Abstract
DR. POMFRET views his ‘geographic pattern’ as an essential background for the comprehension of economics, politics, history and the other social sciences; and in surveying the modern world as composed of areas each exhibiting a preponderant type of climate or physiographic influence, he consistently maintains this point of view. His aim is to show in detail how this main factor has determined the social organisation, utilisation of resources, character of industries and type of occupation, incidentally bringing out with no little point and emphasis the differences in character and achievement of regional forms of culture which have developed under these varying influences. The differentiation, social and psychological, of China and Japan, or the characterisation of South America, with particular reference to its economic and political development, may perhaps be regarded as particularly successful examples of his understanding of the interplay of the forces involved.
The Geographic Pattern of Mankind
By John E. Pomfret. Pp. xv + 428 + 22 plates. (New York and London: D. Appleton-Century Co., Inc., 1935.) 15s. net.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
[Book Reviews]. Nature 136, 935 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136935c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136935c0