Encyclopedia of Biography

Rating:
Summary: terrific reference
Review: This monumental tome contains over 10,000 capsule biographies of notable figures in history, ranging from Menes (first Egyptian pharaoh), Descartes, Faraday, and Truman all the way to Tom Cruise and Michael Jordan. The entries are arranged alphabetically, and are accompanied by numerous photos, quotations, and recommended reading lists. Although necessarily brief (most are just a paragraph or two), the entries are well-written and cover the essentials. An appendix lists all the entries chronologically by year of birth. Other appendices list Nobel Prize winners, presidents, kings, etc. The book is beautifully laid out, and it can be fascinating just to browse through it. An amazing compilation, and truly a great value for $25 or so.