This is a very complex book with a very simple message:
independence is real, and a real possibility for all of us. Acoording
to the authors, only perhaps 10% of us ever really manage that, at least in its fullness. The major task in attainting maturity, according to the authors, is to develop our own initiative, our freedom, and particularly our freedom to make our own decisions free of others influence or control (either active or passive, for neither the master nor the slave is truly free), and free of the need of others approval, or even understanding (being fully understood is an illusory goal at best, according to these writers). One of the issues addressed is why we have such difficulty correcting ourselves or changing in positive directions solely from self-help books of various kinds. One of their conclusions is that most such books concentrate on filling one up with _____(fill in the blank.) What one really needs to do (at least first) is to EMPTY ONESELF of one''s negative ideas, attitudes, habits (including habits of thought), and
emotional sets. Without doing this, all the good advice in the world is useless, or if helpful, at best so temporarily. This book strongly emphasizes self-reliance and
independence--of mind, thought, and emotional life. While one may or may not agree with the author on all points, if offers MANY valuable, even priceless insights. When one stops the manipulation of others and accepts one''s own independence, a wholly new phase of one''s life opens up.