Great insights-weak diagnostic crieria

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	• 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

Great insights-weak diagnostic crieria

I found "People of the Lie" to be compelling reading. A psychotherapist myself, I found strong resonance with with many of Dr. Peck's insights and conclusions. His elaboration of group dynamics was fascinating, especially his insights into the regression and dependency that occur in groups, as well as into how specialization can lead to immoral and destructive behavior. His prediction, written in 1983, that in twenty years, our all volunteer armed forces will again become involved in foreign adventures was eerily prescient.

As a therapist, I appreciated Dr. Peck's insights into how difficult it is to treat patients who demand unconditional love while operating out of a paradigm of power and control.
However, the cases he chose to illustrate as evil were not particularly complelling in their destructiveness. Charlene was exasperating and annoying, difficult, to be sure, but evil?

His diagnostic criteria were also lacking-where is the aggressive, meglomaniacal evil personality of the Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Husseim? Where is the personality of the Charles Manson or Jeffrey Dahmer? Can't evil be served straight up as well as under cover?
I recommend "People of the Lie" as a worthwhile, provocative read for the insights the reader will glean into human and group behavior.

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Problems

I am a fan of Scott Peck's work - however there is a problem with this book: he leans on the writings of Malachi Martin. Now at the time he wrote the book he was not to know any better, but since the publication of the memoir by Time magazine's Robert Blair Kaiser ("Clerical Error: A True Story", Continuum International Publishing Group, 2002) there are good reasons to doubt much of what was previously believed to be known about Malachi Martin, and certainly to be suspicious of his "factual" writings.

So as a result "People of the Lie" contains a flaw, perhaps a fatal flaw.

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Terrific Book

I read about my mother in this book. It helped me understand why she is able to justify her hurtful actions. Also recommend books about Narcissism to try and understand the kind of person that can hurt others without a thought as to the damage they are causing. My mother has always been able to justify her wrongful actions with religious sentiments. I believe alot of evil in the world is simply caused by mental illness gone unchecked.

Insights I never dreamed of

Reading People of the Lie was like having your eyes opened to experiences that puzzled you in the past. I was so grateful to understand how some people operate, because I had been bamboozled (as my dad used to say) by their appearance, words and demeanor that said one thing but then the contradictions in those words and actions on the other hand. Peck's insights into this personality which he calls "evil" were superb. As a person involved with religious groups for many years, I have met this type of person. Now I am better able to pick out someone and realize that the red flags I had been noticing are, indeed, valid. I urge everyone who works with any type of religious or humanitarian group or with children to read this book. It's important for the folks you deal with daily.

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A Denial

This book is dangerous. I agree. I can also understand how some people will loathe it and some will love it. It is a great read and love it or loathe it. It is worth reading for the tale about George, The Man who made a pact with the devil, alone. At least this book divides opinions and creates strong views and that can not be a bad thing. It is also very easy reading, so if you have not read it, I suggest you procrastinate no further. After all procrastination is the root of all evil. Sweet dreams.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, page 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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