I like Scott Peck. He's a maverick (and an INTJ, as I am). I read his best-known (and first) book The Road Less Traveled back in the early 1980's and loved his fresh approach to such time-worn topics as grace and maturity. He says in Stones that he became a Christian reluctantly in his mature years (compelled by reason to agree with Jesus about life and human destiny). But TRLT is a bit weak here and there theologically.

In Search of Stones is about several searches actually, for, among other quests:

* megaliths in Scotland, and an explanation as to why these massive stones were put in the middle of fields or on mountain-tops centuries ago (he agrees with all the main hypotheses - art, religion/idolatry, sex/fertility etc.)

* answers to questions about his impending retirement;

* reasons why his marriage has survived some adulteries (an astonishing confession in TRLT is his _theoretical_ approval of adultery if it's therapeutic and not an abuse of power. I was told in the late 80's by psychologists at a conference in the U.S. that there were rumors...)

* why hotel rooms in the U.K. are sometimes so small (often with expansive views of parking-lots) and why public toilets are sometimes inexplicably locked just when his (Chinese-born) wife Lily needs them. She won't go behind bushes, as he does.

His descriptions of stones is a bit tedious - stones don't turn me on for some reason - but the trip is really an excuse to discourse about reason (including his reluctant belief in the reality of demons), romance, addiction, holiness, money, death, peace, art, despair and so on. It's a pot-pourri of themes from his earlier works (particularly People of the Lie, an intriguing book about evil by this psychotherapist).

If you're humorless and very conservative theologically, this book isn't for you. Peck, a 56-year old - yes old - ex-WASP with a declining libido is a bit new age-ish in places. But if you're adventurous and want some 'insights into some insights' about important matters to do with life, love and death, without necessarily agreeing with everything, then you'll enjoy this book. (Was it Archbishop Temple who said 'Truth is truth whether it emanates from Jesus or Balaam's ass'?).

Some gems:

# 'All things are overdetermined. For any single thing of importance there are multiple reasons' (p. 9)

# 'Our whole society may be going down the tubes because of its idolatry of wealth and security' (p.47). 'The only real security in life lies in relishing life's insecurity' (p.177).

# American tourist to famous Polish rabbi Hafez Hayyim, who lived in a simple room filled with books: 'Where's your furniture?' Rabbi: 'Where's yours?' Tourist: 'Mine? But I'm only a visitor here.' Rabbi: 'So am I.' (p.220)

# 'It would be simple to believe that children from nurturing homes will automatically grow up to be grateful adults and that deprived homes regularly turn out malcontents. The problem is that there's not much evidence to support it'. (p. 229)

# 'The Holy Conjunction is the word _and_. Instead of an either/or style of mentation, we are pushing for both/and thinking. We are not trying to get rid of reason but promote "Reason plus". Reason _and_ mystery. Reason _and_ emotion. Reason _and_ intuition. Reason _and_ revelation. Reason _and_ wisdom. Reason _and_ love' (p. 369)

# Finally: 'How many Zen Buddhists does it take to change a lightbulb? Two: one to change the bulb _and_ one to not change it' (p. 370).