TOO MANY ASIANS

by John Robbins ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 8, 1959

This is a rather thorough study of Asia's population dilemma from the Malthusian point of view. The author sees Asia's attempts to improve her standard of living thwarted by an uncontrollable population rise. He advocates an Asia-wide campaign, backed by the West, to spread the good word about family planning among the millions of ignorant peasants whose per capita income is about $50 a year. Like all Malthusians, the author pays little attention to the basic psychological or emotional needs of essentially primitive people for whom life on an animal level has no point whatever unless there are lots of children around. To expect millions of impoverished, illiterate Asians to respond to so sophisticated an idea as family planning is like expecting them to wear stockings before they even wear shoes. Nevertheless, as a study of Asia's acute economic situation the book is extremely valuable. It reveals how little is actually being done not only by the West but by the Asians themselves- with the exception of Japan and Communist China- to industrialize in depth and raise the general standard of living. A massive program of investment and development to help the average Asian increase his purchasing power seems to be the only way toward improvement. It is a timely discussion- worth more attention than it may receive.

Pub Date: Oct. 8, 1959

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1959

Categories: NONFICTION