Customer Reviews

The CIA World Factbook 2009

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Excellent compilation of concise information about all countries in the world. The book has all kinds of maps: individual countries, continents, time zones, etc. The maps looks clear on my Kindle 2. To maximize map size I found that I could point and click the 5-was controller. That is sometimes helpful when reading small print on a map.

I first purchased the CIA World Factbook 2007 and used it for some time. I do not know what CIA did to the book, but the 2009 version looks clearer and works faster on the Kindle while it contains more updated information.

You know where Somalia is, but maybe your spouse or friends can't peg it on a map of Africa. East? South? Is it near Ethiopia or Kenya, or both? You can google it, but you're on the Internet far too often anyway and two hours later, you will have forgotten why you began surfing.

Solution? Buy The CIA World Factbook 2009, prepared by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and keep it by your favorite family room chair. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the book includes massive amounts of information on every country in the world.

So back to Somalia and the pirate problem. How do you think (and pray) about this? How big is the problem? Well, the latest CIA figures show a population of 9.8 million in a country "slightly smaller than Texas" with 1.1 million IDPs (internally displaced persons). The median age is 17.5 and life expectancy for males is just under 48 years. There's a clue. If you serve with an international relief organization, skip the senior citizen outreach idea.

The CIA defines literacy as the percentage of those 15 and over who can read and write. Female literacy in Somalia is just 25.8 percent; male literacy is 49.7 percent for a total population literacy of 37.8 percent. There are seven airports with paved runways and 60 airports with unpaved runways. (Captain "Sully" recommends the paved runways.)

I bought the big and clunky $60 hardback coffee table book in 2006 and use it frequently, including last week while preparing for an international trip. The 2009 paperback, published in October 2008, has 864 pages. Happy surfing--the old-fashioned way. However, the CIA also publishes this information online. I dare you to check out Somalia (updated this month) and refrain from browsing other countries.

At your next office staff meeting, toss these questions to your team members:
1) Pop quiz! The G-20 countries just met. List all 20 countries.
2) "Good morning, Mr. Phelps. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to halt the piracy problem off the coast of Somalia--and restore growth and development to the country. We have grants available for faith-based organizations in this predominantly Sunni Muslim country. Any ideas? This tape will self-destruct in five seconds."

One of the few international must-have books around. This year's edition is about the same number of pages but probably 50% thicker. That has pros and cons. It doesn't seem as thin or that the ink will rub off on your fingers but it's heftier to hold. Not a big deal, just noticeable. I was happy with some of the accurate updates I saw (no, I didn't read the whole thing).

CIA World Factbook 2009 - Complete Unabridged Edition. Detailed Country Maps and other information. Published by MobileReference (mobi).

This is by far the finest comprehensive and simple to read gathering of world facts that I could find - it is updated yearly. I use the ebook regularly and highly recommend it for someone who needs it for travel, school work, crossword puzzles or just to annoy their family with facts. This is a great resource material to have.

CIA World Factbook 2009 - Complete Unabridged Edition. Detailed Country Maps and other information. Published by MobileReference (mobi).

Definitely a serious and solid reference ebook. The ebook was less biased than what I expected. It does offer a clear insight on countries we just get no information via common media. This ebook delivers lots of information, spanning from a short history and the political situation, to the lots of interesting facts and figures on people and geography.

The reason why I say it is a great resource is that the world factbook is an excellent hard copy source. Whether if it is for recreational purposes, class, or work the factbook keeps coming in handy. It is outstanding to use the information with the knowledge that you are backed up by reliable source, as opposed to the ever-wrong Wikipedia sources. It is worth the money.

What a disappointment! I have a Kindle 2 (the 6" version). This is worthless on it. Absolutely impossible to navigate. When I finally get to a desired map page, I can read the map just fine. But getting there is mind-numbingly slow and awkward.

This book was very informative, more objective, less biased. Cost effective for ordinary users. A good resource for country study.

An excellent guide to the world for students and professionals.
The CIA at its best, available online, but easier to use as a reference with a copy at your desk.