Mankind in the Making
📘 About This Book
Mankind in the Making by H. G. Wells Certain wholesale aspects of man-making with a skin of infinite delicacy that life will harden very speedily, with a discomforted writhing little body, with a weak and wailing outcry that stirs the heart, the creature comes protesting into the world, and unless death win a victory, we and chance and the forces of life in it, make out of that soft helplessness a man. Certain things there are inevitable in that man and unalterable, stamped upon his being long before the moment of his birth, the inherited things, the inherent things, his final and fundamental self. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.
📖 Summary
Mankind in the Making by H. G. Wells is a profound and sweeping exploration of human development, societal evolution, and the collective responsibility we hold for shaping future generations. Originally published as a series of essays and later gathered into a comprehensive volume, this classic work reflects Wells's visionary and often provocative thoughts on how humanity can consciously improve its own biological and social destiny. The book opens with a powerful contemplation of human birth, observing how a creature arrives into the world in absolute helplessness, a soft and delicate form accompanied by a wailing outcry that stirs the human heart. From this fragile beginning, a combination of us, pure chance, and the vast forces of life work together to forge a complete human being. Wells examines the dual nature of this transformation, noting that certain fundamental aspects are unalterable and stamped upon an individual long before birth through heredity and inherent traits. However, he argues that the surrounding environment, education, social structures, and cultural institutions play an equally massive role in determining what that soft helplessness ultimately becomes. Throughout the nearly six hundred pages of this extensive Classic Library edition, Wells addresses the wholesale aspects of man-making, looking closely at how society treats its children, how public health affects the populace, and how political and educational systems either support or hinder human potential. He challenges readers to think beyond immediate, short-term concerns and to consider the grander trajectory of the human species. By analyzing the interplay between nature and nurture, Wells positions the upbringing and cultivation of mankind not merely as a private parental duty, but as a supreme public art and scientific necessity. He critiques contemporary shortcomings in governance and social organization while offering ambitious proposals for civic and personal improvement. Even though decades have passed since its initial creation, the themes of human betterment, the protection of the vulnerable, and the deliberate shaping of a better tomorrow remain deeply relevant. This newly available edition breathes fresh life into a hard-to-find text, making it accessible to modern readers who wish to engage with the philosophical roots of social engineering and evolutionary optimism. Ultimately, Mankind in the Making serves as both a historical artifact of early twentieth-century thought and a stirring call to action, urging society to take an active, thoughtful role in guiding the ongoing evolution of humanity.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Provides deep insight into H. G. Wells's philosophical and sociological views on human development.
Addresses timeless questions regarding the balance between inherited traits and environmental influence.
Revives an important out-of-print classic text for contemporary readers and researchers.
Encourages critical thinking about education, governance, and societal responsibility toward children.
⚠️ Cons
Some of the early twentieth-century arguments and social perspectives may feel dated to modern readers.
The dense and sweeping prose style requires careful, deliberate reading.
✍️ About the Author
H. G. Wells (1866-1946) was an English writer regarded as a father of science fiction, known for pioneering works such as 'The Time Machine', 'The War of the Worlds', and 'The Invisible Man'.
View all books →❓ FAQ
What is the main theme of Mankind in the Making? +
The book focuses on human development, the interplay between heredity and environment, and how society can consciously improve future generations.
Who is the author of Mankind in the Making? +
The book was written by the renowned author and thinker H. G. Wells.
How many pages are in this edition? +
This classic library edition spans 580 pages.
When was this specific edition published? +
This edition was published in 2018 to bring back out-of-print classic works.
Is this book fiction or non-fiction? +
It falls under general non-fiction, presenting essay-based sociological and philosophical arguments by Wells.
