Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/290

 276 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The New Humanism; Studies in Personal and Social Develop- ment. By EDWARD HOWARD GRIGGS. New York, 1900. Published by the author.

THE name chosen by Professor Griggs for his book of studies is extremely appropriate. The interpretation of human life as a whole, not of the intellect alone, seems to be the task the author has set him- self. There is no indication that he considers himself to have accom- plished the task, but the greatness of it has not deterred him from making long steps toward its accomplishment.

The groundwork of Professor Griggs' philosophy seems to be laid in his first chapter, called "The Scientific Study of the Higher Human Life," and to be partially worked out in some of the other chapters, noticeably in jchaps. ii, iii, iv, and ix, entitled "The Evolution of Personality," "The Dynamic Character of Personal Ideals," "The Content of the Ideal of Life," and "The New Social Ideal." The intervening chapters, while furnishing much suggestive material for thought, seem somewhat detached.

It is more than difficult to criticise the thought of Professor Griggs in book form or in lectures. There are very few who live in the world of letters and lectures with whom he can be compared. He is in a class by himself. As professor of ethics in Leland Stanford Univer- sity his classes were thronged with students eager to hear the thought, part of which is crystallized in The New Humanism.

As a public lecturer he creates an impression on his audiences never short of enthusiasm.

The essays in the book are not like those of Emerson nor like those of Carlyle, but the people who read these authors have here another collection worth reading, and more particularly will it be sought by those who have heard the author on the platform.

G. E. FELLOWS.

L'AnnJe Sociologique. Publiee sous la direction d'EMiLE DURK- HEIM. Troisieme Annee (1898-99). Pp. 618. Paris: Felix Alcan, 1900.

THE present number more than sustains the reputation created by its two predecessors. The original monographs are : Ratzel, "Le Sol, la Socie"t et 1'Etat;" Richard, "Les crises sociales et la criminality ;" and Steinmetz, "Classification des types sociaux." The latter paper is a most important contribution to methodology. It is a humiliating