The ROAD LESS TRAVELED FLEXIBIND

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Summary: LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST; STRIVE TO BE HAPPY!
Review: "The Road Less Travelled" is a unique blend of psychology and spirituality; it is food for the soul and the heart. As a counsellor, I have recommended this book to clients, especially to those with addiction problems, and received very positive feedback. One comes to terms with the realization that it is not how many years we spend on this Earth that is important, it is what we do with the little time we have here that truly matters. Dream a little, laugh a lot; cry a little, love a lot. Accept life's challenges and obstacles and CHOOSE to be happy, anyway. If you think life has dealt you a bad deal, and perhaps it has, just look around and you will find others with far greater challenges than you ever imagined.

There is nothing quite so sad as one who has lost hope, or has set no personal goals or expectations. This book gives the reader a fresh insight and courage into setting goals, accepting what we cannot change and finding the courage to change what we can. One of the best ways we can overcome our own personal difficulties is to reach out and touch the hearts of those in greater need, and the world is filled with people desperately in need of understanding, love, acceptance, food, warmth, and shelter. By doing just one good thing for someone else each and every day, you will find your own life truly enriched a thousand times over.

This book provides courage to those who are afraid, hope to those in despair and strength to those who are weak. The author gives the reader much food for thought, and is bound to leave you soul searching for the true meaning and purpose of life.

Rating:
Summary: Perceptive, but Needs Updating
Review: Dr. Peck is an acute observer of human nature, and backs up his case with powerful case studies. His points about love being an act of willed generosity and attention to another still resonate twenty years plus after the book's publication.

That said, it could use some updating to incorporate some social changes off the last twenty years. There's a particularly discordant note struck about midway through, when, unless I'm misunderstanding something, Peck suggests that the moment "the passive homosexual gathers the courage to ask a girl on a date" represents some kind of courage. This is at odds with the book's message of self-acceptance, honesty and getting together the guts to live your life.

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Summary: If only common sense were truly common
Review: I tend to avoid self-help books but the title of this one intrigued me. After reading a little of it in the book store I bought it and have not at all been disappointed. Among all the books promising secret formulas for success, in a society which reads horoscopes and seems to be the repository of all the talismans in the history of the world, it is most refreshing to read a book that dares to tell the simple truth - life ain't easy.

I most like Peck's discussion of love. True love requires a lot of work. It requires a lot of communication. The act of truly listening to someone is at one and the same time the simplest and the most difficult thing a person can do, the least and the most that can be done. There are so many people who could benefit from taking this message to heart.

Having said this, I do have some criticisms of the book. Peck does not relate his thoughts to that of others. What he says resonates with the existential idea that we create our own meanings. It would have been nice to have had a discussion of this. I also do not care for his discussion of religious grace. It is not just that I am an atheist. It is that the idea that God's love works magic is at odds with the message about the work required for love. I have also looked at some of the books that Peck wrote after this one and found them disappointing. Nevertheless I whole-heartedly recommend this work. It contains a simple morning after sobering message that society as a whole can benefit from and that I as an indvidual found very useful.

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Summary: THE classic self-help book
Review: If you read self-help books, this is the essential one. M. Scott Peck invented the self-help book, and none better than this one has been written. It's so insightful that it's appropriate to say it's wise--not many self-help books deserve that praise. Whoever you are, this book will challenge you (and help you) to make yourself a better person in practical, meaningful ways. If you're even considering buying it, then you probably should.

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Summary: Gimme Gimme Gimme I Need I Need
Review: If you subscribe to the theory that you and I (people, Soul)are down here for a reason and at least part of that reason is to grow (in some form) - then at least part of growing involves Discipline - not punishment, but the surrendering of Soul's immature attachments (lust, vanity, greed, fear, etc). Scott Peck does an excellent job of defining discipline through four aspects: delaying gratification, responsibility, dedication to truth & balancing. He provides anectodes for each one from both his childhood and his experiences as a psychiatrist. He uses himself as an example as often as others showing how attachments, from alcohol to wanting others to handle things for us, keep one from growing.
Socct Peck's narration is credible though his voice is not the best to listen to, but on this tape substance rules.
Also recommended "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey; "Whatever Happened to Justice?" by Richard Maybury.

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Summary: A must read book as soon as possible
Review: In order for this review to be helpful for you I'll assume that you haven't read the book and debating whether it's going to be worth your money and while.

I have just finished reading this book, and at once I logged on Amazon.com and bought a bunch of the author's other books! I also bought this same book as gifts for friends and relatives! This is how much I liked the author's mind and style and how much I appreciate his work in this book.

