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In times of revolutionary changes, it is most difficult to foresee what values will come to dominate society in a particular era. Under such circumstances, it is always safest to stay within those human values that have withstood the test of a reasonably long period of time. It is hazardous to attempt to foresee the eventual evolution of our current sexual revolution, brought about through the introduction of the pill, lUD's, and other more effective forms of contraception; disintegration of political orders and values; general acceleration of life; longer life span; and decline of the influence of religious systems and values.
Dr. Dominick Barbara has written his latest book in a style that is both enjoyable and enlightening for many readers. I believe it will be appreciated most by the lay reader, although professional people will find in it many applications of Horney's basic theory and philosophy. The author draws on many excellent examples from his private practice of people who have had difficulties in their sexual life with partners and lovers. The book is not a sex manual in which specific directions are enumerated and described. Rather, an attempt is made to go to the heart of the problem by distinguishing the human qualities necessary for loving and making love.
The book focuses on one primary theme: the use of sex in the infinite web of neurotic psychodynamics. Dr. Barbara defines sex as healthy if it is integrated into a healthy interrelationship between two people who harbor a minimum of neurotic or compulsive behavior. If the two partners are involved in a web of compulsive power drives, severe alienation, vindictiveness, and so on, their sexuality is most likely to be in the service of neurotic needs of one type or another.
Dr. Barbara equates healthy sexuality to love, and unhealthy sexuality to that type of intimacy which has as its goal mechanical release or fulfillment of some neurotic need. He supports his thesis by many examples gleaned from his pr