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People of the Lie

by M. Scott Peck

3.86 · rating details · 1,431 ratings · 186 reviews

With his classic best-selling bookThe Road Less Traveled, Dr. M. Scott Peck has introduced over three million readers to an integration of the deepest insights of psychiatry with those of religion. In People of the Lie, an absorbing and equally inspiring companion volume, Dr. Peck utilizes the same approach to probe brilliantly the essence of human evil. People who are e...more

Paperback, 276 pages

Published January 2nd 1998 by Touchstone (first published 1983)

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May 24, 2007

Scottk rated it

Recommends it for: mental health professionals

Shelves: psychology

The human animal is quite complex, capable of acts of heroism and cowardliness, compassion and selfishness, honesty and deceit. I respect Peck and find his work fascinating because he embraces both a high and low view of humanity. In The People of the Lie, Peck unveils his dissatisfaction with psychology’s attempt, or lack there of, at naming evil. This, in fact, is the stated purpose of the book. Peck believes that to name something correctly creates a sense of predictability and control, thu...moreThe human animal is quite complex, capable of acts of heroism and cowardliness, compassion and selfishness, honesty and deceit. I respect Peck and find his work fascinating because he embraces both a high and low view of humanity. In The People of the Lie, Peck unveils his dissatisfaction with psychology’s attempt, or lack there of, at naming evil. This, in fact, is the stated purpose of the book. Peck believes that to name something correctly creates a sense of predictability and control, thus ensuring a greater sense of agency. This work is intended to be the starting point in the discussion of the legitimacy and necessity of a psychology of evil.

Peck “names” evil by sharing a cornucopia of case vignettes. The characters in his vignettes all share a common bond- they are lazy and self-absorbed. What makes them evil? According to Peck, evil, at its core, is consistent deceit and narcissism. More specifically, “evil” people display a) consistent destructive scapegoating behavior, b) excessive, but subtle, intolerance of criticism, c) prominent concern with public image and d) intellectual deviousness. Sounds strikingly similar to the diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. So, the thing that remains unclear to me is Peck’s intended purpose for carving out a psychology of evil, as opposed to placing it under the umbrella of narcissism. The answer might reside in his desire to distinguish “sin” from psychopathology. A distinction that is difficult to make when dealing with various perspectives that contain illusive definitions. Although I appreciate his attempt, his distinction, in my opinion, fell short.

Besides “naming” evil, Peck offers little in the way of curative treatments. Towards the end of the book, in the chapter titled The Danger and The Hope, Peck did allude to the fact that love and acceptance can absorb evil, but it must be done carefully and intentionally. The lack of “answers” didn’t detract from the substance of this read. In fact, it enhanced it. Peck’s understanding of the human psyche is intriguing. He opens up new doors of exploration that many in our field won’t touch with a 10-foot pole. I give this read 9 out of 10 Freud stickers.
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Mar 14, 2011

Laura rated it

So, I'm definitely uncomfortable saying that I believe in "evil" exactly, but everything that Peck says makes sense. It's just hard for me to wrap my head around the concept as something different from other personality disorders. It might just be that the word "evil" has been so manipulated and co-opted for misaligned purposes that it has lost its true meaning.

This is an easy book to read (as far as reading about evil goes), and I really enjoyed reading each of ...moreSo, I'm definitely uncomfortable saying that I believe in "evil" exactly, but everything that Peck says makes sense. It's just hard for me to wrap my head around the concept as something different from other personality disorders. It might just be that the word "evil" has been so manipulated and co-opted for misaligned purposes that it has lost its true meaning.

This is an easy book to read (as far as reading about evil goes), and I really enjoyed reading each of the case studies that Peck presents. For sure, it's a controversial book, but I think the importance lies in the fact that Peck does not use "evil" as a way of dehumanizing a person in the same way that people often do with truly evil people. For example, we often call people "crazy" or "monsters," and, in doing so, I think we divorce off from the reality from which that cruelty grew. The danger lies in seeing "evil" as an outlying phenomenon, as if it is something extraordinary instead of being common and far more ordinary than we would like to admit.

