The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2019 Paperback – December 4, 2018

This almanac contains well chosen facts that will help you answer questions of everyday curiosity, but also helps with term papers and other school work. I have written a history book and this almanac was the first source to look at to get a grounding in vital facts. While I would not quote from the almanac for a book, it does point the way to the big picture and greases the skids for deeper research.The first page is the Contents which groups the subjects into large categories making the overall search for information simpler. In the back is the General Index and a Quick Reference Index. On the sides of the book are black tabs that help in locating the larger divisions of subject matter. The maps are actually quite good, and there are twelve pages of maps which makes them large enough to read without a magnifying glass.The print in the book is not very big, and I cannot read it without my glasses (I am 71 yrs old); however, the print is very clear and looks like an Ariel font -- very clean. The world history section is very good and I consider the information accurate. For example, under the Formation of Classical Societies: 1000 -- 400 BCE, and the subdivision India, it states "The classic Indian epics were composed in this era: the Ramayana perhaps c 300 BCE, the Mahabharata over a period starting around 400 BCE." That is good information about the foundations of the Indian philosophies that still exert great influence over millions of people. As an aside, I do not like the BCE as it is misleading. The true time measurement is BC (Before Christ) not BCE (Before Current Era) which leads one to think the date is moveable, after all, what is the current era? Nonetheless, the historical sections, about which I have extensive exposure, are well organized and accurate.Overall, the almanac is a great buy. It is easier to research than most and filled with information. This is your first stop when you have a question about nearly any human endeavor.Highly recommended. AD2

I have EVERY World Almanac and Book of Facts since 1961. From time to time I refer to one of the older ones.There isn't much I can say about this book other than the fact that, at least to me, it is an indispensable reference, one which I would not want to be without.Yes you can find a lot of information on line but the tables and information contained in this book, along with the speed with which you can find whatever information you wish, make this book far better and easier to use than looking up the same information on the web.At least, that is my opinion.I always pre-order the book from Amazon soon after it is listed here. Invariably, during the pre-order period, the price goes down (perhaps even just for one day) but Amazon's pre-order guarantee ensures that I will always pay the lowest price offered.Even in a day in which reference books appear to be growing obsolete, I HIGHLY recommend this book to all persons.I thank you for reading this and for considering my opinions.Lawrence H. Bulk

I saved my pennies to buy my first copy of the World Almanac as a junior high student in 1970, and made sure every year I could get the newest edition, well into the late 1990s. It was my go-to book for all knowledge. Every year I looked eagerly for the updated sports stats and population studies and news items of the year. Some years I wore the binding and the cover off the book. In content and ease of use, it was always head and shoulders above competitors' almanacs.My adult daughter expressed an interest in the World Almanac, so I bought it for her for Christmas 2018, and she was thrilled. Even though we both have ready access to the internet, there's something about having that book so handy as a ready reference. I'm glad it hasn't gone the way of the buggy whip and the dinosaur.

My husband has had one of these every year dating back to the 1960s. This is more than a collection of data- it's information laid out in a way that will keep you flipping through for more. Every time I pick this up I find something new. Keep this one beside your chair and you'll be surprised how often you dip in.

es muy bueno tiene información actualizada y es muy entretenido

I purchased this item mostly out of nostalgia because my mother used to buy me one for a Christmas gift each year. It was basically the internet before the internet. Once it arrived I was amazed at how much information it contained. I doubt it will replace the internet but it is fun to look things without using a phone or computer.

This book has a lot of information on many subjects. I don’t watch a lot of news these days so I’m catching up on a lot of facts. The print could be a bit bigger, but I’m 71 and wear glasses and I don’t have trouble reading it. Maybe my experience reading my stash of old paperbacks has honed my ability to read small print.

My dad bought these back in the 1960’s or so, and I took over when he passed away in 1979. It’s an excellent up-to-date, annual reference that nicely covers the key event of the year, plus lots of stats and information on history, science, movies, awards, sports and much, much more.

Es un gran libro de todos los tiempos, inclusive en esta era de la información, tiene datos muy útiles y valiosos. Gracias y cuenten con mi compra en enero.

My reference book since I was 7 years old.

Full of the news of the world and a good read for those who have inquiring minds. My son gets one every year and the one year I didn't give it to him as they were out of stock, he was very disappointed. Men are hard to shop for and this book is a solution if they like to read.

I had been stuck with another Almanac for the last three years. It is a dream to pick up the world and poke around in it. Everything is well organized and properly indexed, both generally and specifically. Only criticism is it isn't age-friendly. The type seems to have shrunk - the cost you pay for so much content. A great buy!.

Great for crosswords . My Uncle loves it as he does not use the internet but loves facts and figures.