COURSES CF STUDY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2855, 2 December 1908, Page 86

COURSES CF STUDY.

Edited by John M. Robertson-, M.P. Second Edition — Revised and Expanded. London : Watts and Co. Dunedin : Whitcombe and Tombs (Ltd.) ; R. J. Stark and Co. ; and Braithwaite's Book Arcade. 7s. Some few years since I had the privilege of writing a notice of the first edition of this compendious guide to -universal knowledge. Incidentally, I hinted that local readers of the right calibre should provide themselves with copies againat the opening of the Carnegie Free Public Library in Dunedin. The" fact that this I prospective library of ours is still a thing | £*f the future somewhat staggers one's I faith in, municipal administration. However, when the time does eooiie the librarian, as well as the more eolid student, in ■whatever department of knowledge, will do well to have by them Mr Robertson's wonderful, all-including directory and oritioal commentary. While the first edition was of such merit as to win commendation from a wide wmge. of leading pr« 36 organs, the editor's modesty was evidenced by his pointed rsquest for suggestions calculated to enhance the value of bubsequent editions. 11l this connection the response has been generous, with the result that inosi of th* )oading coupes have been largely added to. In compiling the original •work the author lftid thu assistance of quite a number of specialist?, and in shaping the new edition the lWp of etill otlieis has been usefully invoked and gieat imi ©rovemej^/ effected, ■uhiie a new and com-

pendious course on geography has been added. Briefly, the aim of these "Courses of Study" is not to provide bibliographies, or even specifications of " the best books," but simply to encourage and assist private 6tudents to acquire knowled_gp in all the main branches of liberal culture. The "courses" cover anthropology, mythology, hierology (■with special courses on Judaism and Christianity), mental and moral philosophy, psychology, logic, philology, aesthetics, history (in an extensive series of special courses), political economy, sociology, geography, the natural sciences, etc. Modesty prevents me from laying stress upon the fact that some half-doz>en important volumes in the departments of anthropology, history, and invention, noted as eerious omissions in my origina 1 i.otice, have been given prominent merption in the new edition. As it is to the credit of the Times and Witness, in which these omissions were noted, at is only right to allude to the fact. Mr Roberteon's volume should prove a God-send to the independent student, whatever his bent, and I earnestly urge all such to make a note of it, whether they be m a position to acquire the book or not. — Dixornis.