated it

A recommended read by someone who is extremely close to me, I bought this book and only considering the referring source, I read it. I was not prepared for the experiences I had while doing so.

Have you ever read a book that was filled with so much that you already knew, but connected dots in a new way while simultaneously integrated absolutely foreign ideas that you immediately knew were true? Well, that was my experience with this book. I felt compelled to write in the margin and h...more

· see review

Aug 04, 2011

David Grieve added it · review of another edition

To be honest, I am baffled as to why anyone would say that this book changed their lives. The first half is very interesting in its analysis of discipline and love and it does provide a sensible, rational blueprint for living a fulfilled life. However, the second half of the book tries to present his theories of religion and grace as facts, when they are anything but. For example his assertion that there are too many beneficial coincidencies for them to be simply coincidence is risible. Overa...more

· see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 482 483 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (39)

More editions...

Genres

Psychology

170 users

Non Fiction

155 users

Self Help

105 users

Spirituality

54 users

Philosophy

43 users

Religion

17 users

Self Help > Personal Development

12 users

Inspirational

12 users

Relationships

10 users

Love

8 users

See top shelves...

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Pin It

About M. Scott Peck

Dr. Peck was born on May 22, 1936 in New York City, the younger of two sons to David Warner Peck, a prominent lawyer and jurist, and his wife Elizabeth Saville. He married Lily Ho in 1959, and they had three children.

Dr. Peck received his B.A. degree magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1958, and his M.D. degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1963. Fr...more

More about M. Scott Peck...

Books by M. Scott Peck

Further Along the Road Less Traveled: The Unending Journey Towards Spiritual Growth

The Road Less Traveled and Beyond: Spiritual Growth in an Age of Anxiety

The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace

More…

Trivia About The Road Less Tra...

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Road Less Traveled...

“Genuine love is volitional rather than emotional. The person who truely loves does so because of a decision to love. This person has made a commitment to be loving whether or not the loving feeling is present. ...Conversely, it is not only possible but necessary for a loving person to avoid acting on feelings of love.” — 30 people liked it

“Consciousness and Healing

To proceed very far through the desert, you must be willing to meet existential suffering and work it through. In order to do this, the attitude toward pain has to change. This happens when we accept the fact that everything that happens to us has been designed for our spiritual growth.” — 19 people liked it

More quotes…

Groups That Shelved The Road Less Tra...

The Echelon Book Club

70 members

last activity 3 hours, 56 min ago

shelf: to-read

title link	preview: The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth
avg rating	preview: The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth Goodreads rating: 3.89 (9968 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/347852.The_Road_Less_Traveled?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1322673263m/347852.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/347852.The_Road_Less_Traveled?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck[/url]

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

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website