In the beginning, there was upbringing.

The author reveals the mechanisms of hidden cruelty in child rearing and the roots of violence. By analyzing a series of life stories - of a drug addict patient, a juvenile killer, and Adolf Hitler - Miller uncovers the origins of extreme personal destructiveness in these individuals in their early childhood: as children, they were subjected to cruel treatment and humiliation, which affected their personal characteristics. The main principles of 'destructive pedagogy' - suppressing and maiming the child in upbringing - are formulated. The text has been verified against the original, and any inaccuracies found have been corrected. For psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, and anyone interested in childhood issues.