For anyone who has suffered at the hands of others.

books:


	• People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil M. Scott Peck Touchstone, 1998 - 276 pages average customer review:based on 146 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Evil is as Evil does

I have often thought that the word "evil" was a bit strong. Over time I have come to understand more about it as a concept and behavior.

I enjoy understanding the etemology of words- it helps me to understand what a word really means. Here is an interesting etymology of the word "evil."

The modern English word 'evil' (Old English Yell) and its cognates such as the German 'Übel' are widely considered to come from a Proto-Germanic reconstructed form *Ubilaz, comparable to the Hittite huwapp- ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European form *wap- and suffixed zero-grade form *up-elo-. Other later Germanic forms include Middle English evel, ifel, ufel Old Frisian evel (adjective & noun), Old Saxon ubil, Old High German ubil, and Gothic ubils. The root meaning is of obscure origin though shown to be akin to modern English 'over' and modern German 'über' (OE ofer) and 'up' (OE up, upp) with the basic idea of "transgressing". (from wikipedia)

The concept that Peck puts forth of Evil it is fundamentally the transgression over the will of others; interfering with freedom of other; imposing ones will over others - all by the mechanism of ego. This book is a wakeup call for the many millions of people in this world who simply feel they must exert their selves over others. It begins with our current Politicians, moves through our Religious institutions, and descends into our business and relational world. It means that we suffer from one- upmanship, power plays, power lunches, excessive competition, and the list goes on... All of this for the sake of the out of control ego.

I'm not into the exorcism thing - different strokes for different folks- but Peck did a good thing by writing this book.

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For anyone who has suffered at the hands of others.

This book is for all those wrestling with the pain of personal betrayals by people who should love and protect them. Those who are struggling to understand why others keep hurting them will find solace in this book. It offers an unflinching look at the ugly truth behind many people's motivations. It is simply not realistic to pretend that "normal everyday people" are incapable of monstrous, though subtle evil. Subtle indeed. This subtle, insidious kind of evil can occur continuously behind the thinnest facades of any family or organization without ever being acknowledged for what it is. The fact that it is often not overt enough to be openly identified as evil often leaves victims without a way to cope or understand. The covert cloak of obscurity and denial under which this kind of evil operates is perhaps one of its most damaging and confounding aspects.

This book was a page turner for me. Dr. Peck's style is direct, straight-forward, and to-the-point while still being entertaining and colorful. He confronts his patients the same way in the book. I found myself saying "yup," "exactly!" and "Uh-HUH!" often and at times burst out laughing. The book is also heartbreaking in describing some of the evils Dr. Peck illustrates.

I'm glad I read this book. It has given me that "missing piece of the puzzle" that had prevented me for so long from letting go of some past abusive relationships. I could finally admit, yes, those relationships were just as bad as they seemed. People did treat me with malicious intent. They did wish to harm me. The past was exactly what it looked like and there definitely is such a thing as evil. Thank you Dr. Peck for giving the world a much needed light on this truth.

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To be perceptive is to be TRULY SHARP

The one thing that I pride myself on are my keen perceptions. You know when you meet someone for the first time, but there is an aura that puts you ill at ease. You try to put your finger on it, yet you remain baffled. Well this book explains those "gut feelings", if you will. I was aware enough throughout my life to know it wrong to ignore my center senses. This book will teach beyond this primitive awareness. Pay attention to what this book teaches, choose wisely, and pass on your wisdom to those you value.
ELRoe

Frightening and awakening

I had a hard time getting thru this book. Not that it was too hard, but one of those you have to read some and then go outside and look at your flowers to calm yourself. Some of it is very rough, but enlightening at the same time. I recommend every single person read this book at some point. I explains a lot of things to me. The mind of a sick person thru the eyes of a DR. Very interesting.

