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This is an encyclopedic book and one for which the psychological world should be profoundly grateful to the author. With characteristic thoroughness Dr. Roback has brought together pretty nearly everything that has been said on the subject of temperament and character. From the very “dawn of characterology” down to the latest modern experimental researches he sets forth critically a vast amount of material of transcendent interest to the student of character and which it has hitherto been impossible to obtain without great expenditure of time and labor. The scope of the work, as well as the labor necessary to produce it, may be judged from the fact that the bibliography, originally intended for inclusion in the present volume, grew to such proportion that it was necessary to publish it as a separate (companion) volume.
Dr. Roback divides the “Psychology of Character” into four parts, the first part being historical, the second dealing with the classification of characters, the third devoted to “movements and methods” and the fourth, which contains the author's own contribution to the study of character being designated “constructive.”
Historically there are two approaches to the subject, one literary and descriptive, the other seeking an explanation for differences of type. Our author follows the development of these two points of view through many devious by—ways, from the proverbs and occult sayings of folklore through the literary characterologists of many lands, down to contemporary views and the psychological experimentation of the present day. One group of workers has been interested in “character” from various standpoints; the other in temperament; the latter lends itself more easily to scientific