The World book encyclopedia Book

Previous editions are recommended in Best Reference Books, Guide to Reference Books, and General Reference Books for Adults. Providing a readable yet sufficiently detailed reference for students in middle and high school, as well as general readers who don't mind the student orientation, this encyclopedia is updated annually. As an example of the encyclopedia's coverage and illustrations, the entry for Iraq, current through July 2003, features color photos of Baghdad, shops, merchants, the rural landscape, and the toppling of the statue of Saddam Hussein; color images of the flag and coat of arms; a detailed map with towns, roads, railroads, and topography and a second map showing the larger geographical region. Iraq's geography, climate, economy, government, people, and history are described. A list of related topics, an outline of the entry, table of basic statistics, list of dates, study questions, and list of additional resources are provided. Accommodating various age groups, more technical topics are described using more technical terms. Each entry is signed by its author, many of whom are acknowledged specialists in the field (Oleg Grabar, for example, wrote the entry on Islamic art). Volume 22 contains a comprehensive index and guide to writing research papers and giving a speech. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR