ABOUT THE BOOK Encyclopedia Britannica Almanac 2003 FROM THE PUBLISHER Your essential source of information for today's world! Encyclopedia Britannica Almanac 2003 is a complete source of information for school, work, and everyday life. Brimming with facts on every subject, it presents information in a way that helps you make sense of the world. Reliable, complete, and current, this almanac contains millions of facts covering the world of knowledge-history, science & technology, entertainment & the arts, people, business & personal finance, sports, and world affairs. Special features include: timelines that tell the story of human history from prehistoric times to the present; "Britannica Greats"-lists of leading figures and historical achievements in culture, sports, technology, and world affairs; concise biographies of the people who have shaped our world and are shaping it today; past and presents winners of major awards in film, books, science, architecture; vital information on every country and U.S. state; color maps, flags, and photos of recent events; interesting facts and quiz questions to help you test and expand your knowledge; and illustrations, diagrams, and pictures that bring information to life., FROM THE CRITICS Library Journal It may be time for the venerable World Almanac and Book of Facts to step aside. This newcomer-the very first Britannica almanac-is an engaging combination of facts and commentary which proves that Britannica's shift to single-volume reference has not diminished the quality synonymous with its name. Despite its great size and breadth of coverage, the volume's layout is very attractive, and the accessible writing style is appropriate for elementary school and college-educated readers alike. Features include biographies of notable figures, from the past as well as the present; a lookup of thousands of facts covering various branches of knowledge (e.g., science, business, history, entertainment, sports, and the arts); an exclusive list of "Britannica Greats," chosen by Britannica's editors and featuring the greatest world leaders, inventions, athletes, web sites, and more; and 16 stunning color plates accompanying the "Year in Review," which provides extensive coverage of more recent events (e.g., 9/11, the Enron debacle), trends, and developments. There are also entries for countries and their leaders, with maps, flags, and various statistics; for awards and award winners; for sporting events; and much more. All entries were culled and adapted from the annual Britannica Book of the Year. Although the World Almanac index wins out with more detailed subheadings, this authoritative reference is sure to become the premiere atlas choice of librarians everywhere. Highly recommended.-Kelli Perkins, Herrick Dist. Lib., Holland, MI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. School Library Journal Gr 9 Up-This compendium of facts and figures, followed by a comprehensive index, compares favorably with its competitors. The opening section features articles on current topics such as Enron, the Olympics, stem cell research, and "Remembering September 11," and a chronology. "Personalities" provides brief information about newsmakers. There are also obituaries and lists of the most influential leaders of all times, greatest authors, and top figures in sports history. Several pages list awards in all major fields of endeavor. "Nature, Science, Medicine & Technology" offers information on holidays, the universe, measurements and numbers, inventions, chemistry, space exploration, and more. Comparative time lines encapsulate events from 14 areas of human experience from the dawn of history to the present day. U.S. information includes a chronology, key documents, presidential biographies, population statistics, facts on the states, social and health statistics, and more.

Other sections include vital information, such as economics, business, arts, and entertainment, for all of the sovereign states of the world as well as the major dependent areas. Color plates offer photos of world events,

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