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Encyclopedias
Recommended Overviews & Surveys

of the World of Knowledge


Britannica Concise Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia

Encyclopaedia Britannica,  2002, 2067 pp.

"The Britannica Concise Encyclopedia is the perfect resource for information on the people, places, and events of yesterday and today. You'll find fast facts compiled with the quality and accuracy that have made Britannica the brand to trust. This one-volume desk reference, which is actually a condensed version of the massive 32-volume Encyclopaedia Britannica, includes about 28,000 clearly written entries covering various branches of human knowledge, such as science, history, business, art, culture, geography, and geology, as well as more contemporary issues, such as cloning, terrorism, and globalization. Edited and supervised by the Encyclopaedia Britannica editors, it features an attractive layout, with alphabetical divisions color-coded along the page edges and over 2000 lavish photographs, maps, tables, drawings, and color illustrations."

"The authority and reliability that have been Encyclopaedia Britannica's hallmark for more than 230 years are now available in this handy single volume encyclopedia. The Concise Encyclopedia provides quick answers to everyday questions about history, art, science, and other fields of human knowledge."

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The Chambers Encyclopedia The Chambers Encyclopedia

Chambers, 2001, 960 pp.

"Accurate and up-to-date, this single-volume encyclopedia takes an innovative approach to the presentation of information. Material is organized by subject into fourteen major thematic sections, and is attractively presented using diagrams, tables, lists, maps and graphics as well as concise, easy-to-read text. An indispensable and wide-ranging source of data, The Chambers Encyclopedia is ideal for use as a comprehensive and practical reference. Over 200,000 facts and figures arranged in tables, diagrams and lists, and over 4,500 entries. Hundreds of illustrations, line drawings and diagrams. Practical and easy to use. Fully indexed. Unique thematic presentation of information with fourteen major sections covering: Space; Earth; Climate and Environment; Nations of the World; Social Structure; History; Time; Natural History; Human Body, Health and Nutrition; Communication; Science and Technology; Arts and Culture; Sport and Games; Thought and Belief. This is the ideal book for you if you want information, facts and figures arranged by subject and if you want a comprehensive single-volume reference source."

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The Columbia Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia

Gale Group, 2000, 6th edition, 3200 pp.

"The largest one-volume encyclopedia available, The Columbia Encyclopedia is unmatched in its scope and reputation for accuracy and authority. Now the newest edition of this cultural landmark, first published back in 1935, is available from the Gale Group, fully updated and revised by a team of specialists under the guidance of Columbia University Press.  Containing nearly 51,000 entries (marshalling six and one-half million words on a vast range of topics), the 6th edition of The Columbia Encyclopedia is a valuable addition to one's personal library."

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Encyclopedia Britannica 2005 CD Ultimate Reference Suite Encyclopedia Britannica 2005 CD Ultimate Reference Suite

Platform: Mac OS X, Windows NT / 98 / Me / 2003 Server / XP / 2000
Media: CD-ROM

"With more than 100,000 articles, including all the articles in the 32-volume Encyclopedia Britannica Print Set, the CD Ultimate Reference Suite 2005 has more content than any other reference software. Owning the CD Ultimate Reference Suite is like having a complete reference library right at your fingertips. Its contents would easily fill a large bookcase - and now you can have this vast trove of information on your personal computer. With three complete encyclopedias, two dictionaries and thesauruses, rich multimedia, a complete atlas, timelines, online magazines, and more, the CD Ultimate Reference Suite is the knowledge you need from the world's most trusted source."

"Vivid illustrations with 21,000 images, video, and audio."