Here are three of my favorite quotes from the book:

"The words 'image,' 'appearance,' and 'outwardly' are crucial to understanding the morality of the evil. While they seem to lack any motivation to BE good, they intensely desire to appear good. Their 'goodness' is all on a level of pretense. It is, in effect, a lie. This is why they are the 'people of the lie.'" (p. 75)

"...there are a sufficient number of men and women in all culture and at all times who have achieved in their full adulthood a kind of gracefulness of existence so that we can generally say of them: 'They have become truly human.' By which we mean their lives seem almost to touch on the divine." (p. 125)

"If one ever has the good fortune to meet a living saint, one will have then met someone absolutely unique. Though their visions may be remarkably similar, the personhood of saints is remarkably different. This is because they have become utterly themselves. God creates each soul differently, so that when all the mud is finally cleared away, His light will shine through it in a beautiful, colorful, totally new pattern. Keats described this world as 'the vale of soul-making,' and whether they know it or not, when they help their patients clean away the mud, psychotherapists are engaged in the activity of saint-making. Certainly psychotherapists know it is their task routinely to free their patients to be themselves." (p. 264)(less)

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Sep 19, 2008

Tracy rated it

It's been a while since I read this book, but I thought it was very strong and insightful.

It explores the nature of narcissism and the people who inflict it on you.

Again, this sounds paranoid! But, people who do care about others can be hurt terribly by people who can only see the world from their own point of view.

Peck explains how people like this function, how to identify them, and he gives narratives about narcissists he has dealt with to help underscore ...more

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Feb 21, 2008

Anastasia rated it

This is probably one of the scariest books I've read, and the reason for this is due to it being non-fiction and based on Peck's experiences with certain patients. Peck tries to formulate a hypothesis of evil, but doesn't satisfy the scientific method, and even though his examples can be attributed to 'dark' characteristics or conditioned behaviors (learning through modeling, over time), providing a reasonable framework for his hypothesis, much of what Peck states (what constitutes 'evil') would...more

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Aug 12, 2008

Shevawn rated it

I am finding this book a fascinating read (which totally surprised my daughter, since I'm not much given to reading psychology books!) But in light of experiences in my life over the past year, it has helped me to wrap my mind around how people you loved and thought you knew can change in ways you never imagined. It even covers how groups of people can come to accept and tolerate evil in their midst. I don't agree with all the author says (of course!) and have some additional ideas as well, b...more

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Nov 21, 2008

Kristi rated it

"People of the lie" are what Peck calls evil people -- those who refuse to acknowledge their own sin, who scapegoat other people instead, not just occasionally but routinely. Peck believes evil people are both common and ordinary-looking, more likely to be a church deacon than a psychopath because they create a respectable veneer that belies their callous, independent hearts. They often deceive others, but primarily they deceive themselves and avoid facing reality because they are so ...more

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Apr 11, 2011

Dan Cooley rated it

When I become dictator of seminaries the world over, People of the Lie will be required reading. The complete title is “People of the Lie. The Hope for Healing Human Evil.” It’s by M. Scott Peck, M.D. Copyright 1983. He believes your church is a magnet for evil.

Someone gave me this book when we were going through grief (a church split) in my first pastorate in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. It’s been one of my favorites ever since. The Bible talks about evil and even about a personality called ...moreWhen I become dictator of seminaries the world over, People of the Lie will be required reading. The complete title is “People of the Lie. The Hope for Healing Human Evil.” It’s by M. Scott Peck, M.D. Copyright 1983. He believes your church is a magnet for evil.

Someone gave me this book when we were going through grief (a church split) in my first pastorate in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. It’s been one of my favorites ever since. The Bible talks about evil and even about a personality called “the devil.” Jesus talks about wolves and is murdered by some. Paul warns us about wolves coming from within our churches in Acts 20. But, in spite of it all, we remain taken by surprise. I had no classes on evil or wolves or even church jerks in seminary. I was ill-prepared.

