The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth
by M. Scott Peck
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck holds a highly rated rating of 4.03 out of 5, based on 61.2K reader ratings. First published in 1978. The book spans 320 pages.
About The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth316 pp. "Psychotherapy is all things to all people in this mega-selling pop-psychology watershed, which features a new introduction by the author in this 25th anniversary edition. His agenda in this tome, which was first published in 1978 but didn't become a bestseller until 1983, is to reconcile the psychoanalytic tradition with the conflicting cultural currents roiling the 70s. In the spirit of Me-Decade individualism and libertinism, he celebrates self-actualization as life's highest purpose and flirts with the notions of open marriage and therapeutic sex between patient and analyst. But because he is attuned to the nascent conservative backlash against the therapeutic worldview, Peck also cites Gospel passages, recruits psychotherapy to the cause of traditional religion (he even convinces a patient to sign up for divinity school) and insists that problems must be overcome through suffering, discipline and hard work (with a therapist.) Often departing from the cerebral and rationalistic bent of Freudian discourse for a mystical, Jungian tone more compatible with New Age spirituality, Peck writes of psychotherapy as an exercise in "love" and "spiritual growth," asserts that "our unconscious is God" and affirms his belief in miracles, reincarnation and telepathy. Peck's synthesis of such clashing elements (he even throws in a little thermodynamics) is held together by a warm and lucid discussion of psychiatric principles and moving accounts of his own patients' struggles and breakthroughs. Harmonizing psychoanalysis and spirituality, Christ and Buddha, Calvinist work ethic and interminable talking cures, this book is a touchstone of our contemporary religio-therapeutic culture." -- Publishers WeeklyKeywords: MIND & BODY PSYCHOLOGY SOCIOLOGY RELIGION
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | M. Scott Peck |
| Published | 1978 |
| Pages | 320 |
| Genres | Psychology, Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy |
| Average Rating | 4.03 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 61,238 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth?
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth is categorized as Psychology, Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Religion & Spirituality. Its primary genre classification is Classics.
Is The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth worth reading?
Based on 61.2K reader ratings, The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth has an average score of 4.03 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth?
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth has 320 pages.
Who wrote The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth?
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth was written by M. Scott Peck. It was first published in 1978.
What is the ISBN for The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth?
The ISBN-13 for The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth is 9780671250680.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
