h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have this song in my head now - although I'm not sure it would have deemed suitable in your scenario.

No. We always sang a song that was like that, though:

'Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love,
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.'

You know, the other day I proofed "The Optimist's Good Morning" which was compiled by Florence Hobart Perin in 1907.
It contains a prayer for each day of the year.
In her 'Preface' she writes:

>>Once family devotions were general, now they are rare. One reason is that the simplicity of the old family life is gone. It is not easy to get all the members of the family together at any one time of the day. (Remember, this was more than 100 years ago!)
[...]
Rapid transit, the telephone, the telegraph, do not take the place of God. Indeed, the more rapid pace involved in these modern pacemakers, renders the more necessary some pause in the day for prayer, some upward look, when for a moment the soul may find an open way between itself and God. But how and when? Why not the breakfast table? Surely two minutes may be spared. [...]<<

I read a few of them, and they had such noble sentiments, I wondered if the world would be a less violent place if people stopped once or twice a day and read them - and, what's more: acted according to them.

What a good thought. I agree. Taking the time to be still and reflect is never a wasted activity. People rush around too much.