Dr. Peck says, “Utterly dedicated to preserving their self-image of perfection, they [the evil] are unceasingly engaged in the effort to maintain the appearance of moral purity. They worry about this a great deal. They are acutely sensitive to social norms and what others think about them . . . they dress well, go to work on time, pay their taxes, and outwardly seem to live lives that are above reproach. . . . While they seem to lack any motivation to be good, they intensely desire to appear good. Their ‘goodness’ is all on a level of pretense. It is, in effect, a lie. This is why they are the ‘people of the lie.’” I wonder - what do evil people who intensely desire to appear good do on Sunday morning?

Dr. Scott was a psychiatrist and bestselling author (A Road Less Traveled). This book is his best. His story-telling of cases of evil, his following of personalities over the years, his pursuit of an answer to evil through academia, religion and exorcisms is astounding. Plus, it makes for stinking fun reading.

In the book evil is defined as “The exercise of political power—that is, the imposition of one’s will upon others by overt or covert coercion—in order to avoid . . . spiritual growth.” In another place Dr. Scott defines evil as “the use of political power to destroy others for the purpose of defending or preserving the integrity of one’s sick self.” Any names you’d like to insert here?

This isn’t a “Christian book.” It’s a retelling of Dr. Peck’s journey into evil while trying to help his “incurable” patients. In a rare reference to the Bible, Dr. Scott proposes that the most deeply possessed in the time of Christ weren’t those He cast the demons out of. It was the religious leaders who in their possession thought they were pure. They were used by the Devil to put a contract out on Jesus and kill him, and then felt justified because they didn’t put the money back into the offering plate. The evil believe they are good. They want to keep their demons.

Towards the end of the book, after giving the example of Eichmann being declared “perfectly sane” by a psychiatrist at his trial, Dr. Scott asks, “What are we do to with the evil when their masquerade of sanity is so successful, their destructiveness so ‘normal’? First, we must stop buying the masquerade and being deceived by the pretense…Evil can be defeated by goodness… The fact is, simple-sounding thought it may be, the methodology of love is so difficult in practice that we shy away from its usage… How is it possible to love people who are evil? … This process may be painful to the bearer of the light, occasionally even fatal.”

This book is terrific to the end – I wish I had read it back when it was written, almost 30 years ago. However, evil hasn’t changed any. Read People of the Lie and you’ll agree.

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Aug 23, 2010

Jessica rated it

A psychological exploration of evil is something that we need to look into further. Obviously, labels like "anti-social personality disorder" don't go all the way in explaining the actions of some people. But Peck, despite some interesting insights, tends to see things in black and white. In the chapter about the "man who made a pact with the devil" he seems to feel that either this pact was a moral dilemma, or it was a symptom of the man's neurosis. I don't see why it can't ...more

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Apr 14, 2010

Chrystal rated it

Shelves: self-help-psychology

Strange book. But I guess what can one expect when reading a book about evil? I understand his attempts to differentiate between mental illness, poor choices we all make (sin and mistakes), and flat out evil. But then he muddies the water with his decision to call evil its own illness type. It gets more creepy when he talks about exorcism and his personal experience witnessing a few. I did think he had some fascinating insights towards the end when he discusses group evil and talks about wa...more

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Oct 05, 2009

Jake added it

Shelves: didn-t-finish

This book is difficult. It is uncomfortable and it is dark. This book could have been very powerful however it is unfortunate that it is undone by exactly the vice it describes as the root of evil - the scapegoat. It is more than unfortunate, it is actually rather confronting that such and innate observer of the human condition such as Scott Peck can be ultimately undone by his finite capacity of rationale. Perhaps like many of us I suppose, amongst it, infront of the monster, or when the waves...more

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May 12, 2009

Brad rated it

Peck is famous for 'The Road Less Travelled' - a decent exploration of the value of psychotherapy and meaning. I know me and my hippy-ish girlfriend thought the world of it in college: Life is difficult, yaddayadda. It's a good read for a long drive- not too intellectually demanding and somehow reassuring.

I didn't encounter this one until a few years ago, and it's vastly more important than 'The Road Less Travelled.'

