Reviews

Bateson was working on this book when he died in 1980 but was nowhere near completing it; his daughter added chapters and other material that she is careful to identify as her own. Those looking for a neat, logical chain of argument will not find it here. Bateson combines ideas from a wide range of sourcescybernetics, communication theory, Jungian psychology, biology, philosophy, evolution theory, ethics, etc.in an attempt to bridge the gap between mind and matter, to present a unified view of nature and man. The discussion is suggestive but lacking in focus. Bateson's fans will love this; others may feel confirmed in their belief that his most important contribution lies elsewherein his theory of the ``double bind.'' Leon H. Brody, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Lib., Washington, D.C.