A review by wwatts1734
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck
4.0
"The Road Less Traveled" is an American classic of psychological self-help. A friend of mine gave me this book several years ago, and the book surprised me in several ways. For one thing, it was not a feel good book that seeks to tell readers that they are not to blame for their own problems. This book actually teaches the reader that there are aspects of his personality that will add or take away from his own happiness and success in life. Things like virtue actually mean something in this book. That's a refreshing departure from the "I'm OK, you're OK" school of psychology from the 1970s.
Another refreshing aspect of this book is that it actually recognizes that there is such a thing as good and evil. When Peck talks about love, he is not talking about the abstract concept of flowers and sunshine. He really believes that love is an attitude built on work and commitment to the relationship.
These two aspects of this book make it a departure from the feel-good psychology books that people love to read. Now, this book is not all perfect. Peck does preach a bit of the narcissistic ethic that if you don't feel good about a relationship you should leave. Commitment to one's life partner and children are still not as important as one's subjective feelings of happiness, and that's a shame. But, Peck does not take a condescending attitude toward faith, love and virtue. I actually took away quite a bit from this book. I think that most readers will learn a lot from it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good book of psychological self-help.
Another refreshing aspect of this book is that it actually recognizes that there is such a thing as good and evil. When Peck talks about love, he is not talking about the abstract concept of flowers and sunshine. He really believes that love is an attitude built on work and commitment to the relationship.
These two aspects of this book make it a departure from the feel-good psychology books that people love to read. Now, this book is not all perfect. Peck does preach a bit of the narcissistic ethic that if you don't feel good about a relationship you should leave. Commitment to one's life partner and children are still not as important as one's subjective feelings of happiness, and that's a shame. But, Peck does not take a condescending attitude toward faith, love and virtue. I actually took away quite a bit from this book. I think that most readers will learn a lot from it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good book of psychological self-help.