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This is a second book by the well-known authors, Dr. Phillip Polatin and Ellen C. Philtine. The book in general is about preventive psychiatry, dealing with people's life situations and problems and is therefore not concerned so much with the mental pathology of the individual. The authors very aptly describe how to adjust to one's work; they write about the proneness to accidents, absenteeism and that “nervous breakdowns” are not primary causes of being unable to work; rather the person was not able to foresee his own shortcomings. We find here cases depicted where people start on a career in order to fulfill their parents' wishes, and we see also some of the psychodynamics at work. Rather interestingly is described the cases of the chronic misfits as well as their conflicts.
Many other aspects such as marriage and its adjustments, the fact that not everyone ought to marry and, last but not least, the assumption that parents should be aware of their responsibilities as well as their rights are well taken. The authors in this chapter try to impart to the reader the importance of alleviating parents' anxieties. As a matter of fact, throughout much of the book the authors do show how people may be able to cope with their problems; that means how to meet their anxieties or apprehensions arising from their everyday problems. This is in itself no small job.
Quite interesting is the authors' view regarding the choice of an adolescent to live at home or attend an out-of-town college. It is always difficult for the parent to have his child depart but the authors give sound advice which possibly everyone can follow if they only are able to understand the basis of their feelings.
Of much interest to everyone is the authors' point about breast feeding and the reasons