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The People Of The Lie: Hope for Healing Human Evil (New-age) [Paperback]

M. Scott Peck
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
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Book Description

19 July 1990 New-age

"The patient suddenly resembled a writhing snake of great strength. . . More frightening than the writhing body, however, was the face. The eyes were hooded with lazy reptilian torpor. . ."

This is the second bestselling book by Dr M. Scott Peck. In this gripping psychology book, the leading psychiatrist describes his encounters during psychiatric therapy with patients who are not merely ill but manifestly evil - People of the Lie. This brilliant, disturbing book forces us to confront the darker side of our natures and to recogise that without spiritual and religious dimension, modern psychiatry cannot claim to understand human nature or behaviour. It is a worthy successor to The Road Less Travelled.

(1998-04-22)

Frequently Bought Together

The People Of The Lie: Hope for Healing Human Evil (New-age) + The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth (Classic Edition) + The Road Less Travelled And Beyond: Spiritual Growth in an Age of Anxiety: Spiritual Growth in an Age of Uncertainty
Price For All Three: £19.47

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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Arrow; New Ed edition (19 July 1990)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0099728605
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099728603
  • Product Dimensions: 11 x 2 x 17.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 30,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Brave Book 30 Nov 2003
By R. P. Sedgwick VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
In People of the Lie Peck looks at the phenomenon of evil he has experienced with patients in psychotherapy; some of the cases where people have overcome, with the help of conventional therapy, the evil within them - most have not.

The book goes on to look at different types of evil, the definition of evil, a fascinating discussion of the author's experiences with two exorcisms, and the nature of Satan. Finally Peck looks at group evil, such as experienced during the holocaust and in Vietnam.

Interspersed with each case are the author's more general thoughts on the nature of (as he sees it) the disease of evil, and how psychiatry could be extended to be a more complete science by covering areas previously considered the realm of religion.

Although People of the Lie is a fairly academic book, it's written in a readable manner and I found it mostly very approachable as a reader with no formal background in psychiatry.

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40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
If you've the perseverence and objectivity to penetrate Peck's occasionally rather annoying 'evangelism', you'll be rewarded with a fascinating insight into the behaviour of 'evil' people and their impact on others.

The People of The Lie is without doubt an important attempt to understand and describe 'scientifically' a very common though as yet, not formally classified personality/character disorder. However, Peck's emphasis on the 'supernatural' dimension, particularly his observations on the value of exorcism is inappropriate. It obscures some extremely worthwhile evidence in support of his contention, that there is scope to define formally a 'new' disorder to help psychiatrists and psychologists manage both 'evil' people and their victims. I suspect this book is not universally popular among these professionals.

Nevertheless, its worth the effort. Whether you're a believer, agnostic or athiest, The People of the Lie offers much food for thought. So far as I know, people who are just plain bad are not well catered for by formal psychology theory; bad people really do exist, they're not simply damaged people who do bad things so perhaps Peck's book is a worthwhile attempt to expose such people for the benefit, principally of their victims.

I was a victim and as such the book has helped me greatly. As a pychologist, I would have preferred a less 'emotional' and more accessible approach to what is a seriously under-researched phenomenon.

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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A good try at the problem of evil 9 Feb 2002
By MWin
Format:Paperback
Peck makes an apposite description of truly evil people, how deceitful and self-centred they are, although they often pretend to be upstanding citizens. What makes Peck's view of evil stand out is that he takes the problem of evil fully seriously. Evil is not merely a misunderstanding or some kind of deficiency in an otherwise good human society. No, evil is a constant and strong force inside the soul of the "people of the lie." Peck wants to depict evil as a very serious illness of the soul that cannot be spotted from outside. I am sceptical of diagnosing evil as a disease, but Peck's book deserves the highest mark because of his heartfelt explication and his telling case histories. I feel, from my own life-experience, that Peck's depiction of evil peoples' characteristics is very apt.

Mats W

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Raises important issues
The author addresses key issues from both scientific and religious perspectives, recognising that neither approach invalidates the other. Read more
Published 18 days ago by MammyM
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best book on Human Evil
Being the reader of all Peck's books, I bought this book as a present to my friend who was not capable of seeing that human kindness, can sometimes be and act of evil within a... Read more
Published 26 days ago by OperaLover
5.0 out of 5 stars book
again this book was purchased for some one on spiritual growing path tells me its a great help recommended for those who seem to lost
Published 4 months ago by alan.purchase
3.0 out of 5 stars Very thought provoking
Scott Peck's most popular book is The Road Less Travelled. This book is not quite up there with that title, but is nevertheless a thought provoking read. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mrs. Ia Platings
2.0 out of 5 stars Unsettling treatise on evil.
I found this a rather disturbing book, not so much because of the case histories in it, but because of Scott Peck's attitude to the people involved. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Archy
1.0 out of 5 stars I'm relieved that the UK mental health community doesn't seem to have...
I am recovering from years of bruising encounters with a family member I suspect to be personality disordered and was given this book by a well-meaning acquaintance. Read more
Published 23 months ago by L. Fischmann
4.0 out of 5 stars Evil: a psychiatrist's view
Dr. Peck argues that 'evil' should be added to the list of disorders that psychiatrists should be able to identify and treat, and gives suggestions as how how this can be done. Read more
Published on 11 April 2011 by mattghg
5.0 out of 5 stars food for thought
The phenomenon of evil in everyday people is something I have come across a lot and this book is an interesting take on an unexplained reaction to others. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2011 by Ms. Samia Bushra
4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful and provocative
Scott Peck is a much loved populist writer on psychology, finding a way to convey his personal understanding of human potential, honed through his professional life and his own... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2011 by Lady Fancifull
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Read for me.
This book was as I expected, a thoroughly good read. Dr Peck leaves no stone unturned as he discusses evil and the people of the lie. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2011 by annie frame
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