Wolfe wrote that while he was receptive to a radical critique of society, he found the book "obsessive, dogmatic and angry" and did not believe it would gain as much attention as it deserved. He criticized Bookchin's negative attitude toward New Age views, his account of the development of modern society, and the hostile language he used to describe many authors with whom he disagreed. He believed that the work was utopian and did not explain how to solve society's problems. Bookchin, in reply, accused Wolfe of ignoring its central themes. Wolfe responded by charging Bookchin with misrepresenting his critique; he also accused him of egocentrism.
