Customer Reviews

The New York Public Library Desk Reference

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

 

 

You can't get a better book than this to page through on a whim. From a list of major composers to the basic rules of mathematics to traveling tips, this fat reference volume has entries that surprise me every time I open it. You want to know the symptoms and treatment of food poisoning? It's in there. The addresses of major U.S. passport agencies? Got it. How about the names and reigns of every Roman Catholic pope? How to set financial goals for retirement? The length of a day on Pluto? You'll find those answers here as well. The sheer amount of trivia is staggering. If you want to know the answer to a question, no matter how ordinary or obscure, look here first.

Dictionary readers will switch their allegiances once they get a hold of this desk reference. All others will refer to it at surprising times. A must have for every reference shelf.

The New York Public Library Desk Reference is a high-density information source brimming with an array of facts, tables, and instructions. The strength of this book is its preponderance of "evergreen" facts such as lists of U. S. presidents, major holidays from around the world, cooking tips, financial and legal information, astronomical events, grammar, etiquette, first aid, tables of weights and measures, and stain removal instructions. Other information, such as URLs for Internet sites, various telephone numbers, and addresses will be outdated

As some have noted, there are some shortcomings and typos, but while puzzling, such flaws should not deter folks