The Mature Mind.

While written in 1947, this potent book is timeless and wise beyond measure; a book that would do well as important reading in all schools and in all nations, perhaps a universal class called: "Maturity 101". At the time of publication, this book was a national and international best seller. After reading it, one will see why. It stayed in the #1 slot until the publication of the "Kinsey Report" one year later- Prof. Alfred Kinsey's, et al., block-buster science report on human sexual habits. Overstreet gives us such gems as: ["All children, Diderot once observed, are essentially criminal. It is merely our good luck that their physical powers are still too limited to permit them to carry out their destructiveness." Had he lived today, Diderot might have expanded his remark. He might have said that all childish minds are dangerous, but particularly when those minds are housed in adult bodies; for then they have the power to put their immaturities fully and disastrously into effect."]- i.e., war mongering, wanton destruction of our shared environment, destructive relationships, selfishness in politics and business, etc. Here, begins the message of the critical need for children to be taught socialization (including sex education), care and awe of nature, love of self, family, community, etc. "The Mature Mind" brings up many of the more contemporary ideas of universal maturing of consciousness put forth in Duane Elgin's books: "Awakening Earth", "Voluntary Simplicity", et al. I rate "The Mature Mind" as one of the most important books in history and in these times of contentious unrest, environmental destruction, socio-economic-religious-political predation, the message about the importance of human maturation cannot be overstated.