An Outline for Boys and Girls and their Parents

Abstract

IF the plethora of encyclopædic outlines published during the past decade is a welcome indication of a growing demand for scientific knowledge, it is doubtful whether it shows a widespread understanding of what the scientific outlook is. It is still more doubtful whether many of their authors are capable of communicating the scientific outlook in the way which Kelvin, Tyndall and some of the foremost expositors of the nineteenth century attempted to do. The prevailing fashion in scientific exposition is to conduct a Cook's tour round the outer and most thinly peopled fringe of the universe of science, leaving the holiday-maker in complete ignorance of the populous cities and well charted roads of the older countries. The practice of doing so has partly arisen because scientific writers who are in a muddle themselves find it helpful to explain their difficulties to a sympathetic and appreciative, if somewhat bewildered, audience. The audience knowing nothing of the vast territory of experimental knowledge which lies behind the proliferation of contemporary hypotheses is fitly impressed. The man of science takes the place of the priest and the successful magician. Kelvin's way was different. His addresses are no spectacular display of the latest and least digested marvels of science. He could be content to select a few of the more homely and firmly established truths of science, leading his audience up to the table and showing them that there is a real rabbit in a quite ordinary hat. As all conjurers know, mystification is more remunerative than straightforward explanation. Publishers have discovered the same truth. For those who enjoy the thrill of being mystified Mrs. Mitchison's collection of contributions from twenty-three authors will provide a powerful magic.

An Outline for Boys and Girls and their Parents.

Edited by Naomi Mitchison. Pp. xi + 916. (London: Victor Gollancz, Ltd., 1932.) 8s. 6d. net.