=Allen, William Harvey.= Efficient democracy. **$2. Dodd.
A book in which the author “maintains the thesis that to be efficient is more difficult than to be good.... In his book he shows how in various departments of philanthropic educational work such substitution has actually been made.”
“A very fresh and invigorating volume to be read with profit by every social worker.” Carl Kelsey.
+ =Ann. Am. Acad.= 30: 171. Jl. ’07. 480w.
“It covers a large and important field, but it does not cover it very well or present it to the best advantage. The idea underlying the book is excellent.”
“His work is vigorous and suggestive, worth the attention of the officers, paid and unpaid, of charitable agencies of all kinds and of our governments. Undirected and misdirected benevolent impulses are common nowadays, and the wide circulation of Mr. Allen’s book would do much to check waste of money and energy and to prevent the discouragement which comes from the failure of good intentions.”
“Undoubtedly the most impressive characteristic of the volume in an intellectual sense is its significance in favor of the validity of the democratic principle of government, which in certain quarters is thought to have been impaired by recent economic developments.”
“The most serious defect ... is found in the first chapter on ‘The goodness fallacy,’ which, briefly stated, argues that it is a false supposition to think a good man will make a capable officer. A very unworthy meaning of goodness is placed in opposition to a somewhat dangerous conception of efficiency.”
+ − =Nation.= 84: 547. Je. 13, ’07. 750w.
“It is a good book, and ought to do good.”
+ + =N. Y. Times.= 12: 283. My. 4, ’07. 1160w.
“He writes in a clear, lucid, epigrammatic style, perhaps with too great fondness for epigram. But the volume will be valuable to all men who are doing things if they will select from it what they specifically need, and will be especially valuable to students of the various social activities of our modern life.”
+ − =Outlook.= 86: 479. Je. 29, ’07. 300w.
“The common man fails to understand the mental attitude of Mr. Allen who seems to gloat over a statistical table or a graphical curve as a joy in itself, without too much reference to what it is that it proves or indicates.” Montgomery Schuyler.