Sometimes his economics are disputable, as when he asserts that “human labor is the ultimate standard of value, and coins might instructively be inscribed in terms of labor.” Even the Marxian Socialists are shy today about defending their prophet’s theory of labor value. But slips like that are inevitable where so wide a range of topics is attacked. Altogether the volume can be recommended to those numerous casual readers who like a little of everything and not much of anything. JOHN MARTIN. THE BURDEN OF POVERTY By Charles F. Dole. B. W. Huebsch. 124 pp. Price $.50; by mail of THE SURVEY $.55. THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND AMERICAN LIFE By Chauncey B. Brewster. Thomas Whittaker, Inc. 143 pp. Price $.80; by mail of THE SURVEY $.87. THE MINISTER AND THE BOY By Allen Hoben. University of Chicago Press. 171 pp. Price $1.00; by mail of THE SURVEY $1.10. BOY LIFE AND SELF-GOVERNMENT By George Walter Fiske. Young Men’s Christian Association Press. 310 pp. Price $1.00; by mail of THE SURVEY $1.06. THAT BOY OF YOURS By J. S. Kirtley. Geo. H. Doran Co. 256 pp. Price $1.00; by mail of THE SURVEY $1.10. THE FAMILY By Charles Franklin Thwing and Carrie F. Thwing. Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co. 258 pp. Price $1.60; by mail of THE SURVEY $1.75. The distinctive notes in Dr. Charles F. Dole’s The Burden of Poverty are two—the new consciousness of the spiritual nature of man whereby poverty becomes a problem and the spiritual urgency to meet it due to the mighty idealism of religion. Whether conscious of a religious motive or not, or even in conscious reaction from something repellent in some religious concept, all to whom poverty is a problem and who are urged thereby to sacrifice for others are said to be moved at both points by a religious motive. The extent and causes of poverty are accounted for in largest part by industrial conditions, the economic burdens of land, rent and interest, immigration, drink and war. But to whatever factors the problem is due it can be met only as man becomes more religious, which the author makes equivalent to being more human and more civilized. Socialism rises above its “difficulties”, if at all, only as it becomes so human as to be “a form of the religion of pity and sympathy.” It fails most “in not understanding the spiritual implication of democracy, because a materialistic democracy is impossible.” Keeping well “this side of socialism” and claiming something better than it, Dr. Dole presents a platform for social progress which he thinks appeals to a larger consensus of judgment and synthesis of action. It summons all to end war, intemperance, tuberculosis, and occupational and vice diseases; to educate for responsibility and efficiency; to redress industrial injury and injustice; to abolish special privileges, double standards and discriminations against sex or class.