All the contributors to this volume are seriously committed to solving the persistent riddle of economic inequality in advanced economies as well as preventing the undermining of democracy by the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few. To this end, they set out bold proposals which transcend the pitfalls of both corporate capitalism and the now defunct, East European socialisms. Issues such as property rights, housing, school choice, political associations, economic efficiency and the benefits of asset redistribution are all discussed with rigor and clarity by the several contributors. All the topics are excellent counterblasts to the current aopologists for Conservative policies in the era of 'globalization'. This one is a must for all those concerned about the future of economic justice and the evolution of democratic societies.

Strong points: THIS is fascinating stuff about schizoid personalities (emotionally detached, withdrawn personalities), and though Guntrip doesn't always say so, I think in varying degrees it's relevant to pretty much everyone I know...in terms of people's emotions being split off from their conscious selves (thus the schism). also: the occasional chunk of strong case material.

WEAK POINTS: are you willing to wade through hundreds of pages of literal word-noise and jargon to get his underlying points, which he seems to make over and over and over and over and over again in a million slightly different ways?

if you're the type of person who has trouble skimming and feels obligated to read every word, I would recommend this book as a good remedy for insomnia.

I am a psychologist with over twenty years experience, as a super., teacher and practice. Read this book and learn about being a real therapist. So after reading this book you will know why you said or did not say something instead of "I see" or "tell me more "...Its about YOU not the patient.

Webster was a social novelist and this is (I believe) his second book. He wrote much better works later,including some fine mystery novels, and it is an awful shame that this is his only work that remains in print. Try to find a copy of JOSEPH GREER AND HIS DAUGHTER, or WHO IS THE NEXT? instead.

Calumet "K" is not great literature; it is simply light popular fiction from 1901. But it is well worth reading nevertheless. Calumet "K" tells the story of how Charlie Bannon, the story's hero, attempts to complete construction of a Chicago grain elevator in the face of a series of hurdles that threaten to scuttle the project. How Bannon deals with these challenges will fill you with delight and admiration. But this story has a deeper significance. Bannon is presented as a hero because he is superbly competent. He is a man who can get things done in the face of unexpected challenges. He is also a man who loves his work. To Bannon, work is not just a job; it is a sacred calling. This exalted view of work is very rare in fiction -- the only other authors I know of who have captured it are Ayn Rand and, in some of his stories, Rudyard Kipling. Calumet "K" is worth reading for another reason: it gives a glimpse of the American sense of life of a century ago: the sense that the world is a benevolent place open to individual achievement, where competence is practical and is rewarded, and where men are free to achieve great things through their work. All of this is merely implicit; this is not a story of ideas. But the ideas it embodies are great.

Calumet K is one of many books that I classify as "hero novels", books that could be termed Hortio ALger for adults.

This short book is the story of one man's adventure in building one of the largest grain elevator's in the world. If you are an engineer or interested in the history of structures in the US this is a must read.

Put this on your shelf next to "Banker and Bear", "Cash McCall", and "The Fountainhead".

-RS