Book Reviews; Additions to the library, November, 1918; Index;

              Bulletin HASKINS & SELLS 83
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Book Reviews
Kester, R. B. Accounting Theory and
Practice, Volume II. (New York, The
Ronald Press Company, 1918. 796 p.)
There appears to be nothing particu­larly
new or startling about this very ex­cellent
volume. It is a discussion more
exhaustive in its scope than anything which
has previously appeared. The manner of
presentation is the standard analytic which
proceeds from the balance sheet. It might
be said to be Hatfield's Modern Account­ing
magnified in size and discussion about
one hundred per cent.
Depreciation is discussed early in the
book following the principles of valuation.
The treatment is as complete as will be
found in any book not given over entirely
to the subject.
The chapters on Branch House Ac­counting
are a contribution to the literature
of accounting. Very little has previously
been written on this subject. The author
has probably felt the need like other
teachers and has endeavored to supply
something.
The book contains a few inconsistencies
from an academic point of view, to criti­cise
which would perhaps not be entirely
fair in a popular review of this kind. Such
as exist are not sufficiently striking to the
average reader to detract.
Taking into consideration the size of
Volume II and the thoroughness of the
discussion, one is forced to wonder what
the author will find about which to write
in Volume III, which the present volume
implies will be forthcoming some time in
the future.
As a whole the book is excellent. It will
probably be consulted more as a reference
book for discussions on specific topics than
used as a text or recommended for general
reading.
Hotchkiss, G. B. and Kilduff, E. J.