Lectures on Economic Principles, Vol. I, by Sir Dennis H. Robertson (John de Graff, $6.00). The “Cambridge school” of economics has—since the days of Alfred Marshall—been composed of an indigestible potpourri of fuzzy definitions, tangled short cuts, quasi-mathematics, unsupported ethical dicta, and a terribly garbled style. The key to this chaos is eclecticism in method and in content. Sir Dennis Robertson—the Grand Old Man of British economics— has added to this concoction a gentle and pawky humor, irrelevant digressions and quotations from the poets, and mock humility: in short, an air of insufferable coquetry. In consequence, the unwary reader of this first volume of Sir Dennis’ lectures on “elementary” economics will first think he is reading a simple and charming tale, only to find himself suddenly over his head in an incomprehensible Cantabrigian underbrush. Best, then, to avoid this booby trap. m. n. rothbard
The Voyage Home, by Ernest Schnabel (Harcourt, $3.75). In publishing Odysseus’ “autobiography,” Mr. Schnabel has written an account of a man trying to outlive his own fate-written legend. But none of us really can, if we are lucky enough to have one. Odysseus had, and began appreciating it when the factual truth sounded like a dime novel. “Is that I?” he asked unhappily. “No,” answered a blind poet, who was also there. “All deeds and sufferings come from heaven and they have to befall us. Stories need them in order to live. I may make you into the real Odysseus, mayn’t I?” J. L. WEIL
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