Offers an analysis of three strongly contrasting primitive civilizations, showing how behavior is influenced by custom and tradition.

"Alexandra, daughter of a Swedish immigrant farmer in Nebraska, inherits the family farm and finds love with an old friend." "The heroic battle for survival of simple pioneer folk in the Nebraska country of the 1880s. John Bergson, a Swedish farmer, struggles desperately with the soil but dies unsatisfied. His daughter Alexandra resolves to vindicate his faith, and her strong character carries her weak older brothers and her mother alng to a new zest...

Detailed examination of changes in modern economic life due to the rise of technology, of specialized manpower, and concentration of power in large business organization.

The Harvard educated historian relates the history of seafaring Massachusetts during the period when the clipper ship dominated the seas. In his preface Morison states that this is "no catalogue of ships, or a naval chronicle, but a story of maritime enterprise; and of the shipping, seaborne commerce, whaling and fishing belonging to one American Commonwealth."