The Road Less Traveled By M. Scott Peck

Review by Janine Downes

The thinking man's (or woman's) self help book, M Scott Peck's The Road Less Traveled brings his many years of experience as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist to bear in a work of great clarity that speaks to us all.

An exploration of human nature, relationships and loss, this seminal work can transform the way you look at yourself and others. Bringing about a deep understanding of yourself, your motivations and your actions alongside a compassion and empathy for others' actions and motivations – this book is not to be undertaken lightly. Be prepared to delve deep, recognise yourself and others in many of the stories told and ultimately - do something about it.

While M Scott Peck's perspective is clearly a Christian one, he is first and foremost a psychotherapist. He draws on his experiences to discuss issues of love, attachment and depression. And considering the book was written in the 1970s, he has a surprisingly modern take on how your attitude to life dictates how you live it. If you're prepared to pick and choose from amongst the sometimes preachy passages, there are some gems to be found.

This book helped me through a difficult time, when distraction just wouldn’t have done the trick. Not for everyone, if you decide to read this classic work on relationships, spiritual growth and life's meaning, be prepared to dig deep and make a change to the way you live your life forever, and for the better.

This book can be borrowed from The Hive as well as other Worcestershire libraries. Click here to check availability and check it out.