People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil: Amazon.co.uk: M.Scott Peck: Books

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

(What is this?)

Hope For Healing

SHOP.COM Buy Hope For Healing Compare 100s of Shops

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Road Less Travelled (Arrow New-Age)

by M.Scott Peck

4.3 out of 5 stars (44) �5.19

Further Along the Road Less Travelled

by M.Scott Peck

4.8 out of 5 stars (5) �5.99

The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace (New-age)

by M.Scott Peck

5.0 out of 5 stars (1) �5.99

The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth (Classic Edition)

by M.Scott Peck

4.4 out of 5 stars (36) �5.99

Love You Deserve: A Spiritual Guide to Genuine Love

by Scott Peck

4.7 out of 5 stars (15) �8.55

› Explore similar items

Product Description

Synopsis
A psychiatrist uses case studies to show how evil exists in human behavior and looks at demonic possession and the group dynamics involved in the MyLai massacre.

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

psychology

m scott peck

Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

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

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Brave Book, 30 Nov 2003

By	R. P. Sedgwick "Grim Rob" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: People of the Lie: Hope for Healing Human Evil (New-age) (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.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

23 of 25 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 (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: People of the Lie: Hope for Healing Human Evil (New-age) (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

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Important insights into the nature and impact of evil people, 1 April 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: People of the Lie: Hope for Healing Human Evil (New-age) (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.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 12 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars a curate's egg
Like the curate's egg this book is good in parts; I just wish the author would stick to psychology and leave out the evangelising. Read more

Published 1 month ago by G. Thomas

4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting.
I find this book interesting, but sometimes a bit naive. I am still plodding through it. Very American point of view.

Published 3 months ago by maggiedottir

4.0 out of 5 stars Pioneering
We desperately need a psychology of evil. This book is a valuable begginning.

I agree with the late Dr. Read more

Published on 27 Nov 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars Until you have experianced it...dont knock it.
This book was a saver. Truely. There are the confussed, self-absorbed and disturbed, then there is what Scott Peck very bravely puts into words. Read more

Published on 5 Aug 2004 by kenneth scott

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but flawed
The author writes from a mainstream Christian perspective, which is certainly legitimate. He describes certain case studies where the patients suffered from extreme narcissism. Read more

Published on 9 May 2004 by Pieter

5.0 out of 5 stars AWAKENING, thus DISTURBING
.

An entirely different book, from the author of the inspirational bestseller The Road Less Travelled series. Read more

Published on 27 May 2003 by hklivingston

3.0 out of 5 stars Heal evil: take personal responsibility, treat narcissism
In "People of the Lie," Scott Peck repeatedly asks the reader - and the field of psychiatry - to first of all acknowledge that there is such a thing as evil, secondly to give it a... Read more

Published on 6 Feb 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgetable stays in your mind
I have read this book at least 4 times and I often think of the issues it raises. Principlaly it asks what exactly is evil? Read more

Published on 20 Dec 1999

2.0 out of 5 stars Concentrates on evil
Originally, our search at Amazon was to find literature that explains lies. The learning experience was to help deal with people that lie or slander, especially to defend... Read more

Published on 27 Aug 1998

› See all 12 customer reviews...

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

More From M. Scott Peck MD

The Road Less Travelled: A New...

A brilliant self-help book, which I found genuinely inspiring... Read more
£7.99 £5.99

We've Got Converse

Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

Treat Someone

With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

	62% buy the item featured on this page: People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil 3.8 out of 5 stars (12)
	12% buy Further Along the Road Less Travelled 4.8 out of 5 stars (5) �5.99
	12% buy The Road Less Travelled (Arrow New-Age) 4.3 out of 5 stars (44) �5.19
	10% buy The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth (Classic Edition) 4.4 out of 5 stars (36) �5.99


Amazon Home

International Sites: United States \| Germany \| France \| Japan \| Canada \| China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon \| Fulfilment by Amazon \| Join Associates \| Join Advantage

Customer Service \| Help \| View Basket \| Your Account

About Amazon.co.uk \| Careers at Amazon

People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil (Paperback)

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

More From M. Scott Peck MD

We've Got Converse

Treat Someone

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History