Christianity, American materialism, behaviorist psychology, "now" generation...Wylie targets these for comment. He contends that man's growing depredation of his natural environment and his ignorance of the laws of ecology and science have left him ill-equipped to live beyond the 20th century.

"He is in the unfortunate position of one who sees flames crawling over the proscenium and cries 'Fire' in a crowded theatre. The audience applauds politely--and goes on eating its popcorn." (The New York Times)