of time, work and leisure

1
BOOK REVIEWS discovering two sub-clusters, the "organic schizo- phrenic" and the "non-organic schizophrenic" child. The differentiation between these organic and non- organic types was arrived at independently by the psychiatric-psychological examinations of the research staff and subsequent "blind" neurological examina- tions by an outside consultant. The complexity of the family setting of the schizo- phrenic children was explored through the device of a "family adequacy score" and it was found, as anticipated, that the normal children had the most adequate family, the "organic schizophrenic" child only somewhat less adequate and the "non-organic schizophrenic" child the least adequate family. The above describes only the bare bones of the research program and hardly does justice to the care, precision and thought expended in a study which, if it does not add anything essentiaIly new, is a useful addition to the ever widening literature in childhood psychosis. It will be of some use in the diagnostic approach by the non-psychiatric phy- sician to that most awesome and complex phenome- non known as childhood schizophrenia. One only hopes that further reports from this research pro- gram will offer more therapeutic rather than diag- nostic formulation. It would also be very worth- while to have available some data differentiating "organic schizophrenic" children from other organic brain syndromes in childhood. DANTE A. SANTORA (Senior Clinical Psychologist, Plattsburgh Child Guidance Clinic, Plattsburgh, New York) OF TIME, WORK AND LEISURE. By Sebastian de Grazia. 559 pages. New York: Twentieth Cen- tury Fund, 1962. $6.00. The author is a political scientist and philosopher who believes that although work may comfort, sup- port and ennoble a man, it is leisure that perfects him. Leisure is not merely time that is not spent in working. In the ancient world, as compared to society today, leisure was the primary concern. The Greek as weIl as the Latin word for work was "un-leisure." The author notes that in the past century the average work week has dropped from 70 hours to 39 hours. He mentions the increase in "moonlight- ing," the taking on of additional work, which cuts down on free time. In addition to this, travel to and from work, misceIlaneous repairs and gardening, household chores, et cetera, have decimated the sup- posed increase in leisure time. The modem pursuit of recreation in its varied forms is contrasted to the ancient ideal of leisure as an opportunity to attain "the highest mental and spiritual development of which one is capable." This book is recommended to physicians who deal with patients whose emotional problems stem from their over-conscientiousness and inability to relax. Perhaps even the doctor will learn to enjoy his leisure after his exposure to this unusual book. W.D. 118 THE LAYMAN'S GUIDE TO PSYCHIATRY. By James A. Brussel, M.D. 233 pages. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1961. $1.50. This lucid and most carefuIly written book should serve as guide for future medical books for the layman. Its scope and depth are unusual for books of this type, as is the author's awareness of the needs of his readers. Most important is that it offers no magical cures, it is no "do it yourself kit," but offers the inteIligent reader the established facts. Psychiatric principles are explained in easily under- stood language, yet no attempt is made to over- simplify concepts which cannot be simplified. De- fense mechanisms, the roots of mental illness, the relation of body and mind, the nature of various types of mental illness are reviewed. An exceptional handling is the taking of the patient's history and an unusual chapter on "Love-A Basic Need." The glossary at the end should prove helpful indeed. Physicians can recommend this book to their more inteIligent patients who seek for an under- standing of psychiatry rather than insight into their own difficulties. W.D. UNRESTING CALLS. By R. W. Gerard, M.D. 425 pages. Harper Torchbooks, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1961. Paperback. This is a delightful book! OriginaIly written in 1940 and now, happily, reprinted as a paperback, it presents the basic processes of life in a vivid and understandable form. Beginning with the origin of life, Doctor Gerard leads the reader through protoplasmic chemistry, me- tabolism, cell structure, growth, embryology and genetics. All this is done in a style which is both lucid and exciting, making this a book which is difficult to put down. One actually seems to feel the ceaseless activity within his own cells, the dy- namic force of existence. Doctor Gerard has the rare skill of using apt illus- trations to illuminate his points. Although written "in an effort to bring to the intelligent layman some ap- preciation of the nature and status of biology", this book will recall to the medical reader a half-forgotten glory and wonder. LEONARD J. SCIDFF, M.D. CORRELATIVE NEUROANATOMY AND FUNC- TIONAL NEUROLOGY. By Joseph G. Chusid, M.D. and Joseph J. McDonald, M.D. 360 pages. Los Altos, Calif.: Lange Medical Publications, 1960. $5.00. This tenth edition of a classical text has as its primary objective "to present simply and clearly some of the structural and functional features of the nervous system related to problems encountered in clinical neurology." A concise format, replete with charts, diagrams and photographs enable the authors to carry out this goal. The book is divided into four main sections: ( 1) the central nervous system, (2) the peripheral Volume IV

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Page 1: Of Time, Work and Leisure

BOOK REVIEWS

discovering two sub-clusters, the "organic schizo­phrenic" and the "non-organic schizophrenic" child.The differentiation between these organic and non­organic types was arrived at independently by thepsychiatric-psychological examinations of the researchstaff and subsequent "blind" neurological examina­tions by an outside consultant.

