Dr. Cooper is one of the most important existentialist psychiatrists and, along with R.D. Laing, has conducted extensive research on the psychology and treatment of the schizophrenic. These studies convinced him that the notion of family dominates the inner life of the individual, destroying their sexual and social autonomy.

The Death of the Family is the result of these studies, a particularly intense critique of the perceptions and structure of family status. It is undoubtedly a revolutionary book. The author does not settle for critique but extends into the exploration of various alternative solutions concerning conventional families and clarifies how individuals can reject the goals set by the institution of family.

It also explores the difficulties faced by various movements aiming to establish communes or anti-families.