THE SCIENCE OF LIFE. H G WELLS, JULIAN HUXLEY & G P WELLS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Science of Life. H G Wells, Julian Huxley & G P Wells London: Cassell and Company, 1931., 1931. First edition as a single volume. Previously in three volumes. Large 8vo, xvi, 896pp. 339 illustrations.   The book weighs 2.25 kg. Please note their are reasonable door to door courier options available. Contact for quote. Wikipedia: 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 Ltd 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" and "the best popular introduction to the biological sciences."  T he Science of Life is also notable for its introduction of modern ecological concepts. It is also notable for its emphasis on the importance of behaviorism and Jung's psychology. Toward the end The Science of Life strays from the scientific to the moral realm and devotes a chapter (eight) "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." 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.".... The text as published is presented as the common work of a "triplex author."H.G. Wells took 40% of the royalties; the remainder was split between Huxley and Wells's son. In his will, H.G. Wells left his rights in the book to G.P. Wells.