Briefer Comment.

This article presents information on three books related to politics. The book "Japanese Militarism: Its Cause and Cure," by John M. Maki poses the problem in its true dimensions. He gives a full-length portrait, or the past and for the present, of the economic oligarchy that has always gone hand in band with the political oligarchy in Japan. The other book is "Taxes Without Tears," by Donald Bailey Marsh. This book focuses on fiscal policy and social welfare. The third book is "Tobias Smollett: Traveler-Novelist," by George M. Kahrl. This book is related to travel and a satiric insight into persons, places and society.