The absence of a formal preface leaves the reader of this book at first in some doubt on two points—first, as to the type of reader to whom it is primarily addressed; and a further uncertainty concerning how the authorship is shared. Study of the book itself, especially of the numerous passages written in the first person singular, has convinced me that however much of the hard work which must have gone into its compilation was contributed by his two collaborators, this volume is essentially an expression of the viewpoint, psychiatric attitude, and accumulated experience of Karl Menninger. As to the first query, it appears to be answered in the publisher's 'blurb', which states: