The Road Less Traveled And Beyond : Spiritual Growth In An Age Of Anxiety

It's true, this book is not an "easy" read. I have been stuck at some points in the book because what he said rang so true to my life. I've had to take his ideas seriously into account and review my thinking style. Which has been quite erroneous, not due to me, but to a bad upbringing. Also, being a human soul, I need to progress. So what do I do? I need to change the way I think to a more realistic way. "Know the truth and the truth will set you free". Thinking with God is now my #1 ambition.

I like the real life case studies he presents from his practice as a shrink. I can relate to many of these people. They are like me in many ways ( neurotic). It has given me a new perspective on my past. In my opinion, that's all that therapy can do for you, e.g., give you new framework to view your life from. I've had a little therapy, but so far, the best way I've discovered is to learn a new way of thinking about everything. That's a lot of work and many will not go there.

I like the quotes he makes from the wisdom of great thinkers. He stresses that life is complex, no way around it. No easy way of thinking either. It's not black vs white. The gray area is the reality.

He delves into the world of psycho-therapy. It's hard work to face therapy and " the truth" . Often, people live like ostriches with their heads buried up to their necks in sand to escape the truths they ought to face up to.

His view of the purpose of life as a training ground for learning is very interesting. I'm also reading Rick Warren's "The Purpose Driven Life" and this ties into his thinking perfectly. We are a creation of God, we live here in His power for His purposes during our time here. The creation can't out think the creator, that's for certain. Maybe all this was covered in his earlier books, I don't know because I didn't read them.

This book has been my therapist for a few weeks. It's a good thing.

It seems most of the reviewers missed most of Peck's points.
I've read all of Peck's books, mostly in chron order, as they were releasted.
It took great courage to write this "synopsis of my entire career." The biggest danger, of course (missed by most, it seems), is that ppl. would then read only this as a quick "cheat sheet" to all of his works -- then fail to go for the depth in each of those. No doubt Peck would, however, affirm this as a "legitimate" shortcut -- as he discourses about in the orig. TRLT.
THE POWER (w/out braggadocio -- which is likely why most readers seem to have missed this point) of Peck's continual self-referencing over HIS PAST 25 YEARS (TRLT just celebrated that anniversary as one of the most-read books this planet has ever seen; quite a feat in itself; tho, since that's only circa 10M books, it's not something our planet should be much proud of) is not: "Hey, read all the rest of my books." It's: "Hey, these TIMELESS TRUTHS I've been discussing for 25 YEARS are, indeed, STILL TRUE."
Don't miss this fact. The work holds up. Let's see if Bill Gates' software does 25 yrs. from now.

It's hugely courageous to come out AGAINST simplism, and FOR the intellect -- as it's so rare nowadays in our disgustingly 4-second-attention-span culture. It's not exactly what will endear you to life's perennial "H.S. Popularity Contest" -- that the immature masses spend their lives aspiring to.
But it's what I'd expect of a master like Peck: throw yourself on the sword of "offending the sensibilities" of the masses, as long as it's really for their own good (and not just lying that it's so), and ignoring your "relative comfort" -- and be willing to suffer for it. (Even your "fans" might be "irritated" if they misunderstand and only think "you're trying to sell more books.")
Again, more of Dr. Peck proving his own case by "walking his own talk" from the 25 yr. old TRLT.

I used to recommend other of Dr. Peck's books -- but now ALWAYS recommend this FIRST. (Apart from the other reasons I've already made apparent -- in TRLTAB continually references EVIL, something of a missing flaw in the orig. TRLT. But, of course, greatly made up for in his then quickly writing POTL.)
PRINCIPALLY B/C LIFE IS SHORT. AND THERE IS NO TIME, NOR SENSE, NOT TO SEND ALL "NEWCOMERS" TO THE TREASURE TROVE FIRST, then let them discover the depth at their leisure and own scheduling.

"LIFE IS AN EMERGENCY." -- Helen Keller

"THE ONLY GOOD IS KNOWLEDGE, AND THE ONLY EVIL IS IGNORANCE." -- Socrates

"THE MAJORITY OF THE STUPID IS INVINCIBLE, AND GUARANTEED FOR ALL TIME." -- Albert Einstein

TIMELESS TRUTH, ANYONE?

I enjoyed this book! I am very interested in change- why some are willing to and some resist it. Peck's views on change were insightful. I totally agree with him concerning the issue of simplistic thinking, too. I have struggled with organized religion-couldn't take the confines of it and truly knew that I could think for myself and didn't need a doctrine of an organization to guide me- I can connect directly to God. His views on the Stages of Spiritual Growth helped me. Although I had read about this topic in other books-his "way of putting it" finally helped me sort it all out. I did find he refered to his other books too frequently and it was distracting. I finally just skimmed (fast forwarded) to the parts more interesting to me. I would reccommend this book to those further along the "road less traveled".

Again M. Scott Peck has created a tool for discovering meaning in the complexity of life. There are answers to be found in the reading of this masterpiece.

An irreverent look on the truth and reality that you may not "like" to hear but certainly pushes the limits of thinking more deeply... beyond the simple "easy" way seeing why we do the things we do. Challenging the reader to rise above tradition to New Schools of Thought.