Top 10 of Everything 2002 [Hardcover]

Russell Ash (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789480425 | ISBN-13: 978-0789480422 | Publication Date: September 1, 2001 | Edition: 1st

The worst storms, the richest rulers, the fastest cars, the highest jumps, the deadliest snakes, the brightest stars, the hottest hits. A great new 2002 edition of the best-selling guide to the top "pick-of-the-lists" and record breakers-completely revised and updated. Outstanding coverage of sports, music, film, and television. Over 1,000 Top 10 lists based on the latest research by leading experts. Bursting with astounding, thought-provoking and hilarious facts on every subject under the sun. A treat for trivia lovers and statistics buffs and an indispensable general knowledge guide for all the family.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up-Ash has hit on a winning formula. He has managed to create a volume as informative as an almanac and as appealing as the ever-popular Guinness World Record books. The layout is attractive and colorful photographs abound. Major headings covering such topics as "Life on Earth," "Commerce & Industry," "Culture & Learning," and "Stage & Screen" are packed with current statistics and facts. Historical information is provided in many of the "first" lists, e.g., "First Countries to Give Women the Vote." The section on transportation has several gruesome statistics including "The 10 Worst Motor Vehicle and Road Disasters." This book is sure to get lots of browsing attention and has much supplemental information for report writers. Libraries will want to update their earlier editions.
Laura Younkin, Ballard High School, Louisville, KY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Russell Ash is the uncontested king of lists. Not simply a career, listmaking is his legend, facts his friends, statistics his sanctuary, trivia his triumph. He was descended from a family of craftsmen who were London goldsmiths and silversmiths for several generations since the 17th century -- the most notable being Claudius Ash (1792-1854), one of the principal inventors of false teeth. His father was a bookbinder at the British Museum. Born in 1946, educated at Bedford Modern School, Mr. Ash attended Durham University where he earned a Joint Honours BA in Anthropology and Geology. Russell Ash began his career in publishing as a picture researcher in 1967; he moved on in 1973 to establish his own publishing company, Ash & Grant, and was a director of Weidenfeld & Nicholson and Pavilion Books. Mr. Ash has spent most of the past 30 years as a freelance writer and contributor to almost 100 non-fiction titles on such subjects as art (particularly the Impressionists and other late nineteenth-century painters), animals real and fictitious (he is the official "biographer" of Paddington Bear), and humor. He has compiled various award-winning popular reference titles, including the perennial bestselling Top Ten of Everything, which has also inspired a weekly network children's television series in the UK (in which he appears). He has also written Incredible Comparisons, which features a variety of fascinating objects side by side with accompanying statistics. The World in One Day is his 1997 bestseller for children, chronicling all the facts about daily life. His latest children's book, Factastic Millennium Facts, is packed with intriguing information and entertaining anecdotes covering the key worldwide political, social , and cultural events of the last 1,000 years. Russell Ash is currently an author, occasional journalist, and packager of books in the UK and US. He lives in a large Victorian house (which he is restoring) in Sussex, England with his wife, daughter, and two sons. He has recently returned to the family tradition by learning the craft of silversmithing.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789480425
• ISBN-13: 978-0789480422
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,279,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating light reading, January 4, 2002

By 

Neil Wick (Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Top 10 of Everything 2002 (Paperback)

Although it can be used as a reference book to look things up, it's the type of book that demands browsing. Just open it up on any random page and you'll be hooked. Lots of lists compare various countries of the world, but this is the U.S. edition which contains many U.S.-specific lists where U.K. lists appear in the British edition. I have the Canadian edition myself, which is different again.

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining but how true?, July 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Top 10 of Everything 2002 (Paperback)

Bought this book beacuse it seemed interesting and it has since inspired some good conversations. BUT and its a big one, the list seem to hold little merit and often make little sense. A list on one page about Libraries that are largest(public or private? didnt specify) didnt match up with the list on the following page about Private libraries that were largest even though there was over lap. I was disappointed and as i went along i felt like some of the lists were fabricated at best.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, January 14, 2002

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Top 10 of Everything 2002 (Paperback)

If you love books, this one had the top 10 listings for libraries in the world and for the best selling books and literary awards. Like J.K. Rowling and Jack Canfield took up all of the top Children's book spots for the top 10 Children's Books in 2000.

Which made me think there must be a real spiritual hunger and also a need to escape reality. The Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul I, II and II all made the list. Of course I don't keep up with these sorts of things on a consistent basis, so a book is always helpful.

The "Who wants to be a Millionaire" board game also made the top of the board games list. That is one fun game! If you have a favorite actor, you can look up all their films and find out the year they were made.

There are quite a few quiz questions that have multiple choice answers. The "Did You Know?" entries focus on offbeat sidelights on the subjects being discussed.

The Contents Include:

The Universe & The Earth -stars, islands, weather, natural disasters, etc.

Life on Earth - animals and nature

The Human World - human body, health, lifestyle, marriage and divorce, names, The Nobel prize, criminal records, military matters, religions

Town & Country - populations, world cities, states of the US, tallest buildings, bridges

Culture & Learning - word power, children at school, higher education, libraries, book records, literary awards, the press, toys & games, art on show, art on sale, 20th century artists, women artists, objects of desire

Music & Musicians - popular songs, chart hits, chart toppers, singles, hit albums, female singers, all-time greats, top of the pops, music genres, gold and platinum disks, classical and opera.

Stage & Screen - Film hits, film genres, Oscar-winning films, stars, leading ladies, directors & writers, studios, animation, radio, top TV, top video

Commerce & Industry - Wealth of Nations, workers of the world, companies, advertising, retail, natural resources, energy, environment, science, invention, communication, The World Wide Web, Hazards, Industrial Disasters, food, sweet dreams, beverages

On the Move - Speed records, cars, road transport, road accidents, rail transport, water transport, air records, air transport, world tourism

The Sports World - summer Olympics, winter Olympics, football facts, athletic achievements, basketball bests, combat sports, baseball teams, baseball stars, International soccer, free wheelers, racing, golfing greats, horse racing, hockey highlights, what a racket, water sports, winter sports, sports trivia

Beautiful layout, plenty of pictures and lots of fun!

~The Rebecca Review