In Search of Stones is the closest thing to an autobiography that Scott Peck ever wrote. Written in a very unique style encompassing themes of Aging, Art, Despair, Parenthood and many more, alongside his Journey with his wife through the UK looking for stone formations similar to Stonehenge.

I felt that Peck manages to combine all the content quite beautifully to create a cohesive book that's quite different to anything else he has written.

An interesting journey through the ancient stones of Britian and his self discovery

I read The Road Less Travelled many years ago and it certainly changed my perspective. I thought it was an honest and generous reflection on living. This book, an account of a three week vacation that he and his wife spent in Wales and Scotland, was uneven. It is in part a travelogue in which they pursue their interest in prehistoric stones - megaliths, dolmans, and menhirs put in place by the early inhabitants. It is also a meditation on ageing, and the meaning of it all. I finished it, but would not recomment it.

This books is really deep and detailed...I pretty much like the way he writes, thus far from what I've read...but I'm going to give this book a break for awhile and move on with my life ;-)

3.8. Not quite ready to make final evaluation. Need to ask my therapist why he asked me to read it.

author is a creep

I am such a fan of Dr. Peck that I love everything he writes. This book was a little different in that he writes about his search for megolithic stones in Great Britain.

In Search of Stones: A Review and Thoughts

In Search of Stones: A Pilgrimage of Faith, Reason, and Discovery, author M. Scott Peck.

Having heard of Scott Peck and his writings, especially in regard to community building I decided to give this book a read. It is not his last book, but he describes it in his narrative as the closest he will ever come to an autobiography. It is packed with his insights and thoughts about live, living and all that surrounds it. As the author says: “It is probably the closest thing to an autobiography that I will ever write. But it is not autobiography. I am too clever for that, and possibly too humble.” I believe the clever part, not sure about the humble part.
At first the rocks seem to be in the way of the story. However, as we read on the rocks may be central to his quest for discovery and enlightenment. We learn about the ancient megalithic stones in the countryside of Wales, England, and Scotland, he gained insight into such issues as parenthood, holiness, romance, art, and his own shortcomings. Alas the author has left on another journey when he died in September 2005.
The book is divided into themes, that coincide with the Chapters:

•tChapter I: Reason
•tChapter II: Romance
•tChapter III: Addiction
•tChapter IV: Holiness
•tChapter V: Changing
•tChapter VI: Religion
•tChapter VII: Aging
•tChapter VIII: Parenthood
•tChapter IX: Money
•tChapter X: Death
•tChapter XI: Pilgrimage
•tChapter XII: Gratitude
•tChapter XIII: Peace
•tChapter XIV: Adventure, ttt267
•tChapter XV: Consideration, tt291
•tChapter XVI: Space, ttt313
•tChapter XVIII: Art, tttt345
•tChapter XIX: Integration,ttt361
•tChapter XX: Despair,ttt381
•tChapter XXI: Conclusion(s),tt403
The writing already inspired one blog post, and I sense others are coming. The book often refers to causes or reasons being overdetermined. A definition of overdetermination is when a single-observed effect is determined by multiple causes, any one of which alone would be sufficient to account for the effect. That is, there are more causes present than are necessary to cause the effect.

Some of more of Peck’s insights include:
•tThe Age of Reason actually promotes intellectual bigotry, and that in this Age such bigotry is the norm. Either the Age of Reason has a long way to go or else we need to evolve into some yet more sensible age.
•tTo have a full-blown taste for mystery one must take delight both in solving mysteries and in solving them; in finding explanations for thins and in living with things for which there currently is no explanation and which may be forever beyond explanation. (Page 54)
•tThe English root of the word holy is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for whole (75).
•tThe principle of tenuousness – that partners need to flexibly adjust to each other’s changes – means that patterns of change are interdigitated. Indeed, they may be almost literally woven together in the ongoing tapestry of a marriage. (91)
•t (Marriage): It’s not all been a matter of good luck. Both of us brought to our marriage some characteristics such as loyalty and pertinacity that have allowed us to hang in together over the rough spots. 148:
•tSome spiritual writers have diagnosed the human race as suffering from a “psychology of scarcity” and urged us to what they call a psychology of abundance – a mind-set where we feel that there will always be enough and that God will plentifully provide. 178
And perhaps we will end with this thought: “The point of resurrection is not that we can beat death; it is that there is more to us than our death, than our mere bodies.”
It is not a religious book per se, but it does speak about religion and spirituality.
It is not a community book per se, but it does speak about building lasting community and the work involved.
It is not a book about self improvement, but it does have many suggestions and thoughts for doing exactly that.
It is not, always, an easy read, but it is a book that is well worth the effort to read, and it should provoke some contemplation as well.
Happy readings.
Lino Matteo ©™
Twitter @Lino_Matteo
PS: You might also be interested in an earlier Sunday Thought culled from this book.
https://linomatteo.wordpress.com/2021...

https://linomatteo.wordpress.com/2021...

Wanted to read this as I liked his earlier 'The Road Less travelled' but found it heavy going and didn't finish it.

'Peck, author of the phenomenal best seller The Road Less Travelled (1978) and a number of other respected books on personal growth, continues his journey with a thoroughly readable account of a vacation trip he and his wife took through Great Britain in search of megalithic stone monuments built by Neolithic people several thousand years ago. Peck and his wife are archaeology enthusiasts, and their quest for prehistoric standing stones takes them to many small towns and interesting out-of-the-way places. Against this backdrop, Peck interweaves philosophical musings and personal wisdom on a variety of subjects, including peace, parenthood, aging, religion, art, money, and death. He speaks openly and candidly of his own shortcomings as well as his triumphs, successes, and outlook on life. His search for ancient stone monuments leads to a deeper quest? - an exploration of the mind and of one's own humanity. Peck masterfully integrates travel, archaeology, history, philosophy, and autobiography to provide useful insights into many of life's basic issues. This thoughtful work is sure to be popular with those who are already familiar with Peck's writings.'

A contemplative read, though I found it a bit slow and introspective. Having enjoyed his 'Raod Less Travelled' I was slightly disappointed in this book.

Very personal. Reads like a chatauqua.

I enjoyed the travelogue aspects of this, but the rest was just the gripes and half baked opinions of a self centred old man who wrote one bestselling book. He talks a lot about integrity for a guy who justifies a considerable number of extramarital affairs in this book. His faith is more in some kind of narcissistic cosmic genie and is quite far from any kind of historif faith in the judeo/Christian God.

I wouldn't have finished this if I didn't have a thing about finishing books. Don't bother.

I loved this as a travelogue thru the UK and thru a marriage. Have recommended to friends, at least one of whom said it was too Christian? Will try again. Clearing out some bookshelves and trying to switch over to e-books.