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Golf and the Spirit | 
 enlarge | Authors: M. Scott Peck, Michael Kramer
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $18.00
You Save: $21.95 (55%)
New (7) Used (11) from $1.49
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 1474636
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Media: Audio Cassette
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 8
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 4.7 x 2.3
ISBN: 1559275529
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.352019
EAN: 9781559275521
ASIN: 1559275529
Publication Date: July 2, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: still in the shrinkwrap.
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Amazon.com Review
Having toured The Road Less Traveled in previous bestsellers, psychiatrist and self-help guru Peck finally sets out on the cartpath. His destination? A journey into the mysteries of the royal and ancient game. Given the tenor of his earlier work, it's surprising he took so long to take aim at this particularly pilgrim-filled target area. Peck, a golfer since his army days in the '60s, fairly and fittingly uses the game as a metaphor for spiritual growth. Dividing his book into 18 holes with titles like Civility, Human Nature, The Invisible, Deftness (and, for good measure, a 19th called Closure), he navigates his course prudently and self-referentially with a bag full of mysticism, religion, and psychology, and acquits himself with a safe par performance. Nothing particularly dangerous or spectacular emerges from his thinking about the game. Instead, he puts a New Age spin on it--"Golf is probably the most nonlinear pastime on the face of the earth"; "A day of golf may seem like a personal holiday ... but it is hardly a holy day"; "I do believe that golf can be a wonderful spiritual path of growth toward God, but only if one chooses to use it as such"--on the roads already well traveled by such masterful analysts of golf's raptures and ridicules as Harvey Penick, Michael Murphy, Jim Flick, Tommy Armour, Bobby Jones, and Bob Rotella. Peck, of course, is right about golf being a spiritual journey; it's an inner game of personal demons that demands its players to get as much of a grip on themselves as on their clubs. The bogey on his scorecard is that those who play golf already know this. --Jeff Silverman
Product Description
M. Scott Peck, renowned author of The Road Less Traveled, reveals how the game of golf has taught him -- and can teach you -- some of life's most important lessons. Whether you're a master, a beginner, or know nothing about golf and couldn't care less about it, by playing side by side with Dr. Peck on an imaginary course of his own design, you'll come to learn the rich spiritual truths the game holds. This program goes far beyond mechanics to explore deeper issues -- ways of successfully managing emotional, psychological, and even spiritual aspects of this most wonderful, maddening, deflating, and inspiring game.Here are some of the many gifts from Golf and the Spirit: appreciating that life is not linear; learning to live with anger; accepting the gift of humility; learning how to benefit from teachers and how to change deep-seated behaviors; appreciating that in weakness there is strength, and realizing that to experience the blessings of golf and life fully, one must accept the divinity that underlies all things.Golf and the Spirit makes a unique and lasting contribution to the literature of golf and life. It is a program that goes beyond the body to address the heart and soul of the game, and will thereby transform your life -- on and off the fairway.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Really a lot of self-grandisement hidden behind psyco-babble December 30, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I picked up this book, from the library, because it looked interesting. I had heard of his previous book, The Road Less Traveled, but never picked it up because the subject didn't interest me. Well, this is apparently that book in spades. And, what makes it worse is that Peck decides to profer lame golf tips along the way. He proudly proclaims that he's never had a lesson and that he has never been a good golfer. That's fine and good until he starts to give advice on how to play! And, then, it goes from bad to worse when he starts quoting his own books (apparently, he's written 13 or more), not only the book, but the exact pages (to help you look up his references, I guess). He is so self-absorbed that it's hard to grab some of the random good points that he makes in the book. None of which have anything to do with golf, btw. I will give credit to his fantasy golf course, however. It would be a fun course to play. He also makes a few good points when he talks about the dichotomy that is golf. How one needs to hold opposing thoughts at the same time and how one needs to be able to separate himself from his game. But, interesting tidbits like this are used up early in the book. The rest is just wasted and annoying filler. If I hadn't gotten this book on tape, I'd have started skimming before he got to his imaginary 6th hole. But, as it was on tape, I was forced to listen to each and every painful redundant, narcissistic, amateurish muttering.
