Customer Reviews

PEOPLE OF THE LIE VOL. 1 TOWARD A PSYCHOLOGY OF EVIL

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If you have ever experienced or been frustrated by people who seem to have a hidden agenda then you will enjoy and benefit from this book. The author states (some are paraphrased) and explains the following:

1. The evil hide their motives with lies.

2. Evil people want to appear to be good.

3. When confronted by evil, the wisest and most secure adult will usually experience confusion.

4. Evil seeks to discourage others to think for themselves (fosters dependency).

5. To oppose evil we must have an ongoing dedication to reality at all cost.

I agree that to be mentally healthy we must believe what is true and only what is true. After reading this book you will be better equipped to deal with people who cause strife and confusion. It will also help you identify thought patterns where you are lying to yourself.

Don't even consider buying this book if you haven't read the author's first book "The road less traveled." This is a sequel to that book and a lot of the notions and concepts discussed here were established in the first book. Besides, the author, M. Scott Peck, introduces many controversial suggestions in this book, and most of his findings are either shocking or, at least, unusual. Only by reading the first book you will establish the respect and admiration of the author's wisdom and intellect necessary to hear out his out of the ordinary ideas.

"The road less traveled" is a psychological study of love and of human spiritual growth, or in other words, the good side of humanity. This book is a follow up to that study. It is only logical that when you study the light that you wonder about the darkness. However, human evil is a concept totally alien to the science of psychiatry. Besides, as the author himself admits, using the term "Evil" can be an act of evilness itself! It is also highly risky to approach the flames of evilness without catching up on its fires yourself! With these precautions Dr. Peck begins a fantastic book in the study of human evil through the eyes of psychiatry.

The book begins by telling in detail the story of one of his patients who seemed to be a happy man leading a very normal and healthy life. However, as he carries on, we start realizing along with Dr. Peck that evil was staring the man in every corner of his life, hiding in his problems and even among his family members! It is by the end of the story we realize that this normal person literally did sell his soul to the devil!

How did this happen? How can one sell his soul to the devil? Does the devil even exist? With these questions Dr. Peck dives into the study of evil in human beings. Dr. Peck claims that evil does exist, but it's neither incurable nor unavoidable! And the only way to combat evil is to admit to its existence and to recognize its danger. How can you fight something that you don't even believe is true, he says.

Dr. Peck explains why scientists dismiss the idea of the existence of evil and how that is caused by their limited perception of what science stands for. He then carries on by giving examples of some of the cases he had to deal with where he allegedly met with the human evil. And in one chapter he dedicates it wholly to one story of one of his clients whom he failed to heal after more than 5 years of therapy because he didn't have the knowledge or the courage to admit that it was evil that she was suffering from. Later on he explains a different manifestation of evil that he terms as "The group evil." He explains that evil can be present in a group even if all of its members were not individually evil!

The end of the book talks about the dangers and the hopes of creating a science that studies evil. Once I finished the book, I had even more respect for Dr. Peck than I ended up with after reading his first book. Dr. Peck's writing style is pleasant and easy to comprehend. And his story telling techniques are exciting as well as thought provoking. By reading this book you will definitely have so many thoughts to ponder on for many days whether you agree with the author's findings or not. By reading this book you will definitely add intellectual, and possibly moral, value to yourself, and will probably find it highly entertaining at the same time. I totally recommend buying this book.

Nevertheless I have one serious reservation about this book, and it's in Chapter 5, which is titled "Of possession and exorcism." In that chapter the author takes one hell of a detour and starts talking about his personal investigation of the myth of possession and the alleged healing practice of exorcism. The shocking finding he throws in your face is that both are true and that he personally witnessed two exorcism procedures, one of which was a possession by Satan himself!

And even though I try my best to remain an open minded person by being receptive of every point of view out there, I can't accept such an outrageous claim if not accompanied with evidence and reason. The author's attitude in that particular chapter, surprisingly atypical of him, was very vague and unclear. He claims that the two exorcism experiences he went through were intense and that to give them justice would require that a whole separate book be written about them. Hence, he would only give us the impressions and resolutions he came out with from those experiences.

I, in my humble opinion, find that argument fallible! I don't think that anyone would've minded adding 200 more pages to that chapter just to hear those stories! Besides, if he truly thought that they deserve a book of their own then how come he never wrote one? I am mostly surprised because he never failed to extend proof and reason whenever he's presenting an unusual thought. This time it was very different though. By the time I reached the end of that chapter I felt that I was totally deceived by the author and that he did not deserve the respect I had for him.

However, once I started the following chapter, he gained back my respect of him and more immediately! I don't know what to think of chapter 5 and whether I prefer that I didn't read it or not. But, as I said previously, this book including chapter 5 will leave you thinking whether you agree with its findings or not.

