FRANK LORIMER and others. Culture and Human Fertility. Pp. 514. Paris : UNESCO, 1954. (Distributed by Co lumbia University Press, New York.) $4.50

• Date: 01 July 1955
• DOI: 10.1177/000271625530000153
• Published date: 01 July 1955
• Author: Bryce Ryan
• Subject Matter: Articles

158
with Professor Linton’s distinguished con-
worked with Federal statistics can appreci-
tributions to the ethnology of three major
ate the labor expended by the authors who
world areas nor with some of his more
do not just copy available tables, but rather
creative volumes such as The Study o
f Man
seek out pertinent documented material,
and The Cultural Background of Person-
reorganize it to bear on questions, and
ality.
finally subject it to sophisticated interpre-
CORA DU BOIS
tation in terms of the causation concept.
Cambridge, Mass.
The final analysis stresses the family as a
whole with respect to causation clusters,
W. F. OGBURN and M. F. NIMKOFF. Tech-
such as urbanism, birth control, and
nology and the Changing Family. Pp. v,
ideologies. The authors reject biological
329.
Boston; New York: Houghton
constants as causes of variables and show
Mifflin Company, 1955. $3.75.
an inclination to trace back the web of
The well-known veteran team of Ogburn
causation to science and technology.
and Nimkoff has produced a readable, well-
The final section of the book consists of
organized book which is accurately de-
two brilliant and stimulating chapters on
scribed by its title. The conceptual frame-
the future of the family as affected by
work of the book is distinctively socio-
technology
and
scientific
discoveries.
logical and, as might be expected, centers
Imagination, insight, and wide knowledge
about technology as a prime mover having
of recent developments here are combined
impact on family functions. Many ideas
with respect for facts and reluctance to
are familiar, but writings of Shakespeare
pass value judgments.
seem full of &dquo;quotations.&dquo;
It should not
The book should be required treading
be forgotten that Ogburn was the pioneer
for those who regard family sociology as
who originated, some thirty years ago,
preachy advice to persons wanting simple
many concepts now taken for granted by
answers to not very thoughtful questions....