What is the author's tone in The Hidden Dimension by Edward T. Hall?

Upon completion of this book, the reader will most assuredly be left with an overwhelming respect for the academic tone of the entire work. The wealth of research cited, as well as the personal observations and studies of Hall himself, constitute an intellectually sound piece which stimulates a significant amount of thought and discussion. Beyond the academic nature of the work, however, there is both pessimism and optimism, which leave an almost ambiguous impression upon the reader. There is humor, condemnation, optimism for the ability of man to solve basic interrelationship difficulties, and yet a pessimism about man's commitment to his species and his planet.