The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace (New Hope for Humankind)

This book is a must read for anyone who seeks true collaboration and understanding in this self-righteous world. Dr. Peck always reminds me that how I live is a choice, and i have the power to choose love.

I read this book years ago, and it has lived with me since. It's heartening to understand that anger and silence are stages in community building--not signs of its demise. It's good to know, too, that pseudo-politeness must go before real community can flourish.Nearly all of us are members of communities--whether in committed partnerships, friendships, or larger groups. Peck's examination of the lives and deaths of communities offers encouragement to hang in there through anger and emptiness, for the real rewards are coming.

M. Scott Peck does it again. His books have always struck a chord with me due to their wisdom, sincerity, and practicality. This book definitely does for groups what The Road Less Traveled does for individuals. It explains the problems with the simplistic views on groups that are prevalent nowadays, and instead pleads for people to learn not to tolerate, but to welcome and celebrate individual differences. However, it is realistic in its recognition that forming a true community where individual differences are celebrated will require the hard work of emptying ourselves of our own prejudices and preconceived notions. Highly, highly recommended for just about anyone.

A group of us have been struggling with starting a small community. We have looked at groups that have lasted for more than 30 years, to see how they stay together. Everything Scott Peck has said in this book is practiced in some way by those groups. It was great to see the process outlined for how to jump-start a group more reliably than just luck.

Have not read the book yet, I am currently reading "The Road Less Traveled". I did order the audio version and listened to it in my truck. This would have gotten 5 stars if it had been an mpeg or at the very least a CD. I ordered the audio and a package was delivered that when opened contained cassette tapes. Really! I must be an idiot because I sure never seen I was getting a cassette.

Wouldn't it be nice to have community in our own lives. Too often the places that say they are a community are the ones where it is hardest to find. Creating community and keeping it alive is difficult but not impossible. Scott Peck has some great examples from his own life to share. One of the reasons I purchased the book was the story in the very beginning about a monastery that was dwindling.

A lovely book by the psychiatrist who gave us "The Road Less Taken," describing true "community" and how a group can achieve it, which could some day lead to world peace. How can we get President Trump to read it?

I found this book to be very helpful in the dynamics of a community and the steps into and out of community. It was insightful in a look at the mystic's mind also. Stick with it in the beginning to get to the meat of the good stuff 3/4 of the way in!!

Je l'ai acheté et lu dès sa parution, ses précédents livres, depuis "Le chemin le moins fréquenté, m'avaient tous passionnés. J'avais déjà mis un bref commentaire en 1987, et j'avais tenté de le traduire en Français, à plusieurs reprises,sans penser à ces moments-là à participer à un atelier de "Community Building", me sentant pas prêt à parler durant 2 jours en Anglais,et trouver l'argent nécessaire pour un séjour et aller-retour France-Usa. N'ayant pas abandonné le projet, au bout de 27 ans!!! Je suis allé,cette année 2014, en Angleterre participer à mon premier "Community Building Workshop",et je suis prêt à recommencer encore et encore, car, pour moi, ce processus réponds à un besoin profond de communauté vraie. Je le recommande car ce livre profondément humain, réponds à nos besoins de spiritualité, de communauté, et de sécurité vraie, si sa lecture vous amène à expérimenter ce processus. Pour moi ce livre est le plus important des centaines de livres que j'ai lu jusqu'à présent.

Too much time spent on authors credentials by talking of his experience in various situations unrelated to everyday life. Not enough exploration of methodology

At this point in my life I am able to see through different writers. Scott Speck had limited scope of things and understanding how things function. Or being a mason, he didn't wish to reveal the full truth of things - and this also includes his book on the Glimpses of the Devil. I have read and thrown out 2 of his books.

tks

Helped provide a healthy wider context for the success or ailure of the groups and gatherings I have found myself involved in. It seems there really are guiding principles that cause groups to fail or succeed, and I think this book provides helpful insights into that.