In Search of Stones

In Search of Stones: A Pilgrimage of Faith, Reason, and Discovery
by M. Scott Peck

I would have never thought of reading this book without the introduction of the author's first, and best-seller, The Road Less Traveled. I was only convinced then to grab a copy when a formidable dean recommended it to our class back in my senior year in college. The Road Less Traveled is an enlightening book, food to the soul to say the least. It was an inspiring read, hence, my urge to read more of the author's works.

Quite differently, In Search of Stones is a much detailed book about psychology, life and mystery. It has a personal touch since this is about Scott Peck's pilgrimage to Wale, Scotland and England with wife, Lily. History, arts, sociology, archaeology, and theology are loosely intertwined that you will never know how to classify such work. Interestingly, Peck is able to bring about interesting facts and reflections to their three-week vacation. It seems that each day of their travel was a learning experience that I just can''t figure out how he can casually talk about it.

The author talks from reason, romance, addiction, holiness, parenthood to time, art, integration and despair in such a casual way that it almost dawns to me that I'm only talking to a friend. Despite this casual nature, In Search of Stones quite bluntly integrated the concept of dichotomy, of paradoxes, of relativity. I can't exactly explain how this had enlightened my view of life and religion. The principles he shared shattered some of my comfort zones, challenged my view on family affairs, on religion, and how they have made a strange realization that things in life aren't always what we see in the superficial.

Without inclination to religion, secularism, or a particular belief, the book has strongly discussed about the pitfalls and borders of the subject matter. It has succeeded in presenting the realities of today, yet it doesn't give solutions or aleternatives to them. The book has somehow taken a place in my consciousness as one of the best books of psychology and of life, albeit not so much on theology.