#TheScienceOfLife | About The Science of Life in English Books| Hashreview

#TheScienceOfLife

The Science of Life is a book written by H. G. Wells, Julian Huxley and G. P. Wells, published in three volumes by The Waverley Publishing Company Ltdnot verified, but probably a subsidiary of Amalgamated Press. in 1929–30, giving a popular account Read More..

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Description	The Science of Life is a book written by H. G. Wells, Julian Huxley and G. P. Wells, published in three volumes by The Waverley Publishing Company Ltdnot verified, but probably a subsidiary of Amalgamated Press. in 1929–30, giving a popular account of all major aspects of biology as known in the 1920s. It has been called "the first modern textbook of biology"David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 263. and "the best popular introduction to the biological sciences."Norman and Jean Mackenzie, H.G. Wells: A Biography (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973), p. 357. Wells's most recent biographer notes that The Science of Life "is not quite as dated as one might suppose."Michael Sherborne, H.G. Wells: Another Kind of Life (Peter Owen, 2010), p. 286.In undertaking The Science of Life, H. G. Wells, who had published The Outline of History a decade earlier, selling over two million copies, desired the same sort of treatment for biology. He thought of his readership as "the intelligent lower middle classes . . . [not] idiots, half-wits . . . greenhorns, religious fanatics . . . smart women or men who know all that there is to be known."Norman and Jean Mackenzie, H.G. Wells: A Biography (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973), p. 357.Julian Huxley, the grandson of T. H. Huxley under whom Wells had studied biology, and his son "Gip," a zoologist, divided the initial writing between them; H.G. Wells revised, dealt (with the help of his literary agent, A.P. Watt) with publishers, and acted as a strict taskmaster, often obliging his collaborators to sit down and work together and keeping them on a tight schedule.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 262. (H.G. Wells had begun the book during his wife's final illness and is said to have used work on the book as a way to keep his mind off his loss.)Norman and Jean Mackenzie, H.G. Wells: A Biography (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973), pp. 352, 356.The text as published is presented as the common work of a "triplex author."H.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), p. 4. H.G. Wells took 40% of the royalties; the remainder was split between Huxley and Wells's son.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 262. In his will, H.G. Wells left his rights in the book to G.P. Wells.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 479.In 1927, Huxley gave up his chair of Zoology at King's College, London to concentrate on the work. Thanks to the success of the book, Huxley was able to give up teaching and devote himself to administration and experimental science.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 262.The book was originally serialised in 31 fortnightly parts, published in 3 volumes in 1929–30 and in a single volume in 1931. The volume includes more than 300 illustrations. It was a great success, though the stock market crash and subsequent depression held back sales, in part because of declining memberships in book clubs.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 263.It has been said of Book Four (The How and Why of Development and Evolution) that it "offers perhaps the clearest, most readable, succinct and informative popular account of the subject ever penned. It was here that [Huxley] first expounded his own version of what later developed into the evolutionary synthesis".Olby R. in Waters, C. Kenneth and Van Helden, Albert (eds) 1993. Julian Huxley: biologist and statesman of science. Rice University Press, Houston.The Science of Life is also notable for its introduction of modern ecological concepts. It is also notable for its emphasis on the importance of behaviorismH.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), pp. 1318–25. and Jung's psychology.H.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), pp. 1364–68. However, Wells added: "Let not our criticisms seem to be . . . a belittlement of Freud. Sigmund Freud's name is as cardinal in the history of human thought as Charles Darwin's" (p. 1368). Toward the end The Science of Life strays from the scientific to the moral realm and devotes a chapter (Book Eight, Ch. VIII: "Modern Ideas of Conduct") to practical moral advice to the reader, advising him (the masculine pronoun is used throughout, a universal practice circa 1930): "After his primary duties to himself, the first duty of Mr. Everyman to others is to learn about himself, to acquire poise and make his persona as much of a cultivated gentleman as he can. He has to be considerate. He has to be trustworthy."H.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), pp. 1399–1400. In its last pages, Wells emphasises the lack of "credibility" of personal immortality, and advocates "realization of [one's] participation in a greater being with which he identifies himself," whether this be "the Deity" or "Man."H.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), p. 1475.
