IDIOT MAN ; OR, THE FOLLIES OF MANKIND. By Charles
Richet. (Werner Laurie. 7s. 6d.) Tins book ought to be depressing, being a catalogue of human ineptitudes ; but it is, in fact, rather stimulating. This is because Professor Riehet, on holiday from his physiological laboratory and the sobriety of scientific method, is obviously enjoying -himself thoroughly.. His exhilaration is of the kind
to be obtained by smashing plates in a " Crazy Kitchen " side-show at Wembley. This joyous ferocity is at its height - in the denunciations of wine, smoking (" On this subject I : am an expert, for I am a great smoker "), the destruction of
f6rests, protective tariffs and war. In the end•the fun begins to pall, for Professor Richet has not attempted to go deeper into the problem of folly than would be necessary for an " exposure " in one of the more breathless Sunday newspapers. He is capable of writing such loose phrases as " one vast
and universal suffering," and of declaring that the practice of tattooing " dishonours the whole human race."
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