116
PARTISAN REVIEW
so that his control equipment resembles a radar. This thesis is docu–
mented with a mass of observations derived mainly from current trends
in
child education, business and social mores, and politics. The vocabu–
lary is rather overweighted with sociological jargon; but unlike most
books of its kind, this one is a pleasure to read.
It
is the product of
a sophisticated intelligence, with an unusually wide range of interests
and a talent for effective phrase-making. Mr. Riesman has a poker-face
way of using technical words to produce sardonic effects which reminds
one of Thorstein Veblen.
Once one has absorbed Mr. Riesman's thesis, one begins to find
corroborations of it in every direction.
It
provides connecting links for
a great variety of apparently disparate data. Why is it, for example,
that most American achievements (the invention of the atomic bomb is
a good illustration) are due primarily to a highly developed capacity
for smooth teamwork rather than to individual pre-eminence? Why
do American psychiatrists show a tendency to regard group adjustment
as the main standard of "normality"? Why did Roosevelt at Yalta think
it more important to get the Russians to like the Americans than to
insist on a good settlement? Why is jealousy ceasing to be an overt
factor in American sex mores? Why is it that the magic word on all
levels of modern politics is "security"? Why has the need for group
approval, either for oneself or (more insidiously) for one's children,
become the most effective weapon of the modern advertiser? One could
continue citing examples indefinitely. As Mr. Riesman expresses it,
STATEMENT OF THE OWl\ERSJ-IIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION REQUIRED
BY THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF AUGUST
2-1,
1912, AS AMENDED BY TIlE ACTS OF
MARCH 3, 1933, AND JULY 2, 1946 (Title 39, United States Code, Section 233)
O( Partisan Review published Bi·mollthly at New York, N. Y. (or October 1, 1950.
1.
The names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business man·
agers arc:
Publisher: Allan D. Dowling,
dl b,
Added Enterprises, 30 West 12 St., New York 11, N. Y.
Editors : William Phillips and Philip Rahv, 30 West 12 St., New York 11,
l\.
Y.
Managing Editor: None
Business manager: Barbara Greenfeld, 30 West 12 St., New York 11, N. Y.
2. The owner is: Allan D. Dowling,
dl b,
Added Enterprises, 30 West 12 St., New York
11, N. Y.
3. The known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1
percent or more of total a.mount of bouds, mortgages, or other securities are: None.
4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 include, in cases where the stockholder or security holder ap.
pears upon the books of
~he
company as trustee or i.n
an~
other fiduciary relation, the name
of
the penon or
corporation for
whom
such trustee
IS
actJOg; also the statements in the
two
paragraphs show the affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions
under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear upon the books of the
company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner,
BARBARA GREENFELD, Business Manager
Sworn to and subscribed belore me this 27th day o( September, 1950.
HERBERT G. SPRENGEL
Notary Public, State o( New York
(My commission expires March 30, 1952)
