Changes

Moving to [[New Preston]], [[Connecticut]], Peck opened a private psychiatry practice. In 1976, however, he was inspired to write a book. [[Random House]] rejected the manuscript he submitted 20 months later, because the third section of the book was "too Christ-y." It was picked up and published as "The Road Less Traveled" by [[Simon & Schuster]], for a $7 500 advance. Initial sales were steady, if not spectacular, and by 1980 12 000 copies had been sold. It wasn't until 1983 that the book entered the best-seller lists, where it remained for the next eight years. He would go on to write another thirteen books, lecture extensively, and in 1983, he began a bid for the Presidency of the United States, until concerns for his health forced him to pull out.  

Moving to [[New Preston]], [[Connecticut]], Peck opened a private psychiatry practice. In 1976, however, he was inspired to write a book. [[Random House]] rejected the manuscript he submitted 20 months later, because the third section of the book was "too Christ-y." It was picked up and published as "The Road Less Traveled" by [[Simon & Schuster]], for a $7 500 advance. Initial sales were steady, if not spectacular, and by 1980 12 000 copies had been sold. It wasn't until 1983 that the book entered the best-seller lists, where it remained for the next eight years. He would go on to write another thirteen books, lecture extensively, and in 1983, he began a bid for the Presidency of the United States, until concerns for his health forced him to pull out.  

During this time, he also found himself being drawn from his earlier beliefs in Eastern mysticism towards mainstream Christianity and on March 9, 1980 at the age of 43, he was non-denominationally baptized by a [[Methodist]] minister in an [[Episcopalian]] convent.  

During this time, he also found himself being drawn from his earlier beliefs in Eastern mysticism towards mainstream Christianity and on March 9, 1980, at the age of 43, he was non-denominationally baptized by a [[Methodist]] minister in an [[Episcopalian]] convent.  

The opening words of ''The Road Less Traveled'' read, "Life is difficult" and this certainly applicable to Peck himself. In a classic example of "Do as I say, not as I do," although Peck advocated self-discipline, restraint, and responsibility in his books, in an interview given not long before his death, he claimed he was lacking in such qualities, describing himself as "...a self-deluding, gin-sodden, chain-smoking neurotic whose life was characterised by incessant infidelity and an inability to relate to his parents or children." He concluded by saying "I'm a prophet, not a saint."

The opening words of ''The Road Less Traveled'' read, "Life is difficult" and this certainly applicable to Peck himself. In a classic example of "Do as I say, not as I do," although Peck advocated self-discipline, restraint, and responsibility in his books, in an interview given not long before his death, he claimed he was lacking in such qualities, describing himself as "...a self-deluding, gin-sodden, chain-smoking neurotic whose life was characterised by incessant infidelity and an inability to relate to his parents or children." He concluded by saying "I'm a prophet, not a saint."

*''Further Along the Road Less Traveled'' (1993), a collection of Dr. Peck's edited lectures between  1979 and 1993.

*''Further Along the Road Less Traveled'' (1993), a collection of Dr. Peck's edited lectures between  1979 and 1993.

*''In Search of Stones: A Pilgrimage of Faith, Reason and Discovery'' (1995) Also illustrated by his son, Christopher, Publisher's Weekly described it as a "quirky, magical blend of autobiography, travel, spiritual meditation, history and Arthurian legend."

*''In Search of Stones: A Pilgrimage of Faith, Reason and Discovery'' (1995) Also illustrated by his son, Christopher, Publishers Weekly described it as a "quirky, magical blend of autobiography, travel, spiritual meditation, history and Arthurian legend."

*''In Heaven As On Earth: A Vision of the Afterlife'' (1996), was his second novel.

*''In Heaven As On Earth: A Vision of the Afterlife'' (1996), was his second novel.