It's a study of evil. Although Peck's Christian metap...more

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May 28, 2011

Lezlee Hays rated it

I both very much enjoyed this and was a little confused by it. Peck outlines an idea which I think he hoped would catch on and gain more knowledge and scientific research. The idea being that evil is real and that humans are often motivated by it and acting in ways which, could be classified in general psychiatric terms, or which we could see could be also classified as evil. In fact, I believe he intends to influence the psychiatric community to classify a particular type of narcissism as "...moreI both very much enjoyed this and was a little confused by it. Peck outlines an idea which I think he hoped would catch on and gain more knowledge and scientific research. The idea being that evil is real and that humans are often motivated by it and acting in ways which, could be classified in general psychiatric terms, or which we could see could be also classified as evil. In fact, I believe he intends to influence the psychiatric community to classify a particular type of narcissism as "evil". Indeed, all forms of narcissism may have their relationship to evil, he seems to be saying. This idea is not without intrigue. I myself feel that we do not completely understand how evil works upon human beings and clearly, the world appears to often be in the throes of a battle between these two epic forces of good and evil. I don't think Peck's views are wrong, they are dead on in some aspects to exactly how I view the link between some areas of personality disorder and human will. But it seems that modern psychiatry has left Dr. Peck alone in the dust to some extent. Peck is an avowed Freudian and Humanist. Getting to the bottom of problems often took years under those systems of thought. Our current models are mostly cognitive behavioral based because these models provide the best results. I suspect one reason for this is that not very many people ever were able to put the time into therapy of the type popular during Dr. Peck's career (the book is written in the mid 80s after he's already had quite a long career). These days, I don't believe you'd ever get to the point of reaching some of the insights and conclusions Dr. Peck does. Not only that, but the very idea of narcissism as a classification has come under fire. We know it exists, but it can be misapplied and there are a host of other reasons it has fallen into disfavor. From this standpoint, it would impossible to seriously research "evil" in the way that Peck suggests. And even so...this does not make him wrong. I believe Dr. Peck is on to something important. I just don't think it's very popular to say so. He does perhaps also try to get a little too far afield in trying to understand the connection between evil and humans. In fact, I think there's so much dense material here, it would require much more in depth analysis and study for us to come to a more sure understand of any of the ideas Dr. Peck puts forth. This book is more like just a suggestion of many many things that could be researched and studied. Unfortunately, I think the scientific community probably would steer clear of further study in most of the areas that Peck outlines. I think it's a valuable book to read. (less)

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Dec 04, 2008

Dave rated it

An incredible eye-opener for anyone who has a family member who seem to suck the life out of everyone around them, who makes all who oppose them feel so guilty for their actions, who seems to need to control everyone who gets near them, and who seems to personify evil. They are evil, this book explains it. Some cases he describes are really horrifying, you will not believe how such people destroy other family members without feeling a bit of remorse or understanding their guilt. Having read t...more

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Sep 23, 2010

Wil Roese rated it

Dr. Peck believes that evil is a form of mental illness. He defines evil "as the use of power to destroy the spiritual growth of others for purpose of defending and preserving the integrity of our own sick selves. In short, it is scapegoating." He also believes that narcissism and laziness are the roots of all evil. In an evil personality type the main defect is the ability to recognize sin in themselves and they lie to themselves to keep from seeing it. They also tend to judge others ...more

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Jan 06, 2011

Adrian Harlan rated it

I had heard of M. Scott Peck when I was working in the book industry back in the 90's; mostly because "The Road Less Traveled" was famous for being on the paperback best seller list for so long, but I had never actually read anything by him. I found this book enormously appealing and just a bit disturbing. A caveat before I start: I read the 1983 first edition and don't know if there are newer, revised editions or not. This is important because Peck's Christianity, by his own acknowled...more

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Sep 03, 2007

Alexis rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Anyone trying to Understand People

Shelves: favorites

This was really great in what it goes through to explain bad things in the world and how evil acts come about. Who does them , who has done them in the past, i.e., My Lai in Vietnam. It added to my understanding of the world in a way no textbook ever could.