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Overall, A Herculean feat

In this book, Dr. Peck begins the Herculean feat of charting a course for the recognition, analysis, and healing of evil. In essence, he clears away some of the brush and thistle along humanity's winding ingress to understanding why we commit and are affected by diabolical behaviors. Other than the exquisite writing style that unfolds throughout the book, I found the subject matter covered a brave foray by its author. Admittedly, the subject of evil (i.e., of what it is comprised, its prevalence and characteristics, etc.) is an uncomfortable one to dissect and analyze, much less discuss. When doing so, we essentially confront our own fallacious, entropic tendencies. Due to the fact that Dr. Peck walks the tightrope in attempting to fuse nosology (science) with theology (a lofty task, indeed), he defiantly places his own reputation on the line. This is nothing greater or less than sublime. As a scientist and writer, I can certainly appreciate such bravado. Indubitably, most great thinkers must question the status quo in order to disengage assumed barriers of knowledge and truth. Though a Christian, Dr. Peck demonstrates a patulous attitude to all belief systems that bespeak the virtues of clemency (e.g., he reveals details of exorcisms of which he partook, alongside "loving" atheists and agnostics). Often deferring to other experts (e.g., philosophers, writers, priests, saints, shamans, and all who have taken keen notice of "evil"), Dr. Peck does anything but place himself on a pedestal. Rather, he perceives himself as one of many, who is merely attempting to enable a paradigm shift in the field of psychiatry. Beyond this, however, his greater mission is to break some ground in the realm of human love.

As Dr. Peck defines it, "Evil is in opposition to life. It is that which opposes the life force." In other words, it is not just that which is linked to murder of the corporeal body, but destruction of the spirit, as well. "Evil is that force, residing either inside or outside of human beings, that seeks to kill life or liveliness. And goodness is its opposite."
Unlike some other reviewers, I do not believe the case studies he features are meant to influence readers to submit to a brazen concept of evil. If the latter was true, he could have chosen more dramatic examples of patients with whom he has worked. Additionally, he could have described high-profile cases (e.g., those regurgitated a million times over in the media). Rather, I feel that he painstakingly chose muted examples, to demonstrate the insidious, covert, deceptive, confounding, and prevalent nature of evil in seemingly "normal", "healthy" and "law-abiding" people. In most societies, many people who are (overwhelmingly) evil (or who are influenced by evil) are never caught in the midst of the atrocious acts they commit. Most parents who are devious and abusive to their children do not have criminal records; in fact, many of them are model citizens in their communities. Most child predators will live their chronological lives, without conviction (both literally and metaphorically). Amidst personal and professional stomping grounds, many maleficent manipulators and sadists are so adept at combining surreptitious with deceptive natures, they leave their abused victims scratching their own heads and asking themselves, "What just happened here?" In fact, as Peck notes, evil has freer reign (and is more difficult to pinpoint) when committed by groups. Although I found Peck's chapter on Mylai (as an example of group evil) a bit overwrought, I also perceived it as apropos, considering the war we are fighting in Iraq, 24+ years post publication of this book. NOTE: Although Dr. Peck did not mention it, one of the best novels (my favorite, in fact!) that describes the highly influential and powerful nature of evil on both individuals and groups is Bulgakov's work, Master and Margarita.

Most of the time when we are initially confronted with evil (in other people), we just "feel" that things are remiss. I agree with Peck, that in time, repulsion serves as a natural reaction to those who are evil. I also concur that the study of evil can be dangerous, as a certain faction of the population can employ measures of ostracism to justify their own concepts of what is repulsive. Perhaps, this is what Peck meant by "...the end does not justify the means. If we kill those who are evil, we will become evil ourselves. If we attempt to deal with evil by destroying it, we will also end up destroying ourselves, spiritually, if not physically." As Peck describes, the latter premise is a Strangelovian (Peck's favorite word, by the way), nihilistic vacuum, from which one, who not only wishes to recognize and understand, but also eradicate evil, can never escape. Beyond hope and faith, only love can truly serve to annihilate evil, and keep it at bay. At first bite, this tastes very Christian (1 Corinthians 13), which may seem offputting to non-Christian readers. Yet, most leaders of great religions have admonished the same. My personal conviction is that when enough people speak in cacophony, in order to hone in on that which is true, one should find where the harmonies occur. Therein, the divine will be found.

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

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