Thomas Riggs (ed.) "Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices (3 vol. set) "
In 1,800 pages across 3 volumes, Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices provides information on current religious practices around the world with an emphasis on how religions impact the daily lives of their followers. Volume 1, Religions of the World, contains 20-to-25-page entries on 13 major religions, such as Christianity and Islam, and 3-to-5 page entries on 28 religious subgroups, such as Shi'ites or Baptists. Volumes 2 and 3 focus on the significant religions in 193 countries; entries range from 3-8 pages.

Using the standardized rubric format of the Worldmark series, the entries provide for easy access to information and encourage comparisons across different religions, religious groups, and countries.

Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices features more than 500 illustrations, including comparative tables, membership maps, drawings, and photographs; key-fact boxes; primary document excerpts and quotations; a glossary of terms; and a comprehensive subject and name index.

J.H. Moore (ed.) " Encyclopedia of Race And Racism (Encyclopedia of Race and Racism) 3 Volume Set"

The Encyclopedia of Race and Racism is the first such work examining the anthropological, sociological, historical, economic, and scientific theories of race and racism in the modern era. The set delves into the historic origins of ideas of race and racism and explores their social and scientific consequences. Some of the nearly 400 articles address broad theoretical topics that have helped to shape modern ideas about race and racism; others address more specific subjects in the larger fields. The set includes biographies of dozens of significant theorists, as well as political and social leaders and notorious racists. The Encyclopedia of Race and Racism also includes a carefully chosen selection of primary documents that enhance and reinforce the content of the articles.

David Ritchie, Alexander E. Gates, "Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes"
From aa to Yellowstone, if it's got anything at all to do with earthquakes or volcanoes, you're likely to find within the pages of this updated encyclopedia from science journalist David Ritchie and Rutgers geology professor Alexander Gates.
The 1,000-plus alphabetical listings range from historical volcanoes and quakes (both famous and obscure) to entries on specific seismic phenomena (everything from parasitic cones to jökulhlaup) and general geological principles, including a few excellent in-depth discussions on topics like plate tectonics and seismic wave types. The encyclopedia also contains a lengthy bibliography, a list of Internet resources, a chronological listing of notable quakes and eruptions, and a handful of unforgettable eyewitness accounts (after the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79, apparently Pliny the Elder's party went out "having pillows tied upon their heads with napkins; and this was their whole defense against the storm of stones that fell around them").
With its clear, newspaper-style entries, the Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes will be navigable even to geo-newbies, but its a-to-z organization makes it more useful as a reference than as a stand-alone text.

The Renaissance: An Encyclopedia for Students (4-Vol. Set)
Based on the Dartmouth Medal-winning Encyclopedia of the Renaissance (2000), this set has been prepared especially for non-specialists, focusing on the Renaissance-era topics most studied in high school world history, art, literature, economics and science curriculum. Organized alphabetically, this illustrated, full-color set includes entries on a range of topics, including: Florence Galileo Heraldry Humanism Medici family Opera Piracy Rhetoric Shakespeare Spanish Armada Leonardo da Vinci And many others Features include a master chronology with topical timelines; a bibliography with age-appropriate further reading sources and a comprehensive index.