I am most fond of what Alice Miller has to say about the brutalities of all too many parents' subtle and savage abuses against their children or more than likely, their selected or one parent's selected "identified patient." Such behaviors are maevolent; destructive of the human psyche and the adult child's otherwise normally developed vitality, creativity and liveliness, if even their physical survival at all, and if even, and somehow miraculously so, not leading to their becoming a psychiatric patient where more domination and power-mad games are played (most typically more and more so by those higher and higher up the psychiatric hierarchical ladder); and "to cut to the chase," are no less than evil! The only criticism I have of Mrs. Miller and those who write reviews of her works, is this admonition against the Fourth Commandment. First, the Fourth Commandment, in Hebrew and then English, is, Version A: "Zachor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho," "Remember the Day of Shabbat to Keep it Holy"; and Version B: "Shamor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho," "Protect the Day of Shabbat to Keep it Holy," neither section of which has anything to do with what she apparently means by "Kabed et avicha v'et imecha," or, "Honor your Father and Mother," namely, the Fifth Commandment. Now, one need learn that, in Judaism, there are not solely ten, but rather, 613 Commandments, 365 of which are "negative," that is, things not to be done, and 248 of which are "positive," things to be done, both being things that are ultimately for the benefit or well-being of one's fellow human being. Most importantly, though, none of the 10 Commandments stnd by themselves; each of the 10 Commandments have, in general, 40-50 "subsidiary" Commandments affiliated with each of them. Thus, "Honor your Father and your Mother" in no way calls for blind obedience, as ignorantly fantasized by Society, in general, or even more so, by the Abusing Parents and their malevolent supporters, in particular. IT IS A SIN for a Parent to be Abusive, in any way, shape, or form, toward even one of their children...and there are MANY SUCH COMMANDMENTS to this effect! If only people would read, and study Religion, in this case, Judaism, thoroughly, instead of acting, writing, etc. without knowledge and without sufficient study, Society might someday--only G-D knows when--wake up even a little bit and say, "Hey, it says in the the Bible (Torah, in this case) NOT to be ABUSIVE toward one's children," adult or otherwise, and, in fact, that "IT IS A SIN and wrongful to behave in such a manner even in the FIRST PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Reference: "The Commandments, Voumes I and II," by Maimonides, translated by Charles B. Chavel, New York: The Soncino Press, 1967. Then, we might all just learn that RELIGION supports the expression of LOVINGKINDNESS toward one's own children, and NOT ABUSE, a Heinous SIN, and wrongful and harmful for the development of each and every human being! Dr. Arden Beyer, Ph.D., M.P.A.

Although her argument is not particularly scientific, Miller offers some very interesting insights and food for thought. I think this is an important book.