Customer Reviews

Further Along the Road Less Traveled: The Unending Journey Towards Spiritual Growth

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have read most of M. Scott Peck's work and enjoyed this one for his candid discussion on faith. He ties the relationship between psychology and faith together for the reader and states spiritual truth in a way that is applicable to everyday life. It is not necessary to read The Road Less traveled first to enjoy Further Along....

Even better My guess is that if you are looking up this book it is because you are familliar with Scott Peck's work and particulary with The Road Less Travelled.

The Road Less Travelled had a profound impact on me in my early twenties - as I know it did millions of other people. Further Along the Road is just as good, if not better. I read it recently in my thirties and it felt like an extraordinarily wise and more mature book. I believe the man who wrote it, has grown in wisdom and maturity and he shares that here in a style which is, as always, clear, thought-provoking and above all affecting.

I felt like I was in the presence of a real truth-seeker and a man who had come a good way down the Less Travelled Road himself, and was not afraid to admit his failings and pitfalls.

I might add that after the Road less Travelled I bought a number of other Scott Peck books ( A Different Drum, A World WAiting to Be Born, People of the Lie) and was usually disappointed. Further Along on the other hand is a seriously good book. Highly recommended for all seekers of wisdom.

It felt to me, like I was traveling along with Scott on his Journey towards spiritual growth. The more I read, the more interested I became: Here's a man who has traveled (as well as practiced) many different path to enlightenment, yet in the end he has the guts to say "I don't know...!". He gave me many practical hints on how to live life to the fullest, how to get a fresh picture of Jesus and many other, interesting subjects. I especially admired his willingness to reveal himself .Also, his Buddist philosophy of the paradoxal nature of beliefs is very refreshing. The only reason why I did not give it a 10 is because since reading: "Conversations with God", I cannot assign any other book with a higher mark. However, that does not take away from the day-today "hands-on' value of this book. I will definitely get the audio cassettes for those friends (and clients) of mine who could be greatly helped by a particular chapter from the book. Highly recommended for all spiritual counselors, preachers and those of you who struggle with the conventional image of God, the devil, Heaven and Hell. Good work Mr. Scott.

It felt to me, like I was traveling along with Scott on his Journey towards spiritual growth. The more I read, the more interested I became: Here's a man who has traveled (as well as practiced) many different path to enlightenment, yet in the end he has the guts to say "I don't know...!". He gave me many practical hints on how to live life to the fullest, how to get a fresh picture of Jesus and many other, interesting subjects. I especially admired his willingness to reveal himself .Also, his Buddist philosophy of the paradoxal nature of beliefs is very refreshing. The only reason why I did not give it a 10 is because since reading: "Conversations with God", I cannot assign any other book with a higher mark. However, that does not take away from the day-today "hands-on' value of this book. I will definitely get the audio cassettes for those friends (and clients) of mine who could be greatly helped by a particular chapter from the book. Highly recommended for all spiritual counselors, preachers and those of you who struggle with the conventional image of God, the devil, Heaven and Hell. Good work Mr. Scott.

Its impossible to discount Peck as an effective author. He's very passionate and moving in his books and he is indeed genuine. But this book does not have the power of the Road Less Travelled. This is mostly because Peck seems to have lost focus on why he wrote the original.
Peck's newer works tend to be based on conjecture and his own personal philosophies rather than on his expirience as a clinician. Furthermore he re-hashes many ideas on pain and myths and religion. His ideas about Christianity are fresh and entertaining but hardly based on a firm foundation.
But hardest to swallow was his his section on Heresy in which he claims heresy is alive and well in the church. Indeed it is, unfortunately its also in his book. I'm sure many Christian's would agree that Peck's idea that Jesus may have been bi-sexual, and therefor a sinner, would qualify as heresy. Also the way he discounts the scripture in many places shows that he's not exactly strong in his Christian faith, but still a skeptical pseudo-believer. Its miss-steps like this that carry on in the tradition of the shaky ending to his first book. Stick with the first sections on Discipline and Love, Peck is brilliant in them. Beyond that his work is usually good, but sometimes, quite bad.

i skimmed through the first one -- dated and in places homophobic, so no idea what this one would be like -- the guy sounds like a curmudgeon, albeit a spiritual one.

I found this book boring. It seems as if it is a bit of a con- trying to make mre money after the first 'episode'.

This guy became a millionare by saying such things as 'life is suffering!' I could have said that! Remember, this is only his interpretation on life- and what makes his better than anyone elses? Because he is a psychiatrist? He just has more experience with suffering people. That doesn't necessarily make him more right than others or more attuned to the world.

People need to find their own interpretations of things- not adopt others- unless they TRULY agree. Not just because the author 'says so'.

In sum, boring, uninspiring, and doesn't really help one (or me at least) on this journey of life...