THE ORDINARY DIFFICULTIES OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE

A gorgeous title -- and an author whose name carries the authority of constructive and helpful thought. On those two grounds, the book will sell. I'd hoped the content would justify expectations, but frankly, it falls down sadly, is trite, obvious and only at rare intervals does he come to grips with his subjects. He discusses all sorts of problems of every day:-sexual taboos, secretiveness in children, false modesties, hero worship, loves lost, difficulties of modern women, etc. etc. My suggestion for selling this book is to steer it into the hands of adolescents. At least half of the book deals with problems of youth. The superficiality of virtually all of it is keyed to the adolescent viewpoint and background. Something is needed -- as an opening wedge to deeper thinking along such lines. Perhaps this will serve that purpose. And we must not forget that adolescence isn't confined to youth.