Abounding Grace An Anthology Of Wisdom [Hardcover]

M. Scott Peck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

M. Scott Peck, renowned for his writings on spiritual growth and author of the classic, The Road Less Traveled, has inspired countless people with his words of wisdom and insight. Now, in Abounding Grace, Dr. Peck presents us with a collection of his favorite quotations on such essential aspects of life as happiness, love, faith, and virtue. Gleaned from writers and thinkers, both famous and obscure, ancient and modern, these words-sometimes paradoxical, sometimes humorous, always eloquent and thought provoking-serve as guideposts on the road to a more spiritual existence. In his commentary introducing each of the 12 parts of his book, Dr. Peck challenges us to live a life of consciousness, goodness, and wholeness, and to look within ourselves and seriously consider how we may make the most of who we are. Through questions, examples, and anecdotes from his own experiences, Dr. Peck provides an original, fascinating, and enriching reading experience, creating, in truth, An Anthology of Wisdom. Abounding Grace is divided into 12 parts: Happiness, Courage, Compassion, Purity, Perseverance, Courtesy, Faith, Goodness, Love, Respect, Strength, and Wisdom. Dr. Peck has written a lengthy introduction and a commentary for each of the 12 parts. Below is an excerpt from his commentary on Happiness:"Happiness as an unmodified goal will likely be self-defeating. . . . Seek to be loved and you probably won't be; seek to love, on the other hand, and you probably will be. Look solely for happiness, and I doubt you'll find it. Forget about happiness, seek wisdom and goodness, and happiness will probablyfind you." The following are a few quotations from the same part:"Happiness depends upon ourselves." -Aristotle"The bird of paradise alights only upon the hand that does not grasp." -John Berry"When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet." -Stanislaw Lec"We all may have come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." -Martin Luther King Jr."Arrange whatever pieces come your way." -Virginia Woolf "Joy is not in things; it is in us." -Richard

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Reading Abounding Grace is like taking a master's level class on "Spiritual Wisdom Through the Ages" taught by the old soul of M. Scott Peck. In editing this anthology Peck assembled what he considered to be the most well written, inspirational, and enlightening quotes that speak to the top 12 virtues--happiness, courage, compassion, purity, perseverance, courtesy, faith, goodness, love, respect, strength, and wisdom. He then wrote an introductory essay on each virtue before presenting his lengthy selections of quotes.

When introducing the virtue of "Happiness," Peck asserts his controversial belief that, "The lie is that we are here on earth to be comfortable, happy and fulfilled.... The truth is that our finest moments are more likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers--or even for God."

He follows this elegant essay with a series of profound, tender, and even playful quotes about happiness, such as "There is nothing more beautiful than cheerfulness in an old man's face." (Jean Paul Richter) "The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right." (Anonymous) As a bonus, Abounding Grace also makes a lasting reference book, one of the best sources of spiritually minded quotes available. --Gail Hudson

From Library Journal

Like Peck's previous work, this series will appeal to spiritual seekers and teachers of all ages, backgrounds, and faiths. The author recorded this audiobook at his home, and, as a result, the reading has a homier feel than those narrations performed in a studio. Peck expresses his beliefs on the nature of happiness, courage, compassion, purity, perseverance, courtesy, faith, goodness, love, respect, strength, and wisdom. Using quotations from various cultures and eras, he illustrates and elaborates on his views on humanity's great questions. Recommended for spirituality collections in public libraries. Pam Kingsbury, Alabama Humanities Fdn., Florence
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740710141
• ISBN-13: 978-0740710148
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #625,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

