A collection of five Massey lectures are reprinted in their entirety. The authors include: John Kenneth Galbraith, Paul Goodman, Jane Jacobs, Eric W. Kierans, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction / Bernie Lucht -- The Underdeveloped Country / John Kenneth Galbraith -- I. Underdevelopment and Social Behavior -- II. Underdevelopment and Social Behavior (Continued) -- III. Cause and Classification -- IV. Cause and Classification (Continued) -- V. A Differential Prescription -- The Moral Ambiguity of America / Paul Goodman -- I. The Empty Society -- II. Counter-Forces for a Decent Society -- III. The Morality of Scientific Technology -- IV. Urbanization and Rural Reconstruction -- V. The Psychology of Being Powerless -- VI. Is American Democracy Viable? -- Conscience for Change / Martin Luther King, Jr. I. Impasse in Race Relations -- II. Conscience and the Vietnam War -- III. Youth and Social Action -- IV. Non-Violence and Social Change -- V. A Christmas Sermon on Peace -- Canadian Cities and Sovereignty Association / Jane Jacobs -- I. Emotions and a Tale of Two Cities -- II. The Separation of Norway from Sweden -- III. Some Paradoxes of Size -- IV. Sovereignty-Association: Connectors -- V. Sovereignty-Association: Separateness -- Globalism and the Nation-State / Eric W. Kierans -- I. The Meaning of Williamsburg -- II. Should There Be a Nation-State? -- III. Is Canada a Nation-State? -- IV. The New Cathedrals -- V. What Can Politics Do?