Chronicle Book Club

Life is funny. The twists and turns of events put us in 1 place 1 minute and then seemingly and instantaneously in another the next. This book review is quite personal as I have looked back at how this book was pivotal and impactful to me personally and professionally.

“The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck MD did this for me.

It was published in 1978 and had sold over 10 million copies worldwide in 10 different languages, the Washington Post reported.

When he wrote his book Dr. Peck was not a Christian but later became one. I would like to think that his creative expression in writing this book brought him to this decision.

“The Road Less Traveled” was recommended and handed to me in 2000 by Rev. John D. Derrick, then my pastor at Zion Lutheran Church on Corley Mill Road and now the pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in West Columbia. I am forever grateful to him.

I remember Pastor John going behind his desk to his bookcase, pulling this book off his shelf and saying to me something like, “You might enjoy this book. It is one of my favorites.” The title itself caught my attention and the softbound copy was easier for me to read.

In 2000, I was just moving back to Lexington to pursue a degree in Homeopathy. My travels had taken me from North Myrtle Beach where I helped transform my brother’s dental business and before that in Savannah, GA, where I helped open and manage the newest location of JB White’s department store.

At that point in my life I had not really investigated the internal aspects of my 34 years. As I read this book, it was as if someone turned a light on inside me.

This book was in that moment which moved me to look at the challenges within and create a change in my life to go through and past them. Without this book I would not be on the path that I am on today as a business & life success & abundance coach helping others to look within and achieve great things in their lives. That is how impactful this book was to me.

The quote that Dr. Peck states that has followed me through the last 19 years of my life is the definition of insanity. He defines insanity as the act of continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results.

Dr. Peck was and still is a role model for me. I hold him in a place of honor.

Some time ago, I attended with 50 people a business presentation where Dr. Peck was quoted from “The Road Less Traveled.”

The presenter referred to him as Richard Peck. I approached the presenter after the event and gave him my gratitude for the enthusiasm of his presentation. I asked about the reference and if he had read the book. The presenter admitted he had not read the book, but it was on his to-do list.

I told the presenter this book is important to me and I felt it would be important to read if he was basing the presentation on it.

“The Road Less Traveled” offers a new perspective to seeing life, your life, no matter your age. It is not for the faint of heart as the book’s title states, the road is less traveled. It’s not going to be for everyone but its messages are universal.

How else would it have sold 10 million copies around the world? This book gives knowledge on the action of love being much more important than the feeling, which is fleeting as well as staying open to changing your perspective of reality at any moment.

The point that was most impactful for me was that we are all religious as it is nothing more than a distinct perception of the world.

The Lexington County Library has a copy if you want to check it out.

Please let me know about your experience of reading this book by emailing info@matrxcoaching.com

I am interested to learn about your experience.

“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” – M. Scott Peck