Best Reference 2003

America and the world had many reasons to worry in 2003. First we faced the outbreak of a strange, contagious disease dubbed SARS. Although contained within months, the disease spread quickly from Asia to North America, killing hundreds and infecting over 4000 people. Next came the beef scare when Canada, and later the United States, reported its first case of the deadly mad cow disease. This was followed by a major outbreak of bird flu virus in Asia and the first case of avian flu on two different farms in the United States. We also witnessed the enormous popularity of Dr. Atkins, who instructed us to count carbs and eat fat in order to lose it.

When not worrying about health, we worried about our troops in Iraq. The initial euphoria of the mad dash to Baghdad soon wore off when the number of U.S. servicepeople killed and wounded began to escalate. And just when we had stopped worrying about anthrax and put away surgical gloves to handle library mail, ricin, a deadly poison with no known vaccine, was discovered in the Senate Majority Leader's office this February.

The year 2003 certainly had its woes. It was also a year of solid reference sources, particularly in health, which we consulted to quell our concerns about food and disease. Among them are Academic Press's extraordinary Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition and Gale's wonderfully thorough Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. This year's list also reflects the ways we sought to redefine ourselves, whether by confronting issues of isolation and alienation or reestablishing our family values. Sage's Encyclopedia of Community and ABC-CLIO's Encyclopedia of Human Ecology and Religion and American Cultures each offer wonderful insight into those complex matters. We even needed a new etiquette to deal with our newfound relationships and found it in the splendid update of Letitia Baldridge's New Manners for New Times. The 30 print titles on this year's list, from 17 different publishers, including three university presses, cost $13,086, up $1,913 from 2002. However, when we exclude the two titles costing more than $1000, the price drops to $8,791, or an average of $314 a title, up $56 from 2002. This was also a banner year for electronic and Internet reference (see sidebars, p. 38 and 40).

ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary. Univ. of Hawaii. 1422p. ed. by John DeFrancis. ISBN 0-8248-2766-X. $59.

DeFrancis, editor of a series of popular Chinese-language textbooks, recently headed a team of scholars and editors dedicated to developing a Chinese-English dictionary arranged in single-sort alphabetical order. In 1996, they published the first alphabetically arranged Pinyin computerized dictionary with well over 70,000 entries. This outstanding new edition, featuring 196,000 entries, is the most comprehensive one-volume dictionary of Chinese to date.

American Presidential Campaigns and Elections. 3 vols. Sharpe. 1328p. ed. by William G. Shade & Ballard C. Campbell. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-7656-8042-4. $325.

For in-depth information about the "Log-Cabin Campaign" of William Henry Harrison in 1840 or the "chads" controversy of 2000, this attractive encyclopedia is the ideal place for research. As we find ourselves in the midst of another presidential election cycle, this timely resource will help patrons learn about previous elections, major and minor candidates, conventions, key issues, and more. Illustrations, and cartoons abound. (LJ 8/03)

Baldrige, Letitia. Letitia Baldrige's New Manners for New Times: A Complete Guide to Etiquette. Scribner. 736p. ISBN 0-7432-1062-X. $35.

The doyenne of manners updates the rules for the de rigueur and the decent in this thoroughly revised edition of her 1989 Complete Guide to New Manners. Combining correctness, consideration, and common sense in equal measure, Baldrige advises readers on proper ways to approach intricate situations. She addresses same-sex unions, pregnant brides, blended and extended families, and sexual harassment with aplomb.

Conspiracy Theories in American History. 2 vols. ABC-CLIO. 925p. ed. by Peter Knight. illus. index. ISBN 1-57607-812-4. $185.

The editors of this fine reference rightfully assert that "conspiracy theories have played a vital role in shaping the course of American history." A search on Google for "conspiracy," for example, brings back a whopping 3,480,000 hits. The first to cover the subject comprehensively, this work offers a dispassionate look at conspiracy theories, from the Boston Tea Party to September 11, 2001, placing each in the context of its time.

Contemporary Women's Issues Worldwide: An Encyclopedia. 6 vols. Greenwood. 2500p. ed. by Lynn Walter & Amy Lind. illus. index. ISBN 0-313-32787-4. $550.

