The Chambers Encyclopedia [Hardcover]

Editors of Chambers (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Encyclopedia | Publication Date: October 15, 2001

Accurate and up-to-date, this all new single-volume encyclopedia takes an innovative approach to the presentation of information. Material is organized by subject into fourteen major thematic sections, and is attractively presented using diagrams, tables, lists, maps and graphics as well as concise, easy-to-read text. An indispensable and wide-ranging source of data, The Chambers Encyclopedia is ideal for use as a comprehensive and practical reference, whether in the home, the office, at school, or in the library. Special Features: Over 200,000 facts and figures arranged in tables, diagrams and lists, and over 4,500 entries. Hundreds of illustrations, line drawings and diagrams. Practical and easy to use. Fully indexed. Unique thematic presentation of information with fourteen major sections covering: Space; Earth; Climate and Environment; Nations of the World; Social Structure; History; Time; Natural History; Human Body, Health and Nutrition; Communication; Science and Technology; Arts and Culture; Sport and Games; Thought and Belief. This is the ideal book for you if: You want information, facts and figures arranged by subject You want accurate, up-to-date information You want a comprehensive single-volume family reference source.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The subgenre of one-volume encyclopedias can be further divided into those over 1000 pages (e.g., works published by Random House and Columbia) and those under 1000 pages, such as this volume and The Cambridge Factfinder (LJ 6/1/94). Graphically appealing and offering easy-to-read type, the Chambers contains 14 thematic sections boasting over 200,000 facts and figures and is particularly informative in its use of certain types of illustrations, including sign language, semaphore, and the layout of an orchestra. Although The Cambridge Factfinder doesn't cover those topics and is not color illustrated, much of the material is similar. Most significantly, the Factfinder is less than half the price. However, neither of these British works provides detailed information on the individual states in the United States. Thus, although The World Almanac does not offer the often hard-to-find illustrations present in these encyclopedias, it does maintain its unique one-volume excellence and is preferred for U.S. libraries. Libraries with other one-volume encyclopedias may not find purchasing the Chambers necessary. Donald Altschiller, Boston Univ. Libs.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

This internationally renowned reference publisher continues its celebrated tradition of excellence into the present day with such informative and authoritative works as the Chambers Crossword Dictionary, Chambers Encyclopedia, Chambers Biographical Dictionary and the all-new Chambers Dictionary of Quotations.

Chambers is based in Edinburgh, as it always has been, and employs editors with a wide range of skills on dictionaries and other titles for a variety of users, including students and teachers of English as a foreign or second language. As well as the core business of publishing dictionaries and thesauruses, Chambers also publishes a range of titles on grammar and usage, single-volume reference titles on science, history, biography and quotations, as well as titles for Scrabble® and crosswords.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 960 pages
• Publisher: Chambers (October 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0550130012
• ISBN-13: 978-0550130013
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,558,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hey look, an encyclopedia in book form..., July 21, 2008

By 

Frater J (IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chambers Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

I just bought this book today at a bookstore. It was on clearance for $7.99.

This book is pretty hefty, but nowhere near the size of the encyclopedias we all remember in the libraries at school, as it is a single volume. This volume has a wide variety of facts and figures from the beginning, which as information on space (things like constellations and shuttle launch dates), on to geology, information on the countries of the world, famous actors, proverbs, rules of sports games, etc.

The book contains a large number of charts, lists, graphs, and small dictionary sized definitions. Not very many large detailed entries that one would expect in an encyclopedia.

This would be an ideal thing to study if one were trying to practice for a scholastic bowl or a trivia contest. Unfortunately that's about the extent of its usefulness.

With the advent of computers, and the internet in particular, the hardbound giant shelf-breaking books of strewn together information are becomming less important. There is nothing in here that cannot be found in seconds with the cunning use of a search engine (although that is a common thread amongst almost all reference books these days).

But unfortunately this book doesn't have anything special to make it worth buying. The "encyclopedia of gemstones" or something like that is going to appeal to a certain type, due to the fact that it is highly specialized, and would be consulted for a specific purpose. That "purpose" is lost here. Because this encyclopedia is like a jack of all trades, and a master of none. It will serve little purpose other than as a line in a "works cited" page for students to meet the minimum number of references used in a Jr. High essay.

While I think this book may come in handy one day during a power outage if I need to find a conversion chart, that's about it. Worth the 8 bucks on the clearance rack at the bookstore. Not worth the 48 listed on the dust jacket.