"The Sane Society" by Erich Fromm is a seminal work in the field of psychology and social philosophy. It is one of the first books I read in the field of psychology and one of the reasons I’m a counselor today. Fromm's book critiques modern capitalist societies, arguing that they lead to feelings of isolation and unhappiness. He suggests that true mental health in a society is measured by how well it nurtures individual well-being and growth.

• Fromm critiques modern capitalist societies, suggesting they lead to alienation and mental health issues.

• He proposes that genuine progress in society must happen across economic, socio-political, and cultural spheres simultaneously.

• The book examines the notion of a "sane" society, questioning the mental health of Western civilization and the adequacy of its response to individual mental disturbances.

• Fromm discusses the role of automation ("robotism") in societal alienation and suggests "humanistic communitarian socialism" as an antidote.

• He advocates for creating a society based on human needs and values, emphasizing the importance of human connections, creativity, and active participation in shaping a sane society.

• “We consume, as we produce, without any concrete relatedness to the objects with which we deal; We live in a world of things, and our only connection with them is that we know how to manipulate or to consume them.” – Erich Fromm