M. Scott Peck's publishing history reflects his own evolution as a serious and widely acclaimed writer, thinker, psychiatrist, and spiritual guide. Since his groundbreaking bestseller, The Road Less Traveled, was first published in 1978, his insatiable intellectual curiosity has taken him in various new directions with virtually each new book: the subject of healing human evil in People of the Lie (1982), where he first briefly discussed exorcism and possession; the creative experience of community in The Different Drum (1987); the role of civility in personal relationships and society in A World Waiting to Be Born (1993); an examination of the complexities of life and the paradoxical nature of belief in Further Along the Road Less Traveled (1993); and an exploration of the medical, ethical, and spiritual issues of euthanasia in Denial of the Soul (1999); as well as a novel, a children's book, and other works. A graduate of both Harvard University and Case Western Reserve, Dr. Peck served in the Army Medical Corps before maintaining a private practice in psychiatry. For the last twenty years, he has devoted much of his time and financial resources to the work of the Foundation for Community Encouragement, a nonprofit organization that he helped found in 1984. Dr. Peck lives in Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, February 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Abounding Grace An Anthology Of Wisdom (Hardcover)

This is a powerful book. I loved it. I would also recommend An Encounter With A Prophet and Conversations with God. All three books helped me.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Bountiful Gift for Wisdom Seekers!, November 3, 2000

By 

Quaker Annie "reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abounding Grace An Anthology Of Wisdom (Hardcover)

The truth must be told. We don't own this book ... yet. Instead, we browsed through it at a very large, library like bookstore. The look and feel of the book made it difficult to put back on the shelf. Indeed, we found that this thick book was a feast of words, containing hundreds and hundreds of quotes - 1,600 or so -- on topics having to do with virtue: happiness, courage, compassion, purity, perseverance, courtesy, faith, goodness, love, respect, strength, and wisdom.

But it proved to be much more than just the usual collection of great quotes, or words of wisdom to look at once in a while, or copy onto websites and into newsletters. "Virtue" when served up by M. Scott Peck goes beyond conventional, dogmatic wisdom that sees goodness as something to be applied externally, and medicinally.

Peck thoughtfully reflects on what virtue is, what it means to individuals, how it emerges in each of us, from deep within. Before each section of quotes from a variety of people from different cultures, times, and beliefs, he offers his own reflections and experiences (on light purple paper, so you can easily see where each section begins) about the topic.

We love this book because it gives us all those favorite quotes, and some delicious food for thought. For the M. Scott Peck fan (The Road Less Traveled), this book will be a welcome gift (its on MY list to give and get)!

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book on ethics by Scott Peck, February 12, 2003

By 

Darren Burton "virtualbloodhound" (Ogden, Utah United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abounding Grace An Anthology Of Wisdom (Hardcover)

Scott peck has put together this anthology of quotes on the virtues of happiness, courage, compassion, purity, perseverance, courtesy, faith, goodness, love, respect, strength, and wisdom. If you have a natural philosophical bent you will find most of the quotes in this 384 page book to be quite profound. If you have no interest in a collection of quotes then don't buy this book. If you do read on and see what you think of this sampling of quotes found in the book:

CHARITY

Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness when bequeathed by those who, when alive, would part with nothing.
- Charles Caleb Colton

Charity, to be fruitful, must cost us.
- Mother Teresa

COMPASSION

One cannot weep for the entire world. It is beyond human strength. One must choose. - Jean Anouilh

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat... We must find each other.
- Mother Teresa

GRATITUDE

A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues. - Cicero

Into the well which supplies thee with water, cast no stones. - Talmud

No duty is more urgent than returning thanks. - Saint Ambrose

Wise men appreciate all men, for they see the good in each, and know how hard it is to make anything good. - Baltasar Gracian

HAPPINESS

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller

Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude. - Joseph Wood Krutch

I find my joy of living in the fierce and ruthless battles of life, and my pleasure comes from learning something. - August Strindberg

If only we'd stop trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good time.
- Edith Wharton

COURAGE

Often the test of courage is not to die but to live. - Vittorio Alfieri

What is to give light must endure burning - Victor Frankl

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage - Seneca

Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment. - Napoleon I

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

It often takes more courage to change one's opinion than to stick to it.
- George Christopher Litenburg

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?
- Frank Scully