of a human being in some social need-of his situation and personality, that is, in relation to the other human beings upon whom he in any way depends or who depend upon him, and in relation also to the social institutions of his community" (p. 357). This definition corrects a possible misunderstanding of the too inclusive title. The present book is a detailed study of social case work, potentially for all cases but more specifically for those treated by the three institutions now emphasizing such diagnosis -the charity society, the juvenile court, and the hospital clinic. In a brief sketch of "Beginnings" the author shows that expert social diagnosis is of very recent origin and that even now it is far from such standards and methods as would guarantee an acceptance in comparison with diagnosis in law or medicine. But in proportion to its development its value is being recognized and its importance assured.

The director of the Charity Organization Department of the Russell Sage Foundation has here undertaken to explain the principles and technique so far developed, in order that the rapidly increasing number of workers can have a more comprehensive guide for their own activity and for further improvement in their profession. The book is the product of many experts of wide experience: social agencies in different cities were asked to send in records, criticisms, and suggestions, many of which are given in the text and appendices; conferences were held in regard to cases and methods; two workers were engaged to study original case records in five cities for a year; parts of the book were directly prepared by associates in the Foundation; and the valuable bibliography gives the source of much of the illustrative material used. But Miss Richmond deserves the great credit for conceiving the need and character of such a book, for organizing the data and opinion from a multitude of sources, and for interpreting the principles cautiously as the tentative beginnings of a science in the making.

Part I deals with Social Evidence and the inferences to be drawn therefrom. Convinced that many students fail to realize different degrees of validity in evidence from various sources, the author has tried to meet this need by explanations and illustrations from case work itself and from law and medicine. The summaries at the end of each chapter and the later repetition of the main points render unnecessary some of the detail in the initial discussion. The author wishes especially to urge upon

workers the obligation for a self-critical search for the weak or missing links in one's own diagnosis. She also lays emphasis upon the need for imaginative insight and human sympathy, upon diagnosis as a means to treatment and not as an end in itself, and upon the final test of results in the improvement in the particular situation concerned.

Part II, Processes Leading to Diagnosis, is the main part of the book, and the most valuable. It consists of a study of the sources to be used in case work—the family, relatives, physicians and hospitals, schools, employers, documents, neighbors, social agencies, etc. These chapters make a noteworthy contribution, that on the Family Group representing unusual insight. A chapter on Comparison and Interpretation summarizes and applies part I, and the concluding chapter states the Underlying Philosophy in regard to individual differences and the "wider self"the social relations which largely make an individual what he is and what he may be. It is surprising that the author does not give more prominence to the influence of heredity. Constant reference is made throughout the book to the necessity of acquaintance with the laws applicable to or needed for a given case; and the interdependence of case work and social reform is well emphasized:

There is, in fact, more resemblance than either would admit between the mental habits of the case worker who contentedly treats one individual after another, one family after another, without giving a thought to the civic and industrial conditions that hedge them about, and the mental habits of the reformer who is sure that the adoption of his particular reform will render all social case work unnecessary. Both ignore the complexity, the great diversity, of the materials with which they are attempting to deal (p. 369).

Part III, Variations in the Processes, consists of typical applications, in the form of questionnaires to be kept in mind by the social worker but to be used in a given case only for their "suggestion of alternative situations and explanations." These questionnaires represent the experience of many experts and will probably set the standard for a great deal of such work in the future. W. H. HECK.

University of Virginia.

NEW BOOKS

BASCOM, E. L. and MENDENHALL, D. R. List of books and pamphlets on child welfare. Reprinted from Wisconsin Library Bulletin,

March, 1917. (Madison: Wisconsin Library Commission. 1917. Pp. 14. 6c.)

BOSANQUET, B. Social and international ideals. (New York: Macmillan. 1917. Pp. vii, 325. 6s.)

BREND, W. A. Health and the state. (London: Constable. 1917. Pp. 354. 10s. 6d.)

BRONNER, A. F. The psychology of special abilities and disabilities. (Boston: Little, Brown. 1917. Pp. 269. $1.75.)

BRUCE, A. A. Property and society. National social science series. (Chicago: McClurg. 1916. Pp. 150. 50c.)

COOPER, L. F. How to cut food costs.

1917. 80c.)

(New York: The Survey.

ELMER, M. C. Technique of social surveys. (Lawrence, Kan.: World Co. 1917. Pp. 90, charts. $1.)

FLEAGLE, F. K. Social problem in Porto Rico. (Boston: Heath. 1917. Pp. 139. $1.)

FRANKS, T. Q. The margin of happiness. The reward of thrift. (New York: Putnams. 1917. Pp. ix, 238. $1.50.)

The book is written mainly from the standpoint of a woman with large income and numerous servants. The author contrasts the business methods of the American man and the slipshod administration of the American home-maker. The plea is made that the woman be given a definite weekly or monthly allowance which is hers to spend and to save in part, if possible.

F. H. S.

HAINES, T. H. The increasing cost of crime in Ohio. (Columbus, O.: Bureau of Juvenile Research. 1917.)

HARNUM, N. B. Staying the plague. (London: Methuen. 1917. Pp. 120. 1s.)

Written to enlighten public opinion on the subject of venereal diseases.

