The Road Less Traveled and Beyond: Some Thoughts

by M. Scott Peck


The books subtitle is “Spiritual Growth in an Age of Anxiety” and while the book is almost 25 years old are we any less anxious? Pandemic, climate change, political deadlock would all tend to let us thing that things are getting worse. Yet, one line in the book rings true: “Indeed, we might think on our more optimistic days of Utopia as having already started, albeit barely.”
I tend to take the viewpoint that no society has ever been as successful as ours – the most tangible benefits, for the greatest number of people, with more time for leisure, hobbies, travel, and family, yet. Yet. Yet we are all greatly stressed. We all complicate simple things and look for simple answers for complex issues. We have no time for thinking as we are too busy doing. Who has time to sharpen the saw when there is so much wood to cut?
Why?
The book makes strong arguments for the need to achieve “a deeper awareness of how to live rich, fulfilling lives in a world fraught with stress and anxiety.” For the same society that has provided so much for so many have the capacity for destruction – slowly or quickly – like we have never before seen. “The survival of our civilization may well depend upon whether our institutions can evolve into sustainable communities and hence become ongoing learning organizations.”

The author shares a lifetime of profound ‘scientific’ insight with a deep and wisdom on spirituality. He has addressed millions via his books and lectures and while he is no longer amongst us on this earth, perhaps he is still encouraging us along. Scott Peck talks about decision making that should lead to ethical choices for the betterment of society. He deals with good and evil; the need to overcome narcissism; the necessity of community and the importance of love.

Dr. Peck also shares thoughts and guidance on growing old, the journey towards death, the need to learn and the need to share. You do not need to like all of the talk to leave with some wise and profound lessons. The reading and pondering of The Road Less Traveled and Beyond is an adventure worth undertaking, and especially poignant during this New Normal.

Happy Reading.
Lino Matteo ©™
Twitter @Lino_Matteo
https://linomatteo.wordpress.com/2021...

Anyone who gives this book less than 5 stars is simply not of the maturity to understand its brilliance.

I’ve read 260 something books, this is top 10.

God bless.

This is a seminal book in modern psychology, one both interesting to read as well as study as a text. While one is certainly capable of disagreeing with Peck's point of view at times, especially his Weltgeist, this does not diminish the book's importance both as effective and instructive reading

I liked the material in this book, which is covered by other writers who speak to me more than he does. But, I think this would be an amazing book for some people.

Changed the way I approach my life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I feel like it was one of the best books in terms of usefulness and ability to enlighten. I think the book can be summed up by the idea if we want to be a productive member of society we have to open ourselves to the pain of living, to overcome the pain we must discipline ourselves, we also cannot be loving without this discipline.

Key Quotes:

“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.”

“Love is the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth... Love is as love does. Love is an act of will -- namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.”

“Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. ”

I don't have any qualms with this book. Honestly.
I am just at a point in my life where growth is happening without the aid of this book. I may need a push in the future but I am growing on my own and that is painful enough without the added pain of this book.
Changing ones ways hurts. I can accept this but I can't continue reading this right now.

For those who have read many of M. Scott Peck's book, this is a rehash of what he has written previously. Throughout the book he quotes himself and retells stories he shared in earlier books. So if you are (like me) expecting something new and refreshing in Peck's honest tell-it-like-it-is style, you will be disappointed. The one area that is more developed is his thoughts on the latter stages of life. While he was only 61 when this book was published, it feels like he is giving us his "greatest hits" and preparing to head off into the great beyond. Perhaps most challenging for me was his idea that this latter stage of life is an adventure like every other stage; it's just the last stage.

As it turned out Peck died 8 years after this book was published. He died in 2005 with Parkinson's and cancer. In this book he speaks very highly of his marriage to his wife Lily so it is odd that he divorced her a year before his death, which seems tragic. However, I am sure in typical Peck fashion he would recast as yet another adventure.

In any case if one is looking for something new, this is not the book for you. Even so, it is a good swan song for an author who has spoken clearly on many aspects of the human condition including and especially our relationship to God, of which he was unabashedly committed

having read A road Less Travelled some 10 years ago i am reminded of the authors style again and some obviuos growth on his themes after a gap 10 years between these 2 books. i just recomended the first to my 25 year old daughter becasue she is stuck in the area of love. both books are worth reading and will stimulate discussion.

grace.

Wonderful book that explains human psychological behavior.

This book is absolutely a must read. This is for anyone wanting to further their spiritual growth in an educational and deep manner. Dr. Peck uses his life examples in an open and honest way that is easy to read. He speaks of paradoxes and puts into words so many experiences of God that are so hard to put into words. This book is timeless in the ever increasing world of anxiety.