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Encyclopedia Britannica 2005 DVD Ultimate Reference Suite Encyclopedia Britannica 2005 DVD Ultimate Reference Suite

Platform: Mac OS, Windows NT / 98 / Me / XP / 2000
Media: DVD-ROM

"With more than 100,000 articles, including all the articles in the 32-volume Encyclopedia Britannica Print Set, the DVD Ultimate Reference Suite 2005 has more content than any other reference software. Owning the DVD Ultimate Reference Suite is like having a complete reference library right at your fingertips. Its contents would easily fill a large bookcase - and now you can have this vast trove of information on your personal computer. With three complete encyclopedias, two dictionaries and thesauruses, rich multimedia, a complete atlas, timelines, online magazines, and more, the DVD Ultimate Reference Suite is the knowledge you need from the world's most trusted source."

"Vivid illustrations with 21,000 images, video, and audio."

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Dorling Kindersley Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia

Dorling Kindersley Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia
edited by Jayne Parsons

DK, 2000, 800 pp.

This encyclopedia is not just for kids!...Adults will find the simple, lucid explanations and the colored photos and illustrations quite helpful in giving overviews of the various subjects covered.  The illustrations and photos alone are well worth the cost of the book.

"Helicopters and hibernation, Nelson Mandela and Medieval Europe, the sun and the Supreme Court. Discover something about everything in the fully revised Dorling Kindersley Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia.  The text is lucid and packed with relevant, scrupulously researched information. Special features include a 'path of discovery' method of cross-referencing, which includes 'find out more' boxes, guiding readers to related topics and Web sites."

"From science and technology to nature and the living world, from space and the universe to history and the arts, the 500 featured entries in this encyclopedia cover key topics while a further 2,000 subentries provide information on a wide range of subjects.  Packed with over 4,500 full-color photographs, original artwork, and detailed maps and charts, this encyclopedia is the most richly illustrated book of its kind. Close-up photographs of animals and plants, cutaway illustrations of machines and buildings, and reconstructions of past people and places all combine to open up topics in a new and stimulating way. Each page is designed to attract readers at many different levels.  Each A-Z entry is a self-contained topic, but a carefully planned cross-referencing system encourages the reader to travel easily from one related entry to another."

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Scholastic Children's Encyclopedia Scholastic Children's Encyclopedia

Scholastic Reference, 2004, 710 pp.

This encyclopedia is not just for kids!...Adults will find the simple, lucid explanations and the colored photos and illustrations quite helpful in giving overviews of the various subjects covered.  The illustrations and photos alone are well worth the cost of the book.

"More than 600 entries are arranged alphabetically and range in length from one-half page to just over four pages. Entries are illustrated with more than 2,000 photographs, diagrams, charts, time lines, and maps. Longer entries include subheadings that divide text into easy-to-read sections. An introductory sentence or two follows entry headings and provides a brief definition or overview of the subject. Country and region entries have maps that show key geographical features, capitals, and major cities. 'Key Facts' boxes give facts and figures about continents, regions, countries, and planets.  'Did You Know?' boxes highlight interesting information, while 'Amazing Facts!' boxes showcase facts about the natural world and modern technology . See also references direct readers to appropriate or related entries."

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The Kingfisher Children's Encyclopedia The Kingfisher Children's Encyclopedia

Kingfisher, 2004, 480 pp.

This encyclopedia is not just for kids!...Adults will find the simple, lucid explanations and the colored photos and illustrations quite helpful in giving overviews of the various subjects covered.  The illustrations and photos alone are well worth the cost of the book.

"This general encyclopedia contains articles on selected scientific, historical, geographical, and social topics, arranged alphabetically and capped by a brief section of statistics and biographies. Each one-to-four page article includes several captioned, finely detailed, color photos and illustrations that supplement the thoroughly subheaded text."

"This graphically rich encyclopedia is an all-purpose reference for the home. Its 300-plus articles are arranged in alphabetical order and address standard school-report topics (civil rights, genetics, etc.) as well as popular subjects such as forensic science and dinosaurs. The volume has many user-friendly features. Each article begins with a one-sentence definition followed by neatly compartmentalized paragraphs set off by subheadings. More than 2,000 full-color illustrations, photographs, and cross sections, accompanied by detailed captions, add visual interest. Every article receives at least one full page of coverage, with the longest selections spanning four pages."

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