Originally published in 1936, the author of War, Sadism and Pacifism applies to the problems of civilization the same methods of investigation which he adopted in the case of war. His first discovery is that behind man's façade of rational behaviour there exists in an active condition a more compulsive and irrational mental structure. Despite his protests to the contrary, man regulates his individual and social life by means of this more primitive apparatus. In the light of this discovery the author surveys the problems of Crime, War, Pacifism, Politics, and Education, concluding with some conjectures as to the form of society in a thousand years' time. There are two appendices of particular interest - "A Note on the League of Nations" and "How to Vote at General Elections". Originally one of a series of broadcast Talks, the chapter on Politics was blue-pencilled by the BBC.

This book is a re-issue originally published in 1936. The language used and views portrayed are a reflection of its era and no offence is meant by the Publishers to any reader by this re-publication.