Self-help author Peck dies at 69

Dr. M. Scott Peck, the psychiatrist who worked his way into national consciousness with the publication of his 1978 self-help book, “The Road Less Traveled,” has died. He was 69.

Peck died Sunday at his home in Warren, Conn., said Los Angeles publicist Michael Levine. He said Peck had suffered from pancreatic and liver duct cancer.

The book, which began with a sentence confirming the universal feeling that “life is difficult,” sold more than 6 million copies, was translated into at least 20 languages and set a longevity record for a paperback – more than 10 years – on the New York Times best-seller list.

Along with Peck’s other books, it made him a multi-billionaire, a highly sought-after lecturer and such a household name in the early 1980s that many called him “the national shrink.”

A 25th anniversary edition of “The Road” was issued in 2002, and Peck wrote several sequels.

Subtitled “A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth,” the original book avoided the quick fixes prevalent in the pop psychology of its era. Instead it urged people to face problems squarely and deal with them through self-discipline, turning weakness into strength.

“The fact is, life is difficult and there is often much to worry about,” the author said in a 1991 interview for Playboy. “That’s very disillusioning for people who think that we’re here to be happy.”

Peck practiced psychiatry privately in New Preston, Conn., from 1972 until 1984 and incorporated anecdotes from patients’ case histories into his books. He then helped establish the Foundation for Community Encouragement and devoted himself to writing, lecturing and consulting.