Around the 6th hole, I was thinking of buying a couple of copies of this book for golfing buddies of mine. After the 6th hole, all that I was thinking of doing was returning the book to the library and cleaning my book palate with something better, like Dr. Seuss.
 quite good, better than expected July 7, 2005
I loved this book, having just gotten into golf a year and a half ago, and being somewhat of a Christian mystic, with shades of being a Zen Buddist, which he was, and sortof still seems to be. The book was so intriguing that I chose to read it slowly, wanting to savor it. I would say that it even was helpful to my golf game, though he offers not so much advice on how to play, technically. They say, whoever they are, that one's true nature is revealed on the golf course, and that is what this book was so helpful in revealing. quite a lovely read, very thought provoking, very spiritual, and very respectful towards a wonderful game. and most important, perhaps, very funny.
An enjoyable experience for a non-golfer September 20, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
*****
I really enjoyed this book, although I am not a golfer. I read it because I enjoy the M. Scott Peck's other work. I found that it excited me about golf at whatever level I end up being involved with it in the future---as a spectator, as a friend of a golfer, or even as a player someday.
As a golfer's adult daughter, I confess that in the past I have thought that golf was just a "silly rich man's game" done for the amusement of those who have nothing better to do. This book blew apart my misconception that was, frankly, based on a total ignorance of the game. This book explains the connection between golf and life, the mysticism involved in the game, and how golf can be a great game just in itself, and too, as so much more.
M. Scott Peck uses his design of a fantasy golf course called Exotica as a literary device to muse about what he has learned from many years of playing. He starts with the first hole, describes it, and writes related things about golfing and life and relationships and mysticism. As he goes, he explains the game so that people like me who have no idea about golf terminology can follow and appreciate what he is saying. He brings in a religious focus too at times, but an intensely personal one (he is a Christian and calls God "Her"), so that each reader can evaluate his religious ponderings in light of their own religious beliefs and see what would hold true for them.
This is not a book about golf tips or instruction, although there is some of this that is really interesting; it is a unique view of golf through the eyes of a long-time golfer that I admire. He is not an especially good golfer (although dedicated) and he is older (60's), too; I loved this perspective as it is where I will be if I do indeed learn to golf! I have learned much from the author in this book, and am eager to become more involved in the world of golf (which surprises me greatly)!
One thing I have already done is bought the book used on audio tape from Amazon to listen to, and am looking to hearing it all again---it's that type of book---I expect to get even more out of it the second time around.
If you are considering taking up golf, or wonder why people play it and think of yourself as just not that type...perhaps you are even a "golf widow" or golfer's adult child...then this is a great book, especially if you are spiritually or intellectually oriented, or if you like Peck's other work.
*****
A Hole In One! May 26, 2003
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I listened (more than once) to the very well read audio tapes while traveling. You must pay attention the detail is superb.As a golfer for 46 years and earning three letters at Indiana University, I can attest that golf can teach a great deal about life, pursuing happiness, developing patience and spiritual growth if you go beyond your score. Especially as you take the competition out of golf can you realize what this game has to offer and how you can grow as a person from it. Peck designs a wonderful exotic golf course with all the hazards and obstacles similar to which you find in life. He provides great analogies, excellent knowledge of the game which can help someone unfamiliar with the sport, and makes it all very interesting. The tapes are excellent because you can go back again and again, each time gaining new insights to golf and yourself. A great companion reader to Golf and the Spirit tapes is Pecks book, "The Road Less Traveled." Happy reading and Spiritual growth.
 Peck makes the cut January 3, 2001
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
If you like Peck and like to play golf, this book is a tap in birdie. More about life and golf as spiritual journeys than about technical golf, Peck connects golf (life condensed) and our spiritual side. Very readable and humorous at times with basic practical tips for golf and life woven in throughout the round. It may inspire you to approach your next round differently and possible apply some of the ideas to your non-golf life. Great book for spiritually alive golfers.
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