I recommend it.

I remember picking this book up about 5 years ago and scanning through the first couple of chapters thinking to myself, "What is this guy talking about? I can't even fathom people that act like this." It just didn't ring true because my experience had not seen the likes of what he was trying to explain.

Fast forward 5 years later, and after going through a harrowing job experience with two people who could star in a movie representation of this book (which, come to think of it, has already been done in a film called SWIMMING WITH SHARKS in the character played by Kevin Spacey), I read it through in a single sitting. Peck so accurately diagnoses the "people of the lie" as being so self-absorbed and narcisistic that they continually make excuses about the abuse they heap upon other people, somehow turning every story 180 degrees in the opposite direction and always claiming victimization when the situation so clearly points to them as the perpetrator. It is a sad indictment of what must be a pandemic within institutions, as these folks clamor and cling to power, money and title oblivious to the human carnage left in the wake of their passing.

But even still, where our hearts are naturally inclined toward revenge, Peck cautions us, coaxing us toward pity for these wretched creatures. He suggests that whatever vile hellaciousness we could dream up as pay back should be tempered with the notion that these folks have consigned themselves to live in a hell of their own making (kind of like Annabella Sciorra in the movie, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME). The dark night of the soul sees their hearts scream out, "I hate you, you're nothing" when the worst some of us deal with is, "Ack... dumb mistake... oh well... keep going."

Bravo... this book rings true, even if it took a second reading. Context is everything!

"Evil is the exercise of power, the imposing of one's will upon others by overt or covert coercion". "The core of evil is ego-centricity, whereby others are sacrificed rather than the ego of the individual." These words and the following analysis that Scott Peck gives us into the world of evil are sorely needed now in America. At the heart of our political and moral meltdown is the force of evil. According to Dr. Peck (psychology) ego-centric persons are utterly dedicated to preserving their self-serving image. They cultivate an image of being a good, right, God-fearing citizens. They specialize in self-deceit and thus are People of the Lie.

Scott Peck is best known for his famed book The Road Less Traveled where Peck argues that there is a link between personal growth, spirituality, and basic mental health. In People of the Lie Scott, Peck see evil as the antithesis to the very goodness and life that normal, healthy people seek. He writes this book to raise the awareness that evil exists as an entity and force in the world and calls his readers to take evil far more seriously.

This certainly was a fascinating and thought-provoking book. Many people will find themselves disagreeing with some of Dr. Pecks' interpretations of human behavior, as well as his philosophy of good and evil, but I suggest that they give it a fair chance anyway and learn what they can. Whatever one thinks of his personal convictions, Peck is intent on illuminating the darker corners of the human soul, and for that we owe him a great debt. He avoids the materialist view that evil is merely a product of bad upbringing or bad brain chemesty, and he also steers refreshingly clear of the "fundamentalist" approach to evil--i.e., people are inherantly evil and those who do wrong should be rejected and severely punished. He seems, instead, to view evil as a disease of the soul which becomes more pathological the more you try to hide and deny it. Thus, he sees oridinary law abiding citizens as more succeptable to evil in many cases than blatant criminals who are at least honest enough to express their hatred and hostility directly. "Normal" society hides many cleve psychopaths who sabotage other people's lives in subtle ways--hiding their intense hatred of humanity and life itself under a veil of respectability. Peck seems to suggest that such psychic predators drive people to despair and suicide. Other hidden criminals lurk in the military and law enforcement where they can be openly cruel and brutal, but claim to be serving a higher cause like patriotism (or even "Democracy") The cure for evil is to open oneself to something beyond your diseased ego. Evil people deny the meaning and reality of other human souls. Other people (especially those in a subordinate position, or those of another race or religion) are turned into objects to be used for one's own pleasure or else hated and feared. Good people recognise everyone's humanity (no matter how bad or strange they may seem) and try to expand themselves through creative interaction with others--not exploitation or exclusion. Of course, most of us are a little of each, but we can strive toward the good. A final point: Many people who do not believe in evil spirits are put of by this book because Dr. Peck, as a practicing Christian, does. He also believes in exorcism and claims to have witnessed several. I myself am very skeptical of these aspects of the book, but I must say that they are not the author's main focus and he is not agressive in trying to win converts.

This book will be of comfort and use to people who have been forced to deal with extremely difficult, demanding, selfish and self-deluding people of a type often referred to loosely as "narcissists."

Peck starts with the viewpoint of a Christian, prone to forgiving people, offering them care, and in the worst case hoping that one's love will overcome any entrenched selfishness. What Peck came to realize, and why he wrote this book, is that sometimes people are so selfish, and so intent on wreaking havoc in other people's lives, and yet at the same time so completely in self-deluding denial that their selfishness is causing harm to others, that one needs to label them "evil" and deal with them in a different way.