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Feb 15, 2011

Kelsey rated it

This is my first book by M. Scott Peck. I'm guaranteed to read more. In his words Peck defines People of the Lie to be,"Utterly dedicated to preserving their self-image of perfection, they are unceasingly engaged in the effort to maintain the appearance of moral purity...the lie is designed not so much to deceive others as to deceive themselves. They cannot or will not tolerate the pain of self-reproach." (p. 75)

And evil itself he defines as, "The use of political power ...more

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May 23, 2009

Jamey rated it

Shelves: psychology-love-add-etc

Some of this is good stuff, with clinical vignettes that create affection for the lost and nearly-lost patients. But eventually he does a weird multi-page bellyflop in which he explicitly equates "autism" with "narcissism." It's just a usage problem, but it's a big and easily avoidable one. Next he's got a chapter about demonic possession and exorcism, complete with logical porkers like the observation that statistics show a high correlation between religious belief and "...more

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Oct 26, 2010

Nancy rated it

Shelves: books-i-hate

I can't give any higher than 1 star to a book I could not force myself to finish. I disagreed with his basic premise, and yet, I still kept reading. I sat through his case studies of "evil" people who seemed more like people lacking basic functioning and parenting skills and less like any sort of "evil." I read it solidly, continuing on because I kept thinking there was a pay off sooner or later. For two weeks, I forced myself to read it just 20 minutes before bed, and then ...more

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Oct 26, 2007

Robert rated it

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Shelves: psychology-spirituality

At times this book will scare you to death. He names human and cosmic evil as no ohe I have ever read.

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Feb 02, 2009

Sawyergal Sawyer rated it

A must read for anyone who has encountered a being like my ex-boyfriend's sister.

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Dec 25, 2008

Johnny Story rated it

Evil fascinates me. It operates throughout our society largely unnoticed by people who fail to identify it (not as easy as you may think it to be), or by optimistic people who would like to think it does not exist. While Peck doesn't get in detail about the two exorcism he partook in, he clearly identifies evil on three different levels. This book really opens your eyes to the psychology of evil, the shadows, and the real possibility of demons. I recommend this book to anyone, even though I pick...more

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Nov 29, 2011

Tripti Chouhan rated it

Summary of my review: The book is absolutely wonderful. It explains rationality in a very scientific manner and drives you to introspect a lot. It makes us realize that we hold so many irrational beliefs and fears believing them to be rational, simply because they are socially accepted. The only downside is that the narration is not as gripping as the subject.
....

It is rare for me to rate a non-fiction so well. This is because while you may agree with some ideas of an author, it ...more

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Jun 10, 2009

Dri Wang rated it

Shelves: psychology-sociology

This book explores not only the definition of evil but takes a moral standpoint against all forms of evil. Peck explains the one does not have to be the trigger-puller to be defined as evil, instead those who witness evil but does nothing to take a stand against it are also evil. My definition of evil is forever altered by this book and taught me that the subtle form of evil can be the most insidious. Excellent book. Peck drags towards the middle of the book and tends to get redundant, but is ...more

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May 16, 2008

Emily Peery rated it

· review of another edition

Okay, Abby. . .

This book is fantastic. It is depressing--it's about evil people. Remember "The Road Less Travelled"? It's the opposite. I didn't love it because it's happy, but because it offers insight into absolutely evil people. Now, "evil" is tricky--most people don't believe in evil anymore. And even trickier--evil people make you feel crazy. If you challenge them, try to stand in reality with them around--YOU feel crazy. Because what makes them evil is not t...more

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Mar 01, 2008

Sophia rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone. Especially people who feel as though their life is not solely their responsibility.

