New Worlds for Old was one of several books and pamphlets that H.G. Wells wrote about the socialist future while he was engaged in an effort to reform the Fabian Society. New Worlds for Old identifies two Main Generalizations of Socialism: 1) "The ideas of the private individual rights of the parent and of his isolated responsibility for his children are harmfully exaggerated in the contemporary world." 2) "The idea of the private ownership of things and the rights of owners is enormously and mischievously exaggerated in the contemporary world." Wells advocates the replacement of a "social system, based on Private Ownership" with one based on the "spirit of service," arguing that this will be more productive as well as more just. He devotes several chapters to addressing objections to socialism, then analyzes the history of socialism.