Personal Mental Hygiene

Author:

    1. Moore, O.S.B.,

Ph.D., M.D. William Heinemann. 21s. net.

This book, as Professor Moore points out in his introduction, is intended for the individual. It is an attempt to remedy what the author feels is a defect in modern psychiatry?the neglect of ideals and principles and the adjustment of mechanisms 44 on the emotional plane without rising to anything of an intellectual or spiritual character”. Although we may wonder if Professor Moore has not been too sweeping in his generalized condemnation of psychiatrists on these grounds, there is no doubting the sincerity of his attempted remedy. The book sets out to describe emotions and attitudes and their origins: and lays down certain rules whereby unwholesome attitudes may be prevented from becoming fixed. Various case studies of the author’s patients are given, together with illustration episodes of the lives of certain poets, whose work demonstrated their emotional difficulties. The appeal of this book is likely to be to a rather limited audience, for it is somewhat too technical and presupposes too much knowledge to be readily helpful to the individual seeking advice on his own problems; while, on the other hand, its form is too discursive and vague for the more experienced. Moreover, in view of his expressed aims, many readers may be disappointed that the author does not in fact provide more spiritual or intellectual help, though he certainly succeeds in his intention of indicating the need. R.F.T.

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