NEW BOOKS The Next Hundred Years: the Unjinished Business of Science. By C. C. FURNAS. 434 pp. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Co., 1936. Price: $3.00. Since the death of Slosson how often have we heard the lament that no one has risen to take his place in the popularizing of chemistry. In reading the present book the reviewer became convinced that this complaint need no longer be considered valid, although chemistry constitutes only a small part of the work. A freshness of viewpoint, an originality of treatment, a'readiness of wit challenging our most cherished beliefs,--scientific and otherwise,-breadth of outlook and wide scope of subjects, all controlled by sound common sense, have been united with masterly genius. Although the work makes no claim of especially drawing upon or contributing to the field of physical chemistry, yet frequent use is made of its methods in dealing with the subjects treated, and any physical chemist will profit from and be entertained by this keen analysis of the present status and future problems of science. The topics are divided between the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and sociology. One cannot fail to be impressed by the wide range of knowledge displayed and the variety of problems discussed. The specialist will probably be most interested by the Subjects remote from his own field with which he does not so often have contact. The usefulness and instructive features might have been enhanced by the introduction of some tables, for example, of the vitamins and hormones and their functions. In spite of the caution and prevailing skepticism of the author, he occasionally displays a surprising degree of confidence in his predictions. Probably few, if any, biologists will show his optimism as to the possibility of unlimited extension of the span of human life, nor many engineers or scientists follow him in believing that the utilization of sunlight as a power source is imminent. The book is not only thoughtfully written and instructive but is pervaded by an atmosphere of conviction and a sprightliness of presentation that make it a most readable work which can be recommended to any reader who looks to the future with an open mind. S. C. LIND. Electrolytic Oxidation and Reduction: Inorganic and Organic. By S. GLASSTONE and A. HICKLINQ. Vol. IX of a Series of Monographs on Applied Chemistry 420 pp. New York: D. Van edited by E. Howard Tripp. 22 x 14 om.; x Nostrand Company, Inc., 1936. Price: $9.00. London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1935. Price: 25s. This is a well-balanced monograph on the preparation of inorganic and organic compounds by electrolytic oxidation and reduction, in which the basic theory is presented adequately and a wealth of practical information is to be found. Experimental methods are not discussed in detail, although the various factors affecting yields are treated systematically. Wherever possible the huthors try to give an unbiased interpretation of the reaction mechanisms involved. They fully realize the limitations of our present knowledge of the subject. Although many problems 697
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