I love this book. I read it before The Road Less Traveled, but I'm glad I did. I was thrown right into a new perspective of looking at evil as a psychosis and not a spiritual affliction. I began to see people in such a new light, where ironically, I felt more love, tolerance, and slight pity for these people who otherwise would have caused me to fear them. As a very empathetic person, I like to walk in other people's shoes. Although i do not ever care to know or be an evil person, I have a...more

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Jan 22, 2010

Bre Cregor rated it

Evil kills life.
We are meant to have joy in this life.
Therefore, anything which kills or diminishes joy is indeed a form of evil.
This is the scariest book I have EVER read. There are no ghosts in it, simply blatant, and even more disturbing subtle evil acted out in the lives of fellow human beings.
After reading this book, I have had a hyper-sensitivity to how people make me "feel" in their presence. The change in my perception has been both a gift...and a cu...more

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Jun 07, 2009

Nate rated it

Shelves: ethics, theology

This was a disturbing and provocative book. It made me reexamine my view of evil. Although somewhat dated, this book still shows many angles on the question of evil. In particular, it examines how people who are afraid to confront the truth about themselves may cultivate evil and in the end have a very difficult time adjusting to reality while hurting everyone close to them. Very highly recommended.

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Mar 19, 2009

Bryce rated it

This book left me thinking, "Um... so I'm evil. Dang it." But by forcing me to confront that reality, the book made me a better person. I became more reliant on Jesus Christ as my Savior, and I became much more sensitive to how I affect other people's abilities to reach self-actualization. This is one of maybe a half-dozen secular books that have drastically changed my life for the better.

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Mar 26, 2011

Kevin rated it

Recommends it for: those in need of a self-satisfied sneer

Shelves: indefensible

Peck asserts that evil is a personality trait that can be diagnosed clinically. He is smart enough to realize on some level the fundamental absurdity of this assertion, and so (sigh) the book equivocates on this point endlessly. Adding to the static is a confusion between human evil and supernatural evil, complete with a glowing gloss-over of his observation of two exorcisms.

Considered out of the context of the rest of this drivel, the chapter "MyLai: An Examination of Group Evi...more

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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

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

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

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“I feel compelled to make another 'nonapology.' Many readers are likely to be concerned about my use of masculine pronouns in relation to God. I think I both understand and appreciate this concern. It is a matter to which I have given much thought. I have generally been a strong supporter of the women's movement and action that is reasonable to combat sexist language. But first of all, God is not neuter. He is exploding with life and love and even sexuality of a sort. So 'It' is not appropriate. Certainly I consider God androgynous. He is as gentle and tender and nurturing and maternal as any woman could ever be. Nonetheless, culturally determined though it may be, I subjectively experience His reality as more masculine than feminine. While He nurtures us, He also desires to penetrate us, and while we more often than not flee from His love like a reluctant virgin, He chases after us with a vigor in the hunt that we most typically associate with males. As CS Lewis put it, in relation to God we are all female. Moreover, whatever our gender or conscious theology, it is our duty---our obligation---in response to His love to attempt to give birth, like Mary, to Christ in ourselves and in others.

"I shall, however, break with tradition and use the neuter for Satan. While I know Satan to be lustful to penetrate us, I have not in the least experienced this desire as sexual or creative---only hateful and destructive. It is hard to determine the sex of a snake.” — 8 people liked it

“When I say that evil has to do with killing, I do not mean to restrict myself to corporeal murder. Evil is that which kills spirit. There are various essential attributes of life -- particularly human life -- such as sentience, mobility, awareness, growth, autonomy, will. It is possible to kill or attempt to kill one of these attributes without actually destroying the body. Thus we may "break" a horse or even a child without harming a hair on its head.

Erich Fromm was acutely sensitive to this fact when he broadened the definition of necrophilia to include the desire of certain people to control others-to make them controllable, to foster their dependency, to discourage their capacity to think for themselves, to diminish their unpredectibility and originalty, to keep them in line. Distinguishing it from a "biophilic" person, one who appreciates and fosters the variety of life forms and the uniqueness of the individual, he demonstrated a "necrophilic character type," whose aim it is to avoid the inconvenience of life by transforming others into obedient automatons, robbing them of their humanity.

Evil then, for the moment, is the force, residing either inside or outside of human beings, that seeks to kill life or liveliness. And goodness is its opposite. Goodness is that which promotes life and liveliness.” — 1 person liked it

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