In his introduction to this short work which he calls an essay, Dr. Stott states ". . . I think we have come to a stage in our knowledge and our civilization where endemic crime must be reckoned an unwarrantable superfluity." This is a grand, and undoubtedly to some, a grandiose, purpose; but it seems to me that Dr. Stott, in this excellent work, has led us a step toward this high ideal. He also states that his object has been to "present the results of my researches in such a way that they can be readily utilized." It is his belief that the knowledge gained by experts must be made available not only to other workers in the field but also to the nation's parents, since the incidence of potentially dangerous emotional ill-health is too great for a small body of specialists to cope with; and he regards it as antisocial for an informed person to withhold knowledge or to clothe it in obscure language. With this purpose there cannot fail to be hearty agreement, and the author has excellently fulfilled it as he gives us a very easily readable work which is full of sound and useful information, insights, and recommendations. Because of the wide range this book covers, it can be of value to very many people including teachers, social workers, parents, juvenile court officers, welfare officials, and others who influence the lives of children; and it holds value as well for those, such as probation and correctional officers, who work with adult criminals, since it gives a very good picture of how they came to be what they are, and it could lead them to a sympathetic but practical, and not maudlin, attitude towards criminals.
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