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The title of this book is misleading. Although the aim as stated is to show that the cause of personal immaturity is the stunting effect of the 'exploitative, autocratic and competitive' spirit of society, actually the main thesis of the book is the exact opposite: i.e., that society is 'exploitative, autocratic and competitive' because it is made up of 'immature' individuals, and only 'mature' people can be 'democratic and coöperative'.
This confusion is characteristic of the book in general. The thing to be proved is found in the end to have been given as proof. For example, the first part of the book is taken up with a discussion of the evidences and destructive effects of 'immaturity' in the social order. Nevertheless, in the latter half where a program of cure is presented, the problem of all the evils of immaturity is solved by placing 'scientists', 'philosophers' and 'statesmen' in power. How these adequate individuals are to be created and how a neurotic society is to be persuaded to put them in power if created is entirely overlooked.
The book abounds in sweeping generalizations with little supporting material. At no time is there a statement of which social order is being discussed. The implication is, therefore, that human nature is the same everywhere. The same lack of clear definition is shown in the use of words, especially such words as 'altruistic', 'egoistic' and 'coöperative', which seem to have both scientific and lay meanings in the book.
The first thirteen chapters contain some interesting observations on the interaction of personality and culture. But even here one is swamped with general statements, and more facts are needed to furnish conviction.