M. Scott Peck
M. Scott Peck was an influential American psychiatrist, author, and speaker, born on May 22, 1936, in New York City. He achieved his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and later received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. Peck served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, where he held positions in psychiatry and neurology. His work spanned both clinical practice and academia, and he became known for his efforts to integrate spirituality with psychiatric practice after his Christian baptism in 1980.
In 1978, he published "The Road Less Traveled," which initially had a slow reception but eventually became a bestseller, selling millions of copies and being translated into twenty languages. This book marked the beginning of his successful career as a self-help author, leading to the publication of several other works on spirituality, as well as novels. Peck was also a co-founder of The Foundation for Community Encouragement, aimed at promoting community building through workshops. Throughout his career, he received various awards for his contributions to peace and education. Peck passed away on September 25, 2005, after a prolonged illness, leaving a lasting legacy in the fields of psychiatry and personal development.
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M. Scott Peck
- Born: May 22, 1936
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: September 25, 2005
- Place of death: Warren, Connecticut
Biography
Morgan David Peck was born in New York City on May 22, 1936. As a child, he attended Phillips Exeter Academy, but because he was having difficulties at the school, he later transferred to the Friends Seminary, a Quaker school located near Greenwich, Connecticut. Peck briefly attended Middlebury College, but he was expelled when he refused to take the required officer’s training classes. His father was able to use his influence to have Peck accepted to Harvard University. Peck received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in 1958, and his medical degree from the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in 1963. After graduation, he served in the United States Army and eventually became the assistant chief of psychiatry and neurology consultant to the army’s surgeon general before he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1972. Between 1972 and 1983, Peck was in private practice as a psychiatrist in Litchfield County, Connecticut.
On March 9, 1980, Peck was nondenominationally baptized as a Christian. This began his lifelong quest to blend religion and science, in particular, the science of psychiatry. He became a recognized authority on the subject, and in 1992 he was selected by the American Psychiatric Association as a distinguished lecturer for his achievements in the field.
In 1984, Peck and several others established The Foundation for Community Encouragement, a nonprofit, educational foundation with the stated mission of promoting a sense of community. The foundation teaches workshops intended for the general public which focus on community building. For his work, Peck received a Kaleidoscope Award for Peacemaking and a Temple International Peace Prize. He also was awarded The Learning, Faith, and Freedom Medal from Georgetown University in 1996.
Peck published his first book, The Road Less Traveled, in 1978 while he was still in private practice. The book was about his personal quest for spirituality. After an initially slow start, book sales increased, and Peck eventually established himself as a self-help book author. The book sold millions of copies worldwide and was translated into twenty languages. Over the course of his life, Peck published several other books about spirituality, including two follow-ups to The Road Less Traveled. In addition to his books about spirituality, Peck wrote three novels, including one children’s novel. His last book, Glimpses of the Devil, which deals with his fascination for exorcism, was published in 2005. Peck died on September 25, 2005, after a long illness.