The complexity of the family setting of the schizo­phrenic children was explored through the deviceof a "family adequacy score" and it was found, asanticipated, that the normal children had the mostadequate family, the "organic schizophrenic" childonly somewhat less adequate and the "non-organicschizophrenic" child the least adequate family.

The above describes only the bare bones of theresearch program and hardly does justice to thecare, precision and thought expended in a studywhich, if it does not add anything essentiaIly new,is a useful addition to the ever widening literaturein childhood psychosis. It will be of some use inthe diagnostic approach by the non-psychiatric phy­sician to that most awesome and complex phenome­non known as childhood schizophrenia. One onlyhopes that further reports from this research pro­gram will offer more therapeutic rather than diag­nostic formulation. It would also be very worth­while to have available some data differentiating"organic schizophrenic" children from other organicbrain syndromes in childhood.

DANTE A. SANTORA

(Senior Clinical Psychologist,Plattsburgh Child Guidance Clinic,

Plattsburgh, New York)

OF TIME, WORK AND LEISURE. By Sebastiande Grazia. 559 pages. New York: Twentieth Cen­tury Fund, 1962. $6.00.

The author is a political scientist and philosopherwho believes that although work may comfort, sup­port and ennoble a man, it is leisure that perfectshim.

Leisure is not merely time that is not spent inworking. In the ancient world, as compared tosociety today, leisure was the primary concern. TheGreek as weIl as the Latin word for work was"un-leisure."

The author notes that in the past century theaverage work week has dropped from 70 hours to39 hours. He mentions the increase in "moonlight­ing," the taking on of additional work, which cutsdown on free time. In addition to this, travel toand from work, misceIlaneous repairs and gardening,household chores, et cetera, have decimated the sup­posed increase in leisure time.

The modem pursuit of recreation in its variedforms is contrasted to the ancient ideal of leisureas an opportunity to attain "the highest mental andspiritual development of which one is capable."

This book is recommended to physicians whodeal with patients whose emotional problems stemfrom their over-conscientiousness and inability torelax. Perhaps even the doctor will learn to enjoyhis leisure after his exposure to this unusual book.

W.D.

118

THE LAYMAN'S GUIDE TO PSYCHIATRY. ByJames A. Brussel, M.D. 233 pages. New York:Barnes and Noble, 1961. $1.50.

This lucid and most carefuIly written book shouldserve as guide for future medical books for thelayman. Its scope and depth are unusual for booksof this type, as is the author's awareness of the needsof his readers. Most important is that it offers nomagical cures, it is no "do it yourself kit," but offersthe inteIligent reader the established facts.

Psychiatric principles are explained in easily under­stood language, yet no attempt is made to over­simplify concepts which cannot be simplified. De­fense mechanisms, the roots of mental illness, therelation of body and mind, the nature of varioustypes of mental illness are reviewed. An exceptionalhandling is the taking of the patient's history andan unusual chapter on "Love-A Basic Need." Theglossary at the end should prove helpful indeed.

Physicians can recommend this book to theirmore inteIligent patients who seek for an under­standing of psychiatry rather than insight into theirown difficulties.

W.D.

UNRESTING CALLS. By R. W. Gerard, M.D. 425pages. Harper Torchbooks, New York: Harper &Brothers, 1961. Paperback.

This is a delightful book! OriginaIly written in1940 and now, happily, reprinted as a paperback, itpresents the basic processes of life in a vivid andunderstandable form.

Beginning with the origin of life, Doctor Gerardleads the reader through protoplasmic chemistry, me­tabolism, cell structure, growth, embryology andgenetics. All this is done in a style which is bothlucid and exciting, making this a book which isdifficult to put down. One actually seems to feelthe ceaseless activity within his own cells, the dy­namic force of existence.

Doctor Gerard has the rare skill of using apt illus­trations to illuminate his points. Although written "inan effort to bring to the intelligent layman some ap­preciation of the nature and status of biology", thisbook will recall to the medical reader a half-forgottenglory and wonder.

LEONARD J. SCIDFF, M.D.

CORRELATIVE NEUROANATOMY AND FUNC­TIONAL NEUROLOGY. By Joseph G. Chusid,M.D. and Joseph J. McDonald, M.D. 360 pages.Los Altos, Calif.: Lange Medical Publications, 1960.$5.00.

This tenth edition of a classical text has as itsprimary objective "to present simply and clearlysome of the structural and functional features of thenervous system related to problems encountered inclinical neurology." A concise format, replete withcharts, diagrams and photographs enable the authorsto carry out this goal.

The book is divided into four main sections:( 1) the central nervous system, (2) the peripheral

Volume IV