5 stars

There's a chance it used to be good or better than it is now, but I didn't like the language and/or it felt dated.

6.5/10

There are 3 types of community:

1. pseudo community - the basic assumption that the problem of individual differences should be avoided, people are overly polite, and focus on small talk

2. mob psychology - the basic assumption that all members of the group (not a community) must not have considerable differences, and anyone who thinks differently is treated as a pariah

3. true community - understanding we cannot heal or convert others, we can only offer a space free from judgement where people can heal or convert (if they choose) themselves. Members get along even with opposing world views and religions. This is what psychologists try to establish during treatment.

To become a true community every member must:

- understand there is no leader, we are all leaders
- be inclusive
- transcend individual differences for the good of the whole; to think and feel as a group
- become vulnerable, share with the group and empty yourself to create space for welcoming others' fears and frustrations.. give and ye shall receive
- show integrity: you can't go to church on Sunday then turn around and write anti-Christ advertisements at work during the week, your Sunday best, your work self, the person you show to your friends.. They are all the same person and we really thrive when we don't compartmentalize
- all decisions must reach consensus, no voting, no making decisions until 100% of members are on board even if that means putting a project off for a year to continue researching, everyone's opinion is valued the same

I liked the biblical references. I loved the proverbs, and the stories of how real individuals built up communities. This book has inspired me to find groups to get involved with, and to push myself to be more vulnerable. It's crazy how fleshed out my idea of community is now, it's not a word you can apply to just any group. This book was recommended by John Holt and I can see why thriving communities are important with regards to home education.

I was not a fan of the last few chapters regarding community in the arms race, and United States government. The author is clearly a Freemason. He is passionate and believes the arms race is a result of poor communication; in his opinion, a one world government is the answer. Transitioning to a single policing nation seems an impossible feat as no government wants to appear vulnerable to the others, or give up control, which is a necessary step in establishing community.

A masterpiece. I kept willing this book not to end but sadly I finished it so I'll just have to read it again. In the final pages Peck advises: "seek out people who are different from you. If you are white, look for blacks. If you are black, look for whites. If you are a dove, try to find at least one hawk for your community. If you are a Democrat, you will need a Republican; if a Christian, a Jew; if an Episcopalian, a Baptist; if rich, some who are not. Since birds of a feather tend to flock together, it will not be easy to find women and men different from you" (p.328).

Someone once told me that M. Scott Peck's books are interesting but kinda woo. I think that's due to the combination of unabashed idealism, casual references to exorcism, and a narrative style that veers away from self-help and towards religious philosophy (which, although rooted in Christianity, sounds a little like Zen Buddhism). As he'll tell you himself, the dude likes big, beautiful ideas.

That kind of idealism can sometimes come off as being detached and insufferable, but...this book is okay, and I think that's because it describes his understanding of community and relationship building as being a practiced philosophy. The major points I came away with were:

1) Be willing to be honest and vulnerable.
2) You must empty yourself (of preconceived notions, pride, etc.) to be able to fully listen to what the other people are saying.
3) Community building is an active process. There's no direct path to a finite finish line, but a series of sinusoidal trajectories as people come and go, discussion about a community rule goes back and forth, etc. It may be painful or uncomfortable at times, and that's normal.
4) Conflict is important, necessary, and not to be avoided, but it needs to be done with the goal of mutual understanding and a commitment to eventual consensus.
5) Communities have finite lifespans, and that's okay.

It's winter break, so I'm gathering up my things.

I read this book back in the early 1990s, when I was getting my start as an organizer. It's a hidden gem: he's most well known for "A Road Less Traveled," which I haven't read (who needs an explainer when most of your life has been kinetic?,) but for those of us who opposed the first U.S.-Iraq war, it was an essential read. Even the ideas that seemed a bit off-key back then, such as writing an entire chapter on apostasy as well as one centered on forming a world government under the U.N., seem both provocative and timely.

Kick the can down the road!
My life's journey. .nice.

Wasn't sure what to expect. Loved his style of writing. Crazy that so much of this book can still be used today. We need community more now than ever I feel.

Interesting idea of how building a community is not just about all of us gathering around the bonefire with a polite smile on our face. That could be called, temporarily hosting guests over and not a community. It was surprising to hear that Scott's experience with building a community involved starting off with the phase of "polite smiles" (pseudo-community) and ended up in a different phase of having a community showing their true colours (a real community). It inevitably comes with a sizeable chunk of conflict (chaos), because we are often trying to convert one another to our own ideologies and beliefs. However, by sticking with the process, the community members and the discomfort of emptiness...something real and true is nurtured. It is through emptiness and surrender that we can learn to cultivate acceptance of ourselves, our differences & one another. That's when a community is formed.

So, I started with "The Road Less Traveled." And I got a lot of good out of the book. Looking at life not taking roads that everyone else takes, but being open to new risks and even possible failures.

One of my favorite books of all time.

I highly recommend

provides good thinking material for how communities work