Theory of Rank T e s t s , by J. Hajek and Z. Sidak.

Academic P r e s s ,
1967. 297 p a g e s . $ 8 . 0 0 .

This book is an excellent comprehensive t r e a t m e n t of the theory

of rank t e s t s . The level of a b s t r a c t i o n is fairly high; much of the book
would be difficult for a r e a d e r without m e a s u r e theory.

The small sample theory of rank t e s t s and modified rank t e s t s is

treated in full detail for the usual null hypotheses. The l a r g e s a m p l e , or
asymptotic theory is discussed both for null hypotheses and for
a l t e r n a t i v e s which a r e asymptotically close to the null h y p o t h e s e s .
P r i n c i p l e s for selection of modifications of rank t e s t s which a r e
asymptotically optimum for p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s e s of a l t e r n a t i v e s a r e given
in f o r m s which a r e both v e r y g e n e r a l and easily applicable.

C. Kraft, Université de Montréal

A selection of early s t a t i s t i c a l p a p e r s of J. Neyman. University

of California P r e s s , 1967. ix + 429 p a g e s . $ 1 4 . 9 5 .

This volume contains 28 p a p e r s of J. Neyman which were written

between 1923 and 1945. (A bibliography of 156 publications of Neyman
is included). The following quotation is from the c o v e r ' s excellent
description of the subjects of the works in this v o l u m e .

"The group of p a p e r s gives a clear and consistent view of the

g e n e r a l objective approach to s t a t i s t i c a l inference introduced by
J. Neyman in the formulation and t r e a t m e n t of p r o b l e m s of estimation
and (with E . S . P e a r s o n ) in the t r e a t m e n t of t e s t s of s t a t i s t i c a l hypotheses.

The p a p e r s also give an indication of Neyman 1 s g e n e r a l approach

to p r a c t i c a l s t a t i s t i c a l p r o b l e m s . This consists of constructing
a p p r o p r i a t e stochastic models reflecting the e s s e n t i a l f e a t u r e s of the
phenomenon under study and then deriving definite and specific
optimal s t a t i s t i c a l p r o c e d u r e s adapted to the problem, instead of
relying on standard m e t h o d s .

Neyman's fundamental p a p e r s on the formulation of the theory of

estimation and the construction of confidence i n t e r v a l s a r e included with
p a p e r s discussing the r e l a t i o n s of this theory to the then p r e v a l e n t
methods of fiducial inference proposed by Sir Ronald F i s c h e r . On the
theory of testing hypotheses, the volume contains Neyman's p a p e r s on
the construction of locally optimal s i m i l a r or unbiased t e s t s of
composite hypotheses and a number of p a p e r s indicating, in p a r t i c u l a r ,
the relations of the N e y m a n - P e a r s o n approach to the Bayesian approach.

The p a p e r s on contagious distribution, on the dilution method and

s i m i l a r subjects p r e s e n t interesting approaches to p r a c t i c a l p r o b l e m s .
Neyman's famous p a p e r s on sampling of human populations and on the
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e method a r e also included. P a p e r s on the "smooth" test

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https://doi.org/10.1017/S0008439500029325 Published online by Cambridge University Press

 of goodness of fit and on the theory of the x. test describe asymptotic
methods, and, in p a r t i c u l a r , the "best asymptotically normal e s t i m a t e s "
which have been found very valuable in a large variety of applications. "

C. Kraft, Université de Montreal

Joint statistical p a p e r s , by J. Neyman and E. S. P e a r s o n .

University of California P r e s s , 1966. 299 p a g e s . Selected p a p e r s $6.75.

This volume contains ten joint p a p e r s of J. Neyman and

E . S . P e a r s o n which were published between 1928 and 1938. The
publication of this volume p e r m i t s a study of Neyman'.s and P e a r s o n ' s
ideas leading to, and associated with, their basic and, now, c l a s s i c
theory of testing hypotheses. The p a p e r s include their proposal and
application of the likelihood ratio test, the N e y m a n - P e a r son lemma and
its extension to similar tests, relations between t e s t s and sufficient
s t a t i s t i c s ; and regions of types A, A , and C. One paper, written in
1933 and which t r e a t s the problem of tests and a p r i o r i probabilities,
contains a discussion of how a testing problem with a well-defined loss
function ( i . e . a decision-theoretic problem) can be solved for a given
a p r i o r i distribution.

C. Kraft, Université de Montreal

Topics in algebra, by I. N. H e r s t e i n . Blaisdell, 1964/1965.

342 p a g e s . $ 9 . 5 0 .

This is a superb book. It is a first course in a b s t r a c t algebra,

introducing students to groups, rings, modules, and fields, and it puts
m o s t other books in this a r e a deep into the background.

The f i r s t edition was ridden with m i s p r i n t s , but these have almost

completely been corrected and one can enjoy the full p l e a s u r e of this
giant uninterruptedly.

On the surface it looks like any other book on a b s t r a c t algebra

and one does not savour all its goodness until it is used in c l a s s . I have
had an opportunity to actually use it and though I don't understand
exactly why it works beautifully, I can say that it d o e s .

H e r s t e i n has a free and easy style. He faces difficult p a r t s

squarely and honestly but does not fall into the trap of trying to show off
his m a t h e m a t i c a l know-how to his colleagues. The book is for students,
not for p r o f e s s o r s - a r a r e achievement.

There a r e often two or m o r e s t r e a m s of students taking c o u r s e s

in a b s t r a c t a l g e b r a . One of these, the weakest s t r e a m , may have trouble
with this text and should perhaps continue to feed off a book like M a r i e
Weiss' "Higher a l g e b r a " . Though I would like to see how they fare
with this book.

341

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0008439500029325 Published online by Cambridge University Press