Description	The Science of Life is a book written by H. G. Wells, Julian Huxley and G. P. Wells, published in three volumes by The Waverley Publishing Company Ltdnot verified, but probably a subsidiary of Amalgamated Press. in 1929–30, giving a popular account of all major aspects of biology as known in the 1920s. It has been called "the first modern textbook of biology"David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 263. and "the best popular introduction to the biological sciences."Norman and Jean Mackenzie, H.G. Wells: A Biography (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973), p. 357. Wells's most recent biographer notes that The Science of Life "is not quite as dated as one might suppose."Michael Sherborne, H.G. Wells: Another Kind of Life (Peter Owen, 2010), p. 286.In undertaking The Science of Life, H. G. Wells, who had published The Outline of History a decade earlier, selling over two million copies, desired the same sort of treatment for biology. He thought of his readership as "the intelligent lower middle classes . . . [not] idiots, half-wits . . . greenhorns, religious fanatics . . . smart women or men who know all that there is to be known."Norman and Jean Mackenzie, H.G. Wells: A Biography (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973), p. 357.Julian Huxley, the grandson of T. H. Huxley under whom Wells had studied biology, and his son "Gip," a zoologist, divided the initial writing between them; H.G. Wells revised, dealt (with the help of his literary agent, A.P. Watt) with publishers, and acted as a strict taskmaster, often obliging his collaborators to sit down and work together and keeping them on a tight schedule.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 262. (H.G. Wells had begun the book during his wife's final illness and is said to have used work on the book as a way to keep his mind off his loss.)Norman and Jean Mackenzie, H.G. Wells: A Biography (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973), pp. 352, 356.The text as published is presented as the common work of a "triplex author."H.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), p. 4. H.G. Wells took 40% of the royalties; the remainder was split between Huxley and Wells's son.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 262. In his will, H.G. Wells left his rights in the book to G.P. Wells.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 479.In 1927, Huxley gave up his chair of Zoology at King's College, London to concentrate on the work. Thanks to the success of the book, Huxley was able to give up teaching and devote himself to administration and experimental science.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 262.The book was originally serialised in 31 fortnightly parts, published in 3 volumes in 1929–30 and in a single volume in 1931. The volume includes more than 300 illustrations. It was a great success, though the stock market crash and subsequent depression held back sales, in part because of declining memberships in book clubs.David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 263.It has been said of Book Four (The How and Why of Development and Evolution) that it "offers perhaps the clearest, most readable, succinct and informative popular account of the subject ever penned. It was here that [Huxley] first expounded his own version of what later developed into the evolutionary synthesis".Olby R. in Waters, C. Kenneth and Van Helden, Albert (eds) 1993. Julian Huxley: biologist and statesman of science. Rice University Press, Houston.The Science of Life is also notable for its introduction of modern ecological concepts. It is also notable for its emphasis on the importance of behaviorismH.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), pp. 1318–25. and Jung's psychology.H.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), pp. 1364–68. However, Wells added: "Let not our criticisms seem to be . . . a belittlement of Freud. Sigmund Freud's name is as cardinal in the history of human thought as Charles Darwin's" (p. 1368). Toward the end The Science of Life strays from the scientific to the moral realm and devotes a chapter (Book Eight, Ch. VIII: "Modern Ideas of Conduct") to practical moral advice to the reader, advising him (the masculine pronoun is used throughout, a universal practice circa 1930): "After his primary duties to himself, the first duty of Mr. Everyman to others is to learn about himself, to acquire poise and make his persona as much of a cultivated gentleman as he can. He has to be considerate. He has to be trustworthy."H.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), pp. 1399–1400. In its last pages, Wells emphasises the lack of "credibility" of personal immortality, and advocates "realization of [one's] participation in a greater being with which he identifies himself," whether this be "the Deity" or "Man."H.G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G.P. Wells, The Science of Life (New York: Literary Guild, 1934), p. 1475.

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Name	This Science of Life
Name
Authors	H. G. Wells, Julian S. Huxley, and G. P. Wells
Authors
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Translator
Genre	Non-Fiction
Genre
Series
Series
Number in series
Number in series
Language	English
Language
Country	UK
Country

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Pages	1514 (Cassell 1938 edition: 1575 pages, 32 plates, 263 figures)David C. Smith, H.G. Wells: Desperately Mortal (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 262.
Pages
Media_type	Print (hardback)
Media_type
Isbn
Isbn
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Oclc
Publisher	Cassels (England); Nelson Doubleday (US)
Publisher