I don't see it as political either. I wouldn't be fascinated with it if it were. She is very calm, very reasoned in her presentation. I can relate to it. It is helping me understand why Mom always said "They say we were too permissive in raising you kids." Not knowing any difference, I never understood. I am beginning to.

Eating a thing because it tastes good, or drinking a thing because it tastes good, is doing a thing that gratifies the sensual! Mothers, if you begin that way...what are you going to do fifteen years later when the primordial urge gets into that young person's blood and he looks out at the world and turns to the right and to the left for other forms of sense gratification" John B. Watson

That was in the late teens and early twenties. A dogma for raising children for years. Babies were to be picked up only at scheduled feeding times other than that they learned to cry until they learned the wisdom of self control. B. E.

Oy! She goes on to tell of the auto pilot bullshit of the no affection regimen. I think the permissiveness of the fifties and sixties were inevitable!!!! It had to happen. We needed it to happen.

I am really enjoying this book ER.