This book is composed of the previously published book "Art and Life" and a reflection on the Dutch architectural style. In this consideration Kropholler lets his eye pass along the architectural development of the twentieth century. He leaves no trace of the new movements (Amsterdam School, modernism), especially because they break with the Dutch building tradition (such as Dutch stepped gables). Marxists tolerated 'no tradition at all' in new buildings, Protestants looked at every important new building to see if it contained a reminder of Catholic times, and even his own Catholics got off badly: 'in their new institutions they followed a mishmash of gothic ornamentation from the year zero, insofar as they did not reject all national tradition in recent times as a testimony or announcement of political cooperation with the S.D.A.P.'. In the sequel, Kropholler outlines the true Dutch architectural style, dating from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, which is revived with Berlage. He does no credit to the architecture of the nineteenth century -which was "degraded by the false application of ornamentation"- and, oddly enough, pays no attention to P.J.H. Cuypers, whom he nevertheless admires so much in other books and articles by his hand.