Book on

TNs

science |

has great merit

The second. edition of
Science in History, the monu-
mental one thousand page
work by J. D. Bernal, is once
@gain available at the People’s
Co-operative Bookstore, 307
West Pender St. Vancouver,
B.C., and is here reviewed by
Jack Scott.

* * *

J. D. Bernal’s book reviews

' the whole of human knowledge

from the Stone Age to Social-
ism. He lays emphasis on the
Positive creative role of
science as conceived by human
brains to guide our hands in
the remaking of the world.

Tn preparing this work Ber-
Hal was breaking ground that

had scarcely been explored be-

fore,
note:

To quote a publisher’s

“There have been many books
on the history of science but
hever before one devoted to
Showing what science has

~™eant in history, not only in

the present day but in the
whole course of human devel-
opment.” ’

The author himself was un-
aware of the enormity of the
task he had set himself when
he began to write the book.
Conceived as a result of a ser-
les of lectures he had deliver-
€d at Ruskin College, Bernal
had thought of completing his
Work in a few weeks. In his
preface to the first edition the

author says:

' put down,

“I began to realize that I

- had opened a subject that re-

Quired far more study and

hard thinking than I had giv-
€n up till then. It was, how-

€ver, one far too fascinating to
and I decided to
perservere in it. The first re-

_ Sult of that intention is this

*
a

: technical. expressions,
' those which do come in have. |} -

_ book, one which I hoped to

Prepare in three weeks but
Which has already taken me

twice that number of years.”

No one, however, should be

_ frightened off by the formid-

able appearance of the book,
and think that it is too diffi-

cult for an ordinary mortal to

read. It is written in a simple
clear style, with a minimum of

for the most part, their mean-
ings Clearly explained for the
lay reader. :

Any work of science of

_. course, needs to be kept up to

date, and in this.second edit-
ion, published less than three
years after the first edition,
Prof. Bernal has «completel

_ revised the work... : ;

The much expanded and
well arranged bibliography,

: i Which includes recently pub-

e 2 = 3

lished important scientific
works, will be a boon to the
student who wishes to pursue
the studies further in a greater
detail. Footnotes are avoided
in this edition as they were in
the first. However, a number
of: notes have been added, in
compact form, at the back of

| the book. These notes do much

to help explain some points
which might otherwise prove
to be somewhat obscure to the
lay reader.

The most significant recent
advances have been incorpor-
ated in the sections
with modern science. Also lar-
gely re-written is the chapter
devoted to social science so as
to take into account the major
events of the last years. In
revising his work the author
deals with recent events in the
Socialist lands and the emerg-
ence of Asia and Africa as im-
portant factors in world poli-
tics. In his preface to the sec-
ond edition Bernal, in referr-
ing to the above mentioned
changes, says the following:

“| . in rewriting the rele-
vant parts of the first edition,
which were written during the
most acute period of the Cold
War, I have tried to bring out
the constructive possibilities of
science in the hope that the
world may settle down to de-
velop its economy and science
in peace.”

Events of the past decade
only serve to underline the
obvious — that a profound
knowledge of science is nec-
essary as a guide for the re-
making~ of the world. The
building of a world of peace
and plenty demands the train-
ing of an ever increasing num-
ber -of scientists and. technolo-
gists. Once more to quote
Prof. Bernal: ;

“The decisive role of science
in shaping the future of the
world is no longer in question.
For its wise use, it will still
be of value to study its history
in its social context.”

dealing |

Photo shows hydraulic dredging under way in building of the Yangchow Grand Canal,
one of the large river-control projects under way in People’s China. The water, shoi
under pressure, loosens the earth, turning it into mud which is then pumped away.

Boycott grows

Latest to join the growing
world-wide boycott of South
African goods was the London
County council, largest in Eng-
land, which last week de-
nounced the “abhorrent apar-
theid policy” in South Africa.

Last week-end the Greater
Vancouver convention of the
Communist Party took a stand
for a boycott of South African
goods. Canada imports between
seven and nine million dollars
worth of goods each year from
South. Africa.

Imporis are largely con-
sumer goods and include can-
ned fruits, jams, wines, pea-
nuts, beans, drugs, animal skins
and wool.

Rubinstein speaks

Dr. Annette T. Rubinstein
will make a return visit to
Vancouver next Monday,
March 7 when she will speak
on “Two Great Proletarian
Writers—Gorki and Nexo.”

Dr. Rubinstein is a former
Instructor of - Philosophy at
New York University. She is a
frequent contributor to the
U.S. magazine Mainstream and
Moscow Literary Gazette.

Her lecture here last year on
Sean O’Casey will long be re-
membered. She will speak at
Pender Auditorium-and.-tickets
are available at People’s Co-
operative Bookstore.

and-

DR.

. 307 WEST PENDER

People’s Co-operative Bookstore .

“>>> PRESENTS. ~

ANNETTE 1, RUBINSTEIN:

“Two Great Proletauian Writers —
Gorki an Nexo”

MONDAY, MARCH 7 - 8 P.M.

$1400

B.C. Telephone Company an-
nounced last week a net profit
of $6.6 million, for 1959. This
is more than a.50 percent in-
crease over its 1958 profit of
$4.1 million.

* The company also announc-
ed it will spend close to $50
million on expansion this com-
ing year.

This announcement came not
long after MacMillan-Bloedel
announced a net profit of $13
million for 1959.

It was also recently disclosed
that Rayonier Corporation and
subsidiaries announced a 270
percent increase in profits over
1958 on its wood pulp, fine
paper, lumber and shingle pro-
ducts.

In January, 1960, dividend
payments to shareholders of
Canadian companies amounted
to $73.9 million. Which over

the year totals nearly one bil-
lion dollars. But this does not
give the full profit picture. li
does not include profits pour-
ed back for capital expansion,
deductions for depreciation and.
reserve funds.

Radio CKLG Every
Saturday, 6:10 p.m.
730 on your dial

NIGEL MORGAN -:
t §

win an award.

Room 6, 426 Main St.

PT Writing Contest

‘WHAT DISARMAMENT WOULD |
MEAN WHERE I LIVE’

$250
FIRST PRIZE

“RULES

© Entries should be not less than 100 words and not more
than 500. Write about the changes that disarmament could
bring to your locality—-what public projécts could be
undertaken if money now spent on the arms race was
devoted to people’s needs. There is no entry fee, and —
any number of entries may be submitted.

© Contest closes May 15, 1960. All entries will be judged —
by the editorial board of the Pacific Tribune, whose de-
cision will be final, and must be submitted with the under-
. standing, that they may be published, whether or not they
“

Address all entries to

Pacific Tribune Writing Contest

Vancouver 4, B.C.

March 4, 1960—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 5