Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/141

 REVIEWS 127

will be inclined to wonder, and perhaps find fault, that such topics as "monopolies" and "Utopias" should be included ; but when the book has been examined more carefully, and the good judgment shown in the selection of titles and the first-class workmanship displayed through- out is appreciated, everyone, I am sure, will wish that the compiler had included in her book the whole field of the social sciences. I fail to see how the book could be substantially improved, except by enlargement.

Miss Marot has made a move in the right direction in paying special attention to government documents on the ground that "the public is, in ordinary cases, reminded of the existence of a book through its publishers and booksellers, while* government publications, pam- phlets, and reports are lost sight of."

In selecting the " more important books" the compiler confesses that she has met with difficulties. All who have tried it will agree with her that it is a difficult matter to make such a selection ; few will agree that her results have been "only partly satisfactory," or anything short of very satisfactory. Of course, it is always easy to find fault with a select bibliography, because no two people "select" from the same point of view. From my point of view the topic "how the other half lives, including the sweating system and hygiene of occupation," is handled the least satisfactorily. It seems to me that it would have been better to divide into two topics, one relating to hygiene of occu- pation, the other to housing. I think also that the topic or topics relating to housing and conditions of occupation might well be more fully represented. Such works as Octavia Hill's Homes of the London Poor, Bowmaker's Housing of the Working Classes, The Poor in Great Cities, by Woods and others. Report of the New York Tenement House Committee, Report of the United States Labor Department on Housing of the Working People, would seem to deserve a place along with the titles which the compiler has included.

The characterizations which follow most of the titles seem to have been made with care and are likely to prove very helpful to users of the book.

On the whole, the work is admirable, and it is much to be hoped that the compiler will cover other portions of the field of the social sciences in the same thorough way.

C. H. Hastings.