11 JANUARY 1935, Page 6

" By far the most important book of this century.'"

So, with that studied avoidance of hyperbole characteristic of the modern advertiser, a certain volume is described in the publicity pages of a journal before me. It might have been referred to as more important than the Bible, or The Origin of Species, or the Critique of Pure' Reason. All that is in fact said of it is that it is the most important book of the present century. Such a dcs.zip- tion is, of course, enough to identify it at once as but before I mention its name let me invite opinions on claims to that fairly notable distinction. What is the most important book of this century—in any country,: on any subject ? Not necessarily "by far the most important." Just the most important.

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