This authoritative set provides current data on a broad range of women's issues in 130 countries. Organized regionally, it covers education, employment and economics, family and sexuality, health, politics and law, religion and spirituality, and violence. It also features useful lists of suggested readings, videos, web sites, and organizations.

Dictionary of American Family Names. 3 vols. Oxford Univ. 1971p. ed. by Patrick Hanks. ISBN 0-19-508137-4. $348.

This major overhaul of the 1989 Dictionary of Surnames is a real boon for genealogists, family researchers, and the simply curious. Based on an 88.7 million–name telephone database, the work is chock-full of information on the names' frequency of occurrence, their geographic origin, meaning, and possible variations. Unlike similar titles, it analyzes Asian, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern names. (LJ 8/03)

Dictionary of American History. 10 vols. Scribner Reference. 5539p. ed. by Stanley I. Kutler. illus. maps. index. ISBN 0-684-80533-2. $995.

After its publication in 1940, Scribner's five-volume Dictionary of American History became a standard reference for 30 years. In 1976 it was expanded into eight volumes to commemorate the country's bicentennial. With over three million words, this third edition is 20 percent larger than the previous one, featuring for the first time 1200 photos and 252 maps. A remarkable reference, far more balanced in coverage than its predecessor. (LJ 5/15/03)

Encyclopedia of Advertising. 3 vols. Fitzroy Dearborn. 1873p. ed. by John McDonough & Museum of Broadcast Communications. illus. index. ISBN 1-57958-172-2. $385.

Forming the third leg in the model of the modern consumer economy, along with manufacturing and sales, advertising has not been well served with reference sources. With 600 entries and almost as many illustrations, this excellent encyclopedia fills a significant gap, featuring profiles of leading ad agencies, descriptions of major campaigns, and biographies of influential people.

Encyclopedia of American History. 11 vols. Facts On File. 4686p. ed. by Gary B. Nash. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8160-4371-X. $935.

Designed as a handy reference to important individuals, events, and topics in U.S. history, this set can be effectively used by high school as well as college students. Designed chronologically and according to the National Standards for U.S. History—developed by editor Nash and others to better the ways children are taught U.S. history—it contains 3500 entries and 950 illustrations. Unlike the Dictionary of American History (above), it includes biographical entries.

Encyclopedia of Community. 4 vols. Sage. 1839p. ed. by Karen Christensen & David Levinson. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-7619-2598-8. $595.

In early times as well as recently, community was defined by geographic place or by family relationships. Today's mobile populations and broken families are challenging people to reassess their connectedness to one another. In this exhaustive study, a roster of scholars discuss community in all its forms. In 500 articles and over 300 sidebars, they explore concepts, prominent people, and topics related to communal behavior. (LJ 11/15/03)

Encyclopedia of Cuba: People, History, Culture. 2 vols. Greenwood. 760p. ed. by Luis Martínez-Fernández & others. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57356-334-X. $175.

Historian Martínez-Fernández has joined forces with publishing consultant Luis González, librarian D.H. Figueredo, historian Louis A. Pérez Jr., and a cast of 81 contributors to produce a balanced, all-encompassing reference on an island nation whose history and culture are deeply intertwined with our own. From the mambo and the cha-cha-cha to Celia Cruz and Gloria Estefan, the set covers just about everything there is to know about Cuba, in 700 entries.

Encyclopedia of Education. 2d ed. 8 vols. Gale. 3357p. ed. by James W. Guthrie. index. ISBN 0-02-865594-X. $850.

This revision of an encyclopedia first published in 1971 reflects the dramatic changes that have occurred in the last three decades, such as the end of the Cold War and the advent of the Internet. Although focused on U.S. practices, it provides a fair coverage of international issues. With 850 signed articles, a few useful appendixes, and a strong subject index, it is likely to become the new standard reference on education. (LJ 5/1/03)

Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. 3 vols. Gale. 2004p. ed. by Solomon H. Katz. illus. maps. index. ISBN 0-684-80568-5. $395.

Winner of the Dartmouth Medal, this impeccable reference explores food across times and cultures. A diverse team of agronomists, microbiologists, anthropologists, and corporate spokespeople has contributed entries ranging over country and religion to food types and harvesting and preparation methods. A "Systematic Outline," "Directory of Contributors," and index make it possible for searchers to find everything from Jell-O™ to pigweed. (LJ 4/15/03)

Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 2d ed. 10 vols. Academic. 6601p. ed. by Benjamin Caballero. illus. index. ISBN 0-12-227055-X. $2900.

