The Trend of the Race--A Study of Present Tendencies in the Biological Development of Civilized Mankind

THE present volume is the outgrowth of a course of lectures on Eugenics which has been given for several years in the University of California.Its aim is to present an account of the various forces which are at present modifying the inherited qualities of civilized mankind.In dealing with so extensive and complex a subject I have doubtless committed a number of errors and have probably not altogether escaped from being misled by statistical fallacies into which I have so often accused others of having fallen.The more extensively I have delved into the varied literature on the biological evolution of man, the more I have become impressed with the necessity of employing extreme caution in drawing conclusions.Few subjects, in fact, present so many pitfalls for the unwary.It is with the conviction that it is especially important in this field to be sure one is right before going ahead that I have devoted so much effort to critical analysis at the risk of becoming tedious to the general reader.I am indebted to my colleagues Professor F. B.