In his technique of developing his study, Hauser specifically disavows measurement and depreciates questionnaires. He conducted interviews and group discussions with some four hundred people and drew his conclusions from "people's opinions about themselves, their aims, their difficulties, and their potentialities." (9) He is aware of the Kinsey and the Wolfenden Reports, but is doubtful of their value particularly with reference to the extent of homosexuality in the population which he seems to think is less than the Reports would have us believe. It is, however, to his credit that he sees homosexuality as one of the most "intractable" social problems of presentday England, and favors free and open discussion of all its aspects.

The main body of the book is taken up with descriptions of the some fifty types he finds homosexuals falling into and specific problems which they have, concluding with some evaluations, conclusions, and recommendations. A few comments may be made with reference to certain points in the

text.

At the very outset it would seem that certain prejudices have preceded the whole study. For example, the author says in his Preface: "We have tried to lay the ghost of the 'constitutional' homosexual and to indicate that homosexual living is socially induced." (9) I had thought that a hereditary, somatic element in homosexuality was now generally accepted especially in the cases where the preference is exclusive. Throughout the text the occurrences of such phrases as: "healed", (109) "social infection", (24, 144) "equated with enuresis", (140) "evil", (24) "tragedy of being homosexual," (23) "handicap", (133) "sufferer reverts to state of childhood", (85) "stress disease", (84) "breeding places of homosexuality", and many others,

one

certainly suggest a point of view not altogether consistent with the author's disavowal of any intention to denigrate homosexuals. The records of healings or cures are certainly very meager. The following quotation gives the author's view in a nutshell:

The above (the Prison Queer) will show how infectious the homosexual attitude can become; how convenience and desire can produce a deterioration where homosexuality can spread easily. We think that some bisexuals are pushed over the brink and while some may wish to return and will be able to do so, others may think that they must now remain homosexuals. Every such active spreading of homosexuality demands its victims. (59)

He says further: "people (must) face the fact that they have a stressdisease" and lists homosexuality with "drinking, gambling, drug addiction, robbery, violence, rape, etc.", (84) and later with alcoholism, mental disease, and criminality. (141) It is a childhood fixation preventing maturity, (85) and a shirking of family responsibilities. (86) He admits grudgingly that there are some homosexuals who are well adjusted and contribute much to society. (87) It seems a little ironic to the reviewer that a person could be well-adjusted who is equated with alcoholics, psychopaths, and criminals! That "homosexuals cannot be healed" is a myth; (109) it is equal to "a severe handicap" and is a great pity." (133) "Homosexual practices are almost invariably the outcome of a sort of 'social infection" ". (144)

In conclusion the author gives many suggestions for "helping the unfortunate victims of a homosexual state of mind" which, in spite of the fine adjustment and social contribution of some of them, is still a tragedy and little short of a neurosis. One cannot