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PSYCHOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY. By Hugo Mnsterberg. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin Company, 1913. Price, $1.50. Prof. Mnsterberg writes in his customary rather self-satisfied vein. But despite the irritation which his style arouses his book is of undeniable value. The work of the efficiency engineer is not sufficiently recognized to our mind, and the importance of the experimental psychologist's is exaggerated. He questions Harrington Emerson's statement that the competent specialist who has supplemented natural gifts and good judgment by analysis and synthesis can perceive aptitudes and proclivities, even in the very young, much more readily in those semi-matured, and can with almost infallible certainty point not only what work can be undertaken with fair hope of success, but also what slight modification or addition and diminution will more than double the personal power. Of this he rather disapproves. despite the fact that workingmen are now engaged according to Dr. Blackford's system with astonishing success. Too much stress is laid upon the value of experimental tests in determining vocational fitness. Much more is required. A man may respond splendidly to reaction time tests, and may be able to distinguish colors with accuracy, but yet may be hopelessly unfit to drive a locomotive engine, simply because he is not steady and cautious. In other words, the type of man to be selected for a particular position plays no part in Mtinsterberg's scheme. Instrumental analysis does not disclose whether a man is a trouble maker, whether he is pugnacious, whether he is easy going, whether he is companionable, or whether he is a born leader. All that it does is to show whether or not a type once selected, wrongly or rightly, has good senses and how responsive it is to sense impressions. We cannot conceive of any psychological test which would inevitably enable us to pick out the best salesman out of five hundred men. But we can conceive of a scientific study of character which would enable us inevitably to select the right man. In other words, what Prof. Mnsterberg seems to overlook is the fact that instrumental analysis is not an indication of character. ERGoTZLICHES EXPERIMENTIER BUCH. Von Albert Neubrger. Berlin, Wien: Ullstein & Co., 1911. This is a book of scientific experiments which is intended to be not only instructive but amusing and entertaining. While the experiments are old, many of them having been brought to the notice of amateurs by the late Gaston Tissandier, they have been very ingeniously arranged and entertainingly described. Some idea of the character of these experiments may be gleaned from their titles: Cardboard as a Cutting Instrument, Raindrops from Grease. Blowing through a Brick and Putting Out a Light, The Insensitive Coin, Leaping Papers, Frogs and Devils, The Perforated Penny, The Magic Egg,"' Cannons that Shot without Powder, Ice That Cannot Be Cut, June Bugs and Bacteria Lamps, The Laughing Mirror, Tricks With Sealing Wax. To the experiments with which amateurs have been acquainted through popular books for some years, there have been added many new experiments based upon the more recent discoveries in science. The book can be highly recommended to German-reading lovers of experimental science. VoLAMEKUM. Handbuch fuer Luftfahrer. Von Ansbert Vorreiter und Hans Boy-kow. Munich: J. F. Lehmann's Verlag, 1913. This is an admirable little handbook of practical information for the aerial navigator, whether he sails the air in a balloon, a dirigible, or an aeroplane. No better evidence of the growing importance of aerial navigation can be presented than the publication of such a practical guide book. The little volume first of all tells us something about the handling of free balloons, and then passes to a discussion of the handling of airships and flying machines. Much space is devoted to navigation, both .terrestrial and astronomical. A very complete description of the more important instruments that can be used to guide the navigator of the air is presented. Valuable, too, are the tables and diagrams which give much information on the quantity of gas necessary for inflation, the pressure of gases, the quantity of ballast required, the geographical position of German cities, the hours of sunrise and sunset, etc. Since the European navigator finds it no difficult task to overstep the boundaries of his own country, the final chapters of the book are devoted to telegraphic signals, telegraph tariffs, postage rates, coin values, and a dictionary of the more common phrases in several European languages. STEEL. Its Selection, Annealing, Hardening, and Tempering. By E. R. Mark-ham. Fourth edition, fully illustrated. New York: The Norman W. Henley I Publishing Company, 1913. Price, $2.50. This is a new edition of a book which was formerly known as The American Steel Worker. Since the advent of the automobile, the modern gas engine, and the flying machine has brought about a demand for extremely tough, strong, high-grade steels of various kinds, it became necessary to rewrite portions of the book. As it stands the work may be regarded as a good textbook on hardening, tempering, and annealing steel of all kinds, and is a good set of comprehensive and specific instructions on the methods of hardening a large number of tools. ORIGIN OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. By Lee H. McCoy. The Antiquarian Publishing Company, Benton Harbor, Mich., 1912. 8vo.; 168 pp.; illustrated. Price, $1.
