The author, Surg.-Capt. D. H. C. Given, draws on his experience in Singapore to compare the health of a primitive Asiatic community with that of naval personnel and white civilians. He finds that the physical standard of the Asiatic laborer is superior, with better dental health and fewer common Western diseases. However, the author's arguments are based on limited data and faulty premises, and he attributes Western illnesses to urbanization, overcrowding, and other factors, ultimately condemning Western civilization as founded on selfishness and industrialism. He concludes that Christianity is the basis for a healthy and happy life. Lewis Mumford's book provides a historical perspective on the machine age, dividing it into three periods: the 'eotechnic' (animal, water, and wind power), the 'paleotechnic' (steam power), and the 'neotechnic' (electric power). Mumford discusses how the focus on machinery as an external tool for environmental conquest has led to a neglect of the qualitative aspects of products and the educational possibilities of impersonal cooperation. He argues that technics have become a creative force shaping a new environment and a third estate between nature and the humane arts. E. A. Reeves, a retired map curator and instructor at the Royal Geographical Society, shares anecdotes about notable explorers like Stanley, Bates, Burton, and Nansen. The book includes a sketch of exploration and survey progress, Reeves' own work on magnetism and surveying instruments, and an unconvincing chapter on psychic experiences. It is a kind and ingenuous account that reflects Reeves' influence on global exploration and his role as a teacher. Harold F. Shepherd's "Diesel Engine Design" provides a historical and descriptive treatment of diesel engines but fails to address the practical design challenges effectively. While the book covers various design points, it does not delve deeply into the actual problem-solving aspects of diesel engine design until the last few chapters. It serves more as an introduction than a comprehensive manual.The author, Surg.-Capt. D. H. C. Given, draws on his experience in Singapore to compare the health of a primitive Asiatic community with that of naval personnel and white civilians. He finds that the physical standard of the Asiatic laborer is superior, with better dental health and fewer common Western diseases. However, the author's arguments are based on limited data and faulty premises, and he attributes Western illnesses to urbanization, overcrowding, and other factors, ultimately condemning Western civilization as founded on selfishness and industrialism. He concludes that Christianity is the basis for a healthy and happy life. Lewis Mumford's book provides a historical perspective on the machine age, dividing it into three periods: the 'eotechnic' (animal, water, and wind power), the 'paleotechnic' (steam power), and the 'neotechnic' (electric power). Mumford discusses how the focus on machinery as an external tool for environmental conquest has led to a neglect of the qualitative aspects of products and the educational possibilities of impersonal cooperation. He argues that technics have become a creative force shaping a new environment and a third estate between nature and the humane arts. E. A. Reeves, a retired map curator and instructor at the Royal Geographical Society, shares anecdotes about notable explorers like Stanley, Bates, Burton, and Nansen. The book includes a sketch of exploration and survey progress, Reeves' own work on magnetism and surveying instruments, and an unconvincing chapter on psychic experiences. It is a kind and ingenuous account that reflects Reeves' influence on global exploration and his role as a teacher. Harold F. Shepherd's "Diesel Engine Design" provides a historical and descriptive treatment of diesel engines but fails to address the practical design challenges effectively. While the book covers various design points, it does not delve deeply into the actual problem-solving aspects of diesel engine design until the last few chapters. It serves more as an introduction than a comprehensive manual.