Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/872

 858 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

and 159 the author proposes some subjects of inquiry which smack of reality. He touches terra firma when he says : " This brings before us a fundamental problem of sociology : What is there in individuals which so adapts them to one another as to become the ground of asso- ciation ? " The last section in this book should be the first for begin- ners. The way to begin to study society is to begin. While Dr. Dike, Professor Henderson, and Small and Vincent have proposed some- what closer methods of studying a local community, Dr. Stuckenberg's categories are surely inquisitive. Instead of trying to study sociology alone, after or even before entering on one of these local studies, how- ever, it would be wiser for beginners to get the help of a competent teacher, by correspondence if no other way is feasible, and thus save dissipation of effort.

The book is profuse without being full. This is best illustrated in connection with the bibliographical references. These are strangely unassorted. In most cases a student who did not previously know how to place the books mentioned would find no help in sifting or arranging them in proper sequence. What excuse can be given for such a collocation as this (p. 93) : " On historiography, Lehrbuck dcr historischen Mefhode, by Bernheim, is excellent. Kidd's Social Evo- lution is so well known as hardly to require special mention"! On pp. 263, 266, and 267 books are named among which a beginner would certainly need help in choosing. There are times and seasons, at any rate, when one is more useful than another. Yet this is the sort of comment that accompanies the titles :

References to works in the preceding pages may be a general guide. Every good sociological book refers to literature on the subject, and in this way the student can learn what to read. The different standpoints of sociolo- gists and the confusion reigning in their specialty make it difficult to say definitely what books are best. Scores can be recommended as valuable ; but every one should be read critically (!!). They furnish important materials, give excellent suggestions, and are very serviceable to independent thinkers. They will be found far more valuable as aids than as authorities.

For further criticism of these platitudes I turn back to p. 42. At the close of the chapter on " The Genesis of the Idea of Society" there are several pages of references to authors, of which this is the last. The aim, it must be remembered, is to steer beginners. The following are mentioned in order : Barrier, Comte de Chabrun, Combes de Lestrade (whose name is misspelled, by the way), Dalle-