One of the most interesting and convincing books I've ever read - pulls together many of the observations that I'd made for myself about why society today is far worse off socially than in the reputed 'olden days'. It is extremely persuasive but in many areas the author would do well to more fully expand upon caveats and make more reference to the effect of confounding - without these, critics could find it too easy to dismiss many of the arguments, despite their obvious logic, support from evidence and basic common sense = if you give people money for doing nothing, then that is exactly what they will do.

See also the fantastic 'Life at the Bottom' by Theodore Dalrymple. ( )