This second edition of an encyclopedia first published a decade ago to critical acclaim has been expanded by two volumes and updated to cover the complex and evolving subject of food science and nutrition. Written by almost a thousand international scientists, it offers an astounding number of articles on topics as diverse as apricots, behavioral effects of diet, ice cream, slimming, vodka, and zinc.

The Encyclopedia of Human Ecology. 2 vols. ABC-CLIO. 760p. ed. by Julia R. Miller. illus. index. ISBN 1-57607-852-3. $255.

Tracing human ecology back to government-mandated home economics programs of the 1890s, this work emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach to the study of the human condition—an approach that involves the myriad ways humans interact with each other and their environments. Written by experts in public health, biology, sociology, and education, the 250-plus signed articles range in topic from "Children of Alcoholics" to "Indoor Air Pollution."

Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic. 1266p. ed. by Vincent H. Resh & Ring T. Carde. illus. index. ISBN 0-12-586990-8. $99.95.

This hefty volume collects the latest on the largest group of the world's known living species. Written by an international team of experts, the 271 articles cover the full spectrum of entomology, providing specialists as well as generalists with data far more thorough than those in identification guides. The awareness of the pivotal role insects play in the survival of all life forms make this an essential acquisition. (LJ 8/03)

The Encyclopedia of Ireland. Yale Univ. 1200p. ed. by Brian Lalor. illus. maps. index. ISBN 0-300-09442-6. $65.

This beautifully produced paean to the land of "saints and scholars" appears at a time when there is a renewed interest in things Irish. Accessible, comprehensive, and one of the first to treat both parts of the country, the volume features a foreword by Frank McCourt, more than 5000 alphabetical entries (e.g., "Riverdance"), along with 700 photos, maps, and subject and name indexes.

Encyclopedia of National Anthems. Scarecrow. 704p. ed. by Xing Hang. ISBN 0-8108-4847-3. $125.

Whether searching for an anthem to play for a visiting international delegation or looking for the music for the Belizean National Anthem for a model UN Assembly, this title is the best place to start. Eastern studies scholar Xing has produced an up-to-date, hands-on reference to national anthems of 192 sovereign nations, providing for each the history behind the writing, the lyrics in the original language, an English translation, and sheet music for piano.

Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment 1670– 1815. 4 vols. Oxford Univ. 1847p. ed. by Alan Charles Kors. illus. index. ISBN 0-19-510430-7. $495.

The first major English-language reference on the Enlightenment, this authoritative resource, with its 700 articles, coincides with a spate of recent scholarship of this pivotal era. Editor Kors has wisely chosen the inclusion of a broad time frame as well as a wider geographic scope (including Eastern Europe and the Americas), ultimately adding to the substantiality of the work. (LJ 2/15/03)

Encyclopedia of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Facts On File. 438p. ed. by Elin Woodger & Brandon Toropov. illus. maps. index. ISBN 0-8160-4781-2. $65.

The historic meeting of explorers Clark and Lewis was re-created last year on Louisville's waterfront. With 30 million people expected to visit expedition landmarks over the next three years, the need for a reference on the subject is warranted. This copiously illustrated A–Z work describes virtually every aspect of the trek in 350 entries—from new animals encountered and meetings with Native Americans to illnesses and injuries sustained and mountains crossed. (LJ 12/03)

Ernst, Carl H. & Evelyn M. Ernst. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian. 668p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-58834-019-8. $70.

This current and comprehensive volume contains all the information currently available on the 131 species of snakes living in North America. In addition to citing their own extensive field studies, the authors make frequent reference to previous fieldwork, pointing out areas where further study is needed. Entries include color photos taken in situ, life cycle, and identification keys.

Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. 2 vols. Timber Pr. ed. by Sean Hogan. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 1-88192-538-1. $99.95 with CD-ROM.

Although gardening books abound, none matches this work's range of detail. Compiled by specialists who garden in diverse parts of the country, this work is truly North American in origin. Arranged alphabetically by Latin name, entries provide information about the origin, cultivation tips, and commonly found varieties and hybrids and are accompanied by color photos. The CD-ROM allows gardeners to choose plants by site, size, season of interest, and form. (LJ 1/04)

Harris, Marjorie. Botanica North America. HarperCollins. 665p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-06-270231-9. $59.95.

