Abstract
(1) AS Prof. Holmes points out in the preface to his volume, biology has during the last half-century exerted a profound influence upon human thought and human action, particularly through the theory of evolution and through modern views on the relation between heredity and environment. No one can lay claim to a liberal education unless he has made himself acquainted with at least the rudiments of the science. Prof. Holmes has made a bold and, on the whole, a successful attempt to cover the whole field of modern biology in such a way that his book can be read with interest and profit not only by the elementary student but also by the general reader. The treatment is competent, comprehensive and clear, and the book is eminently readable. With an eye presumably on recent developments in the United States, the author has deveted a good deal of space to the evidence for organic evolution. The problems of development and heredity are dealt with clearly and skilfully, and the practical bearing of our modern knowledge is brought out in a final chapter entitled, somewhat grimly, “The Eugenic Predicament.” Our only criticism of the book is that the illustrations are, on the whole, rather poor and imperfectly reproduced.
(1) Life and Evolution: an Introduction to General Biology.
By Prof. S. J. Holmes. Pp. v + 449. (New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., Inc., 1926.) 3.50 dollars.
(2) I Believe in God and Evolution.
By Prof. William W. Keen. Fourth edition revised. Pp. 109. (Philadelphia and London: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1925.) 5s. net.
(3) Plain Speaking.
By the Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing. Pp. 218. (London: T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd., 1926.) 7s. 6d. net.
(4) Evolution and Creation.
By Sir Oliver Lodge. Pp. 164. (London: Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., 1926.) 3s. 6d. net.
(5) In Search of Reality. 1: Organic Evolution.
By J. E. Williams. Pp. 256. (London: Gerald Duckworth and Co., Ltd., 1925.) 7s. 6d. net.
(6) The Growth of Biology: Zoology from Aristotle to Cuvier, Botany from Theophrastus to Hofmeister, Physiology from Harvey to Claude Bernard.
By the late William A. Locy. Pp. xiv + 481. (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1925.) 4 dollars.
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R., E. Biology and Human Life. Nature 117, 779–781 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/117779a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/117779a0