HECHT, S., editor. Probation and parole officer examination instruction. (New York: Civil Service Chronicle. 1917. $3.) HOPE, E. W. and CAMPBELL, J. W. Report on the physical welfare of mothers and children. England and Wales. (Dunfermline: Carnegie United Kingdom Trust. 1917. 2 vols.)

KANDEL, I. L. Federal aid for vocational education. A report to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Bulletin no. 10. (New York: The Foundation. 1917. Pp. 127.)

KNEELAND, G. J. Commercialized prostitution in New York City. New edition, revised to date. (New York: Century Co. 1917. Pp. xii, 344. $1.30.)

LAPP,

Lapp, J. A. and MOTE, C. H.
Bobbs-Merrill. 1915. Pp. 421.

Learning to earn. (Indianapolis: $1.50.)

This book is "a plea and a plan for vocational education." The authors have been diligent students of their theme, believe in it, and write of it with conviction and enthusiasm. Mr. Lapp, for years legislative librarian of Indiana, has served on various commissions for the study of industrial education, and he took a foremost part in framing the new vocational training law of Indiana. Mr. Mote is a newspaper man who has given much attention to the subject. An introduction by W. C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce, expresses warm sympathy with the argument of the book.

Appearing, as it did, after the Great War had been some time in progress, this book reflects the general spirit of concern because of the defects of our system of popular education as it affects both individual well-being and national safety. Beginning with the consideration of some basic questions as to the needs in popular education (chs. 1 and 2), and as to the defects of our present system (ch. 8), the argument advances with more detail into a demonstration of the educational needs of those engaged in manufactures (ch. 4), agriculture (ch. 5), commercial business (ch. 6), and household industry (ch. 7). Through these, and in larger ways, vocational education, it is shown, bears directly upon the conservation of our national resources (ch. 8). Then is described the necessary educational process in prevocational training, in full time and part time schools, in correspondence courses and library direction, in vocational guidance, and in the training of teachers, for which the various private, state, and national agencies are required (chs. 9-16). Finally is discussed the relation of vocational training to the older teaching specifically for culture and to the development of good citizenship. The ideal school is pictured as one entirely under public control, and organized so as to meet completely the needs of a progressive democratic society. The book is written in a confident and inspiring tone of Americanism, which makes it excellent reading for any one interested in the educational aspects of social reform. Its value is enhanced by a well-arranged bibliography, by a list of organizations interested in vocational training, and by a full index.

FRANK A. FETTER.

LUTZ, R. R. Wage earning and education. (Cleveland: The Survey Committee of the Cleveland Foundation. 1916. Pp. 208. 50c.)

Eight special studies dealing with vocational education, which were previously published in the series of twenty-four volumes embodying the results of the Cleveland educational survey, are summarized in this final volume. The author claims that "The industrial education survey of Cleveland differs from other studies conducted elsewhere in that it bases its educational program on a careful study of probable future occupational distribution of the young people now in school," and undertakes to establish "the actuarial basis of vocational education." He proposes to supply educational facilities which will prepare young persons to fill the places now held by native-born adults. The risks of such an assumption of static social

and economic conditions are already apparent. It is impossible to believe that Cleveland can continue to import half of her male and a third of her female workers from foreign lands, or that in the future a high proportion of her skilled mechanics will receive their training in Europe. The experiences of the nations at war, as well as developments in older American communities, raise some doubts about the advisability of confining the vocational training of women to retail selling, to the sewing trades and to limited fields of the more mechanical forms of office work.

The plans for vocational education recommended by the survey staff do not differ materially from those already in operation in cities like Boston where there has been longer experience in the field; but, if put into execution, they may accomplish more because of the higher age limits of the Ohio compulsory education laws. The least satisfactory portion of the report is that dealing with vocational guidance and school placement. The value of public control in this field has been fully demonstrated in the British labor exchanges and extensive school placement work of Boston. The author's desire to adapt vocational education to the actual economic needs of the city cannot be realized without some such means of continuous adjustment between supply and demand. These studies of Cleveland's industrial life will prove most useful in carrying out the valuable recommendation of the survey staff that the vocational education courses include instruction about "economic and working conditions in wage earning and commercial occupations."

LUCILE EAVES. MACLEAN, A. M. Women workers and society. (Chicago: McClurg. 1916. Pp. 135. 50c.)

Dr. MacLean has undertaken the difficult task of preparing for publication in one small, inexpensive volume a general survey of the complex relationships between wage-earning women and American society. Miss MacLean was a pioneer in that laborious form of research which requires that the trained investigator work side by side with the persons to be studied. She has also directed extensive factory welfare work and supervised country-wide investigations of conditions among women wage-earners. This intimate acquaintance with varied concrete situations as well as her familiarity with the literature of her subject gives weight to the general statements which constitute so large a portion of the volume. The book is to be commended for the sanity with which industrial evils and their remedies are discussed. Employers do not appear as wilful oppressors who can be charged with full responsibility for bad conditions, but as fairly well-meaning, if somewhat thoughtless persons, in process of escape from custom and the exactions of the competitive system into a "socialized" point of view which prompts greater attention to the health and happiness of their workers. A fine spirit of democracy shows throughout the discussions furnishing the chief arguments for the advocacy of trade unions, woman suffrage, and self-governing forms of welfare work, all of which tend