Peck observes that it is advisable if possible simply to avoid such people, who have a knack for dragging others into their vicious games. He expresses optimism, though, that such people can (in the rare cases in which they seek or tolerate treatment), be helped. The essential prerequisites of success in that effort, Peck asserts, are a loving spirit, knowledge of how and when to categorize them as "evil", and nearly limitless energy and ingenuity to confront the lies they tell to themselves and others. But he admits that his book is only a tentative start towards a way of categorizing and treating these people.

In The People of the Lie, Dr. Peck taps into human evil. He presents case studies of his own and shares with us in depth of their evil, depression, madness, and narcissism. In the case of Bobby, a depressed fifteen-year-old boy, he had a brother who committed suicide with a rifle. His parents gave him his brother's suicide weapon as a Christmas present: this was an act of evil. Bobby was a victim of his parent's evil.

According to Dr. Peck, people who attack others instead of facing their fears and failures are, in fact, evil. I believe this to be true. People who abuse others through the act of child abuse, rape, spousal abuse, emotional and verbal abuse, mental abuse, and physical abuse amongst other human abuse - the abusers are evil. They are emotionally weak and unable to face their own misery, weaknesses, and imperfections, and in turn, they make others suffer.

They are indulged in their own selfishness, self-deluding denial that causes harm to others. Their immoral and destructive behavior rots away at the core of every person who walks in their path.

As Peck reminds us, "Evil was defined as the use of power to destroy the spiritual growth of others for the purpose of defending and preserving the integrity of our own sick selves." As he states, "It is scapegoating."

Evil people are vicious because they are trying to destroy evil, but end up damaging others. Instead of destroying others they should be destroying the sickness that lies within themselves (paraphrased).

The title of this book is People of the Lie. Dr. Peck believes that lying is evil. At first, I was skeptical about this, but once I finished the book, I now understand his reasoning. Dr. Peck believes that wherever there is evil, there's a lie around. He states in his book, "The words 'image,' 'appearance,' and 'outwardly,' are crucial to understanding the morality of evil. While they seem to lack any motivation to be good, they intensely desire to appear good. Their 'goodness' is all on a level of pretense. It is, in effect, a lie. This is why they are the 'people of the lie.'"

One area in the book that I am debatable about is that Peck mentions that the healing of evil can be accomplished by the love of individuals. This may be true between a parent and a child, but the one thing that I learned in life is that we cannot change others. If we are in abusive relationships, the abuser drains us both spiritually and emotionally. I truly believe, in my opinion that it is not our job to change others, but it is their job to change themselves.

However, on the other hand, Peck contradicts himself by saying that we need to avoid people of such nature that drags others into their vicious games. How then can we heal evil through love if we are suppose to avoid them?

The one thing that Dr. Peck points out is that we have the freedom of choice. To choose how we want to be treated, how we want to live our lives, and how we want to treat others. We have the freedom to heal and we have the freedom to become a better person. We have the freedom to face our fears and get the help we need. With all the fears, insecurities, hate, misery, and failures one might endure, one thing stands clear, "The truth shall set you free."

This book really scared the daylights out of me, amazed me, and also gave me terrific insight into hidden evil. From blatant wartime evil, to deeply hidden malevolency in people around you. Conscious evil, (evil parents really disturbed me...wait till you get to the story of the rifle...absolutely horrific and 100% FACT). Dr. Peck really has studied how evil hides, lies, and distorts facts to manipulate those around it. A great read. You'll be amazed at how evil manifests itself and stunned at the same time.

Peck's work is truly ground-breaking. His courage in identifying evil as (1) a diagnosable clinical reality and (2) a self-perpetuating spiritual affliction for human beings is illuminating and profound. While he writes from a clearly Christian perspective, this is by no means a religious book. His prediction that the narcissistically evil would use self-help therapy readings (including his own) to further harm others and become even more unhealty has been noted by subsequent authors, notably Vaknin and Alford. This is likely a book you'll be tempted to re-read periodically.

Several case studies are included, as well as several professional failures on the author's part to address the dysfuntions of the clinically evil. Their baffling behavior is brilliantly recounted in this book, as well as a concise overview of why the evil think and behave as they do. He makes a strong case for the position that narcissism is as much a spiritual disease as it is a character disorder.

For those who have been harmed by the narcisscist, however, this book is an excellent reality-check- especially if they continue to live or interact with those who suffer from NPD or who simply possess narcisscistic traits in conjunction with various other disorders. While Peck's observation that such character-flawed people remain unresponsive to treatment (or improvement) is unfortunately accurate, this is still a hopeful book for the spouses, ex-spouses,children, employees, and other victims of the narcisscist.

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.