As a clearance title, THIS BOOK IS NOT RETURNABLE AND IS SOLD AS-IS (flaws, highlighting, torn covers and all). Please remember that you can purchase as many books as you like and have them all shipped for one low price of $4.95.
In theory, a single-volume, concise, highly visual encyclopedic factfinder of world history is a promising idea. Unfortunately, this book fails to fulfill that promise. The basic problem is one of organization and balance. Arranged by eras ("Early Civilizations," "The Age of Kings," "The Age of Imperialism," etc.), there is no sense of the relative importance of events or people. There are also strange omissions: the Middle Ages are covered in eight pages without ever mentioning feudalism. Jefferson is named in a caption referring to the Declaration of Independence: "The lawyer, Thomas Jefferson, was the principal author." (Pop star Madonna gets twice the coverage.) The "Key Dates" section is organized strictly chronologically with no separation by geography or type of event. As entries are not indexed, readers must scan the entire listing to find items. Major figures are either not included or are accorded brief mention. Although most photographs and some reproductions are of good quality, a number of drawings are strikingly amateurish. Those looking for condensed world history would be better advised to try Neil Grant'sJourney Through History(Smithmark, 1991),Harper Atlas of World History(1987), orPrentice Hall Encyclopedia of Historic Facts(1993).
—Anita Palladino, Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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