This book falls under the "Popular Psychology" category. It's written in a very simple language and a very attractive approach. The author has some very revolutionary visions about the human psyche and mind, but he doesn't shock you with them immediately. Instead, he starts with very commonly accepted beliefs and takes you on a very smooth journey that is full with knowledge and often surprises!

I believe that the book is a must read for everybody. However the last chapter, titled "Grace", might be quite controversial to many. The pace in that last chapter takes a faster approach and some readers might find themselves disagreeing with the author's approach.

Nonetheless, the book is very valuable and it will definately change the way you perceive life and humanity overall!

In summary, I think that this book is worth your money and while.

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Summary: A good book for the young...
Review: It has been many years since I read this book and reread it. There are definitely some truly wonderful tools, which I have kept with me ever since I read the first line of the book... Life is difficult. As soon as one reflects on this fact and accepts it, it really isn't so difficult any more...

Of course I now realize-after having gone through some very painful experiences since I first read those lines-that this is an over-simplification. Life can and does throw some serious curve balls that really knock the wind right out of you! Realizing and understanding that life is difficult, is not enough of a tool to get you through loosing someone to death... Because there are all kinds of disturbing and hellish emotions that go along with loosing someone that you love so very much.

For anyone who was raised with any kind of a religious background, this book does not provide enough reasons as to why we feel the way we do about life's circumstances and our own roles here on earth. The messages that many-if not most of us have been given as children-from our parents and mentors can be quite confusing and contradictory. These messages stay with us, and as twisted as some of them may be, influence many of our decisions and keep us spinning within that vicious sphere.

If you have bought this book or are thinking of reading it, I say, go ahead and read it. It probably will give you some insight and some good tips on coping with life. But if you are seriously searching and trying to change your life, I would strongly recommend The New Dance of Christ by Anthony T Massimini.

The New Dance of Christ is a wonderfully, insightful book which will really blow your mind! I do wish that the title were different though. I consider myself a Recovering Catholic and no longer even consider myself a Christian. If it weren't for a friend of mine recommending this book to me, I would not have picked it up because of the title.

But don't be swayed by the title! Because even if you don't agree with all of the theories of Massimini, you can't help but be intrigued, fascinated and even altered by his words and facts... Whether you are a Christian, Buddhist, or even an atheist, this book will unlock something inside of you that was there all along but blocked and un-nurtured.

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Summary: The Uber-Self-Help Book
Review: M. Scott Peck's brilliant description of the human condition is the uber-self-help book. If you want to know why the world today (and twenty some-odd years ago when the book was written) is awash with narcisists, liers, responsibility shirkers, loveless relationships, and instant gratification consumers, this is the book for you. And yes, you will find that you exhibit some symptoms of every problem he describes. But how do we combat our own weakness? He explains all. As Dr. Peck says (paraphrased), "Why do people lie? To avoid pain." Simply stated and direct, he writes with a style that exposes the elephant in the room. Every person owes it to themselves to read this book and look in the mirror. This book is not a substitute for therapy, or a spiritual guide. This book is an eye opener, to show you the way towards a healthy mind and spirit...hence the title. Highly recommended.

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Summary: Life changing insights
Review: Not an easy reading but worth every second and all the effort that you put in it. This is a book about living, but it is about living in a way that sets you apart. It is about Life. Everything and anything that is life.. love, relationships, solving problems, dealing with pain, growing, religion, discipline and the challenges of doing all of that in our limited lifetimes. They're all things that we take for granted, they're all things that we usually 'do' without thinking about them. 'The Road Less Traveled' forces you to think about them in ways that you have not done before.

Scott Peck combines years of psychotherapy with a natural writing style that attracts the reader and challenges his/her mind. It is not the writing style that makes the book difficult reading, but the continuous challenge to you mind and to your preconceived ideas. Peck demands that you examine your mind, your feelings and your heart deeply and objectively. Most of us find that difficult.

Peck comes across his book as a warm and sensitive person and he makes you feel at ease instantly... What else would you expect from whose opening sentence is "Life is difficult." !

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Summary: Some Good Examples
Review: There is alot of technical psychological and spiritual terminology which will not keep everyone's attention. However, there are some very good examples of the powers of psychotherapy and how an open mind can help anyone. The case of Kathy is especially captivating as this situation in particular shows that healing and change takes a great amount of time and willingness to trust. There are good examples on how life events can effect one's growth. Theadore's case is another good example that illustrates that.

Life is difficult where there are many trials and tribulations. People who realize this and are willing to work hard will be on the way to understanding the principles of this book better. The over reliance on psycho-terminology reduces the effectiveness but overall it has much merit.