Some things worth knowing;: A generalist's guide to useful knowledge

by Stuart Chase

An attempt to provide the non-specialist with a key to a broad method by which to grasp and evaluate a tremendous and relevant store of information about the world in which we live. An impossible book to sum up in one paragraph, but a book that holds much of thoughtful challenge for the "generalist" who would be an informed world citizen.

278 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1970

About the author

Stuart Chase was an American economist and engineer trained at MIT. His writings covered topics as diverse as general semantics and physical economy. His hybrid background of engineering and economics places him in the same philosophical camp as R. Buckminster Fuller. Chase's thought was shaped by Henry George, Thorstein Veblen and Fabian socialism. Chase spent his early political career supporting "a wide range of reform causes: the single tax, women's suffrage, birth control and socialism." Chase's early books The Tragedy of Waste (1925) and Your Money's Worth (1928) were notable for their criticism of corporate advertising and their advocacy of consumer protection. Although not a Marxist, Chase admired the planned economy of the Soviet Union, being impressed with it after a 1927 visit. Chase stated that "The Russians, in a time of peace, have answered the question of what an economic system is for." It has been suggested that he was the originator of the expression a New Deal, which became identified with the economic programs of American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He had a cover story in The New Republic entitled "A New Deal for America", during the week that Roosevelt gave his 1932 presidential acceptance speech promising a new deal, but whether Roosevelt's speechwriter Samuel Rosenman saw the magazine is not clear.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

In part outdated yet wise in it's generalizations and anticipations. The task at which the author was employed was to advise the reader what she needed to know in order to make better sense of the world.

[Walt · Rating 2 out of 5]

When originally published in 1958 this was a good book. It covers a lot of general information focusing on the history of everything. However, these things change, as do our understandings of our origins. For example, in 1958 it was "generally accepted by most scientists" that the universe was created by a a huge dust cloud spinning ever faster and shooting off galaxies and other celestial bodies. But, Chase adds, there is a minority of scientists arguing for a big bang theory....Other instances like this are apparent throughout the book - evolution, language, architecture, etc. The writing is easy to follow and appreciate; but the content is too out-dated for use. It is shocking that I found this in an academic library in 2010.