A Writer's Companion : A Handy Compendium of Useful but Hard-To-Find Information on History, Literature, Art, Science, Travel, Philosophy and Much More [Paperback]

Louis D. Rubin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 1997

From Ancient Gods to Rock Music, this ultimate reference contains everything a writer, editor, or researcher might ever need to look up, plus a whole lot more. Created to address the unique needs of writers, it gathers in one volume a wealth of information not found in almanacs, dictionaries, or encyclopedias. Also perfect for trivia buffs and the curious-minded, who will find endless hours of pleasure browsing its pages.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For years the personal reference shelf has remained fairly static: the dictionary and thesaurus, the atlas and almanac. But Louis Rubin's A Writer's Companion fills perfectly the niche of his own creation; it is a compilation of eclectic and elusive information on everything a writer, editor, teacher, or data-dabbler might want within arm's reach. Dedicated to Charles Dillon Stengel's maxim "You could look it up," Rubin's gift to the reference community features 66 lists and glossaries ranging from travel and transportation to history and politics, architecture and art to religion, literature, and television, plus sports, gastronomy, law, psychoanalysis, and the natural world.

About the Author

Louis D. Rubin has taught creative writing at John Hopkins University, and has written or edited some 45 books. He lives in Chapel Hill, NC.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1008 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (February 5, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062734725
• ISBN-13: 978-0062734723
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,286,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for Jeopardy fans & other curious people, April 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Writer's Companion : A Handy Compendium of Useful but Hard-To-Find Information on History, Literature, Art, Science, Travel, Philosophy and Much More (Paperback)

*A Writer's Companion* works well as a starting point for researching subjects and an ending point for settling arguements. A gift from Rubin to writers, reseachers, teachers and editors, this book keeps true to its name and provides page after page of names, dates and other information you only thought you'd never need to know. The lists are extensive and the subjects are very logically organized. The list of inventions and their dates of conception is a goldmine! *AWC* is a welcome partner to any almanac and a solid investment for anyone who wants a more comprehsive reference (home) library.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Writers Resource, October 3, 2000

By 

Dan Poynter "Author-Publisher-Speaker" (Santa Barbara, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Writer's Companion : A Handy Compendium of Useful but Hard-To-Find Information on History, Literature, Art, Science, Travel, Philosophy and Much More (Paperback)

When you write, you commit history. Others will read your Work in their research and may even quote you. Putting ink on paper is too easy; taking it off is very expensive. You must be correct with your facts, definitions and references.

And, of course, background detail makes your writing more valuable and interesting.

Whether you are researching the names of native American tribes, legal terms, sports, movies, religious calendars, architectural terms, famous hotels or just about anything else, this book will be your constant reference.

As the author of 113 books (including revisions and foreign-language editions) and over 500 magazine articles, I highly recommend this book to writers everywhere. [e-mail].

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great facts; good resource for trivia lovers., August 19, 2001

By 

irmita "irmita" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Writer's Companion : A Handy Compendium of Useful but Hard-To-Find Information on History, Literature, Art, Science, Travel, Philosophy and Much More (Paperback)

If you love to learn interesting facts about a wide variety of topics, including science, film and history, then this will make a unique book to own. I also recommend this for those who love trivia and who watch game shows, for this book contains valuable information on many topics.