The Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World presents in two volumes some 504 articles, alphabetically arranged, in incremental lengths generally of 200, 500, 1,000, 3,000, and 5,000 words. The work of some 500 scholars appears in these pages, carefully reviewed and edited in a common style for easy access by readers who may presently have limited or no knowledge of Islam. It has also been prepared as a teaching and learning resource for teachers and students, from the high school grades through university. The alphabetical ordering of articles that follow, in the List of Articles, will enable readers to locate topics of interest quickly. A
The Encyclopedia of Russian History is designed to help dispel the mystery of Russia. It is the first encyclopedia in the English language to comprehend the entirety of Russian history, from ancient Rus to the most recent events in post-Soviet Russia. It is not aimed primarily at specialists in the area but at general readers, students, and scholars who are curious about Russia, have historical events, dates, and persons they wish to explore or papers to write on the widely varying topics and individuals contained herein. Contributors include top scholars in history, Russian studies, military history, economics, social science, literature, philosophy, music, and art history. [This edition is available now on ENGLISHTIPS server. It was initially posted among many other books in my review article "Practice Makes Perfect (015)" of 2006 June 16; vol 4 was added owing to Dillz )
From ancient times to the present, taboos have affected our societies, as demonstrated in this encyclopedia full of unusual information from around the world. Recommended for public and academic libraries.
The role of food in different cultures throughout time and in all parts of the world is exploded in this exceptional new three-volume culinary reference. ... Contributors include food specialists, anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, economists, and critics who provided 600 signed articles covering topics such as individual staple foods; the role of food in different holidays and festivals; nutrition and food science; food symbolism and its use in various arts; national cuisines; and biographies of individuals in food history. ... The set features 550 black-and-white photographs and illustrations, with separate eight-page inserts of color illustrations in each volume. ... Public libraries especially will find Encyclopedia of Food and Culture valuable since it does cover a broader ranger of culinary subjects and its alphabetical arrangement of entries is easier to use than the chapter structure ... For academic libraries, large public libraries, or any library with a demand for culinary information, this set is highly recommended.
Within each sport (more than 200 make the cut), individual entries vary in length and depth depending on popularity and/or importance, and for the major sports they are quite extensive. Yet most entries provide some information about history, rules, and cultural influences. Some even offer rudiments of how the games are played, though the "Encyclopedia" is certainly no how-to manual. Most importantly, the volume seeks to grasp the larger picture and import of games and competitions around the world; with entries on aggression, drug testing, law, ethics, media, environment, commercialization, spectators, literature, and even movies, it's a volume assembled to appeal as much to those interested in thinking about sports as to those who play them. Most of the contributors are academics, and at times the text reflects that--and illustrations, especially of the more obscure activities, would have only helped the effort--but that's a fair price to pay for a one-volume compendium that can place the wide world of sports quite literally in your hands.