From Canada's foremost gardening writer comes this enthralling look at our native flora. Arranged by broad geographic areas, entries explore the taxonomy, ethnobotany, and natural history of each species. Covering plants found before 1450 C.E., the text is enhanced by quotes from pioneer planters like the Bartrams. The last chapter discusses the earliest and most widely cultivated crops such as corn, squash, and beans. (LJ 2/1/04)

Literature of Travel and Exploration: An Encyclopedia. 3 vols. Fitzroy Dearborn. 1479p ed. by Jennifer Speake. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57958-247-8. $250.

This all-embracing encyclopedia offers 600 entries on everything related to the subject of travel: countries and regions; explorers like, for example, Ibn Khaldun (14th-century North African traveler) and John Lloyd Stephens (19th-century American who rediscovered Maya ruins in Yucatan); methods of transportation; types of journeys; themes like utopias and dystopias; and travel genres like diaries and guidebooks. (LJ 12/03)

Mancing, Howard. The Cervantes Encyclopedia. 2 vols. Greenwood. 864p. index. ISBN 0-313-30695-8. $149.95.

So influential was the theme of Cervantes's Don Quixote that the word quixotic (idealistic), without regard to practicality, has derived from it. The second best-selling book in history, it certainly warrants this wonderfully detailed encyclopedia. Extending far beyond Don Quixote, however, it covers all of the author's known work, providing brief commentaries, plot summaries, descriptions of the characters, and information on the history and places mentioned in his works.

Nelson, Lyle Emerson. American Presidents. 3 vols. Sharpe. 734p. illus. index. ISBN 0-7656-8046-7. $225.

In this entertaining book, historian Nelson places the lives of all 42 presidents in historical context to show how they overlapped, intersected, and influenced each other. Take 1789, for example. While George Washington was being inaugurated as our first president and John Adams as our first vice president, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison joined the cabinet, James Monroe was working as a lawyer in Charlottesville, VA, and John Quincy Adams was studying law in Newburyport, MA. (LJ 2/1/04)

New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2d ed. 15 vols. Gale. 12,000p. ed. by Bernard L. Marthaler. illus. index. ISBN 0-7876-4004-2. $1395.

This monumental work, originally published in 1967 and now considerably updated to address the changes mandated by Vatican II, is the definitive source for information on Catholicism, particularly as practiced in the United States. Tracing the church's position from earliest thought up to the present, the entries define such issues as canon law, abortion, ethics, and relations with other religions. Authoritative, accessible, and sturdily bound. (LJ 12/02)

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic History. 5 vols. Oxford Univ. 2730p. ed. by Joel Mokyr. illus. index. ISBN 0-19-510507-9. $695.

Broadly defining economics as "all the material aspects of human existence," editor Mokyr has gathered over 900 contributions from 800 scholars to explore key concepts of economics, firms and individuals, institutions, countries, and cities. Although scholarly in tone, this volume is an excellent starting point for those wishing to trace ideas and industries across chronological boundaries. (LJ 12/03)

Parker, Steve. Dinosaurus: The Complete Guide to Dinosaurs. Firefly. 448p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 1-55297-772-2. $49.95.

While most dinosaurs are from North America or Mongolia in Asia, recent finds have occurred from Alaska to Antarctica. Our perception of dinosaurs has also been altered with finds suggesting some had feathers, may have flown, and could have been warm-blooded. With the help of computer simulations, this visually enticing reference provides realistic illustrations of dinosaurs. A "life to scale chart" contrasting dinosaurs with a six-foot human appears for each entry.

Religion and American Cultures: An Encyclopedia of Traditions, Diversity and Popular Expressions. 3 vols. ABC-CLIO. 1046p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57607-238-X. $285.

In an era when spirituality is not defined by church attendance, this resource explores the various ways Americans approach religion. Its first volume features chapters on ethnic groups and sectarian beliefs, the second comprises essay entries on distinct practices, and the third collects primary documents. Cotton Mather, Shirley MacLaine, and Elijah Muhammad are represented, along with such pivotal documents as The Maryland Toleration Act and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.