All books that are really worth while may be divided into four classes:
first, books of _information_; second, books of _inspiration_; third,
books of _entertainment_; fourth, books of _excitement_. By far the most
important and practical of these classes is the first. The next in
importance is the second; while rather trivial importance attaches to
the third and fourth.
THE CIRCLE OF KNOWLEDGE preëminently belongs to the first; but it is
also designed to be both inspiring and entertaining. In its methods of
presentation and in its editorship it typifies the modern, progressive
spirit. Behind it lies a quarter of a century of successful editorial
experience in selecting, adapting, and translating from highly technical
treatises into simple, clear, understandable language the essentials as
well as important sidelights of human knowledge. Its purpose is to
answer the why, who, what, when, where, how, of the vast majority of
inquiring minds, both young and mature, and to stimulate them to still
further questionings. For it is only through this self-questioning
process of the active mind that individual progress is possible.
It is a fact of singular interest that every human being born into the
world must independently go through practically the same educative
processes from childhood to maturity. No matter how great the storehouse
of the world’s past knowledge, or how marvelous the multitude and wonder
of new discoveries in every department of human endeavor, each
individual must acquire and learn for himself the selfsame facts of
nature, history, science, literature, human culture, and everyday needs.
In the present work special effort has been made to separate essentials
from non-essentials; to distinguish human interest subjects of universal
importance from those of minor concern; to present living facts instead
of dead verbiage; and to bring the whole within the understanding of the
average reader, without regard to age, in an acceptable and interesting
form. The use of graphic outlines and tables; maps, drawings, and
diagrams; the pictured works of great painters, sculptors, and
architects--all combine in vizualizing and vitalizing both the useful
and cultural knowledge of past and present. Indeed it is difficult to
conceive how the purely pictorial interest of the work could be
surpassed, with its veritable picture galleries illustrating the pageant
of man’s progress; while the entire field of knowledge, from the
measureless universe of space down to the simple fancy of a child, is
sketched in its practical and essential outlines.
Never has there been greater demand for books of knowledge of the
present type. The busy reader or consulter soon tires of the diffuse
book or set of books of interminable words. He wants conciseness,
directness, reasonable compass, reliability, with up-to-date treatment
of topics of permanent usefulness. Above all he wants something that
appeals to the eye, and, through the interest of its form and subject
matter, stimulates thought and the imagination. While simplicity and
clearness are undoubted virtues, great care has been exercised to
prevent them from degenerating into those childish forms, all too
frequent in certain books, that rob real knowledge of almost its entire
value.
The best sources in the world of books have been laid under tribute in
the preparation of this work, wisely supplemented by the wide experience
of many eminent, practical, and progressive men and women--masters in
their respective fields. It is earnestly hoped that this joint product
will create for it a large sphere of usefulness and numerous satisfied
readers.