The author came of age amid the wreckage of World War II. Privileged to study under a particularly gifted teacher, Josei Toda, he learned the essence of various academic disciplines, including history, philosophy, and the social sciences.

In his straightforward style, Ikeda offers no panaceas for such major problems as the huge disparity between out technological advancement and ethical retardation, but he does encourage the reader to strive for and value sound education, good government, and interpersonal relationship without sham and hypocrisy. These essays speak to the issues that confront us all in a voice direct and powerful, inspiring and appealing.