SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
( Notice in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent review.) The number of books—even the number of good books— dealing with the New Psychology from every point of view is already enormous, and here is another to add to the list. The present book is American and written primarily for Americans, but it will be useful to all who can read English and are in search of a simple and practical introduction to the subject. Mr. Pierce begins by enunciating briefly a number of principles derived from physiology and psychology, and then goes on to explain simply and clearly, with the help of useful diagrams, the structure of the hurpan mind, enlarging upon the Uncon- scious, the Foreconscious, the Conscious, and the function of the Censors which guard the exits from one to the other. By taking a single case of hysterical affection of the arm and its cause and cure, he is able, throughout his explanation, to illustrate his points by reference to this concrete example. He has a good chapter, too, on the endocrine glands, which have so profound an influence on our mental and physical condition. Mr. Pierce may be called a Freudian, in so far that he is convinced, after several years of practical work, that Freud's theories of the dream are correct ; but he is also largely in agreement with the methods of Messrs. Baudouin and Coil& and he devotes a long chapter to auto-suggestion. There is useful advice on the treatment and education of children and adolescents, as well as advice for adults. A later chapter discusses the psychological aspect of pre-War Germany, Bolshevik Russia and modern America, and there is an amusing final chapter on the psychology of advertising and selling. The book can be thoroughly recommended to beginners : it is sound and practical, and its method of approach to the subject is admirably fitted to give an introduction to the New Psychology which shall be both clear, comprehensible and interesting.
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