Five stars because everybody needs to be familiar with the disturbing contents of the book, NOT because I support the content.

Bertrand Russell was a gifted mathematician and logician of the late 1800's and early 1900's. His "Principa Mathematica" paper developing formal systems in mathematics continues to be cited today 100 years after its publication (although it has since been proven to be an incomplete theorum). There. Let it never be said I didn't give him his due.

Sadly, he goes off the rails at that point. Instead of living an honorable life contributing to society by developing his mathematical theories, Russell instead elected for riches and accolades under the aegis of eugenicist robberbarons J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller (among others). At their behest, Russell turned from math and logic to advance degenerate philosophies and social engineering schemes. Chief among these were his contributions to the ongoing Morgan/Rockefeller plan to unify the world into a hegemonic totalitarian oligarchy. Where Napoleon and others failed, Rockefeller intended to succeed using the new sciences of psychology (propaganda), genetics (eugenics), and emerging engineering fields. Russell calls this the "scientific dictatorship" (p.32)

The Impact of Science on Society is broken into three speeches Bertrand Russell gave at Columbia University in the early days of the Cold War. These lectures sell his scientific dictatorship as the only reasonable (!!) alternative to certain worldwide nuclear catastrophe. In these speeches, he brazenly details (in glowing, enthusiastic terms) just a few programs this new world order is cooking up for us, including:

1) Mass indoctrination (p.32), which he brags will be capable of "producing an unshakable conviction that snow is black", if that is what rulers wish the public to think. To achieve this, he advocates development of psychology as a tool for controlling masses, noting (p.31): "This study is immensely useful to practical men, whether they wish to become rich or to acquire the government."

2) War against the family: (p.32) "the influence of the home is destructive". After all, Russell opines, to be effective, "not much can be done unless indoctrination begins before the age of ten".

3)And global mass depopulation, which seems like an idea that needs a LOT more elaboration, but none is forthcoming. (what does this mean? "one child policy" like China? forced sterilization? genocide? ...come on, Bertrand! What's on your mind?)

Rockefellers and their ilk continue to wield untold influence through their ownership or dominance of the member banks of the Federal Reserve, the "seven sisters" oil cabal, many universities, and a constellation of tax-free foundations and policy-influencing "think tanks", including the Council on Foreign Relations. Close examination of these institutions reveals a concerted and unified effort towards developing a "vertically integrated" world political/economic system -essentially the scientific dictatorship Russell advocates in this book. The players pushing us down this road include: the European Union, NAFTA, CAFTA, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Court, the World Trade Organization, and the United Nations and its subsidiary organizations. There is little to suggest these banking Elites have wavered from the vision outlined in this book. ( )

Really interesting to take a look back and see what it was like looking post WWII at the impact of science on society. Some things are still applicable, others not so much. Some predictions were on target, others wildly off track. Many assumptions wildly off base or have subsequently proved false. But interesting reading nonetheless! ( )