3 less<br >tween<br >ndent<br >e was<br >Preface<br > Many students and teachers have written me about this book since it<br > was first published in 1970. I a ~preciate their interest and have tried<br > to incorporate their suggestions in the third edition.<br > This book is sociological， not psychological or psychiatric. The focus<br > is on what happens to parents， not what happens to children. The aim<br > of the book is to analyze the laboratory in which modem parents have<br > to function--the society in which we live.<br > I think it can be argued that American parents are attempting to rear<br > healthy children in a sick society. If this is the case， the feat is indeed a<br > difficult one. In many cases the efforts of mothers and fathers today are<br > to be considered heroic. That some of them produce children who are<br > well organized and constructive is almost a miracle. That others fail is<br > to be understood.<br > In many ways this book is a defense of American parents against<br > their critics. I feel that the case against parents in our society has been<br > overstated and I am trying to restore some balance to the discussion.<br >That the book is controversial is admitted. It is hoped that the debate<br >will prove to be constructive rather than destructive.<br > Robin M. Williams， Jr.， the Consulting Editor in Sociology and<br >Anthropology for The Dorsey Press， was the first editor to see any<br >merit in the original manuscript of this book. The author wishes to<br >thank him for this consideration. It would appear that his faith in the<br >book has been vindicated.<br >Madison， Wisconsin<br >February 1977<br >E. E. LEMASTERS<br >X<br ><br >