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The author of this book is a psychotherapist with a wide experience of the analytic treatment of psychoneurotics. He is already well known for his deep interest in the fundamental problems of psychology and of social life. His main object is to help towards the creation of a new synthesis of psychological theory which shall take account of both the rational and the irrational elements contributing to the developing personality, and which shall be able to provide a practical guide to the improvement of human personality in all respects. He feels that psycho-analytic theory, despite its great power to provide insight and cure in individual cases, is a failure and even a folly in practice when applied to the social sphere. This he appears to attribute to the neglect of conscious factors and of the environmental situation as they affect the individual. For instance, there is 'The general spirit permeating the immediate and broader environment of the maturing youth, the actual significance accorded to the individual, the amount of appreciation or obstruction he meets, the real attitude towards dutifulness or selfishness immanent in the actual life of society and the legal administration, these and a great number of other phenomena are factors moulding the personality down to the deep subconscious spheres.'
Psycho-analysts may be annoyed by the way in which the author appears to put psycho-analysis in its place. But consideration will show that he is right, and that there is indeed a wide field between psycho-analysis and sociology awaiting detailed study. If we believe, as I think we must, that a constant metamorphosis is taking place between man and his environment, then it is entirely reasonable to suppose that if we learn enough about the process we shall also learn how to manipulate the factors in a scientific and constructive manner.
Dr. Lowy provides a broad and searching examination of the topics raised by the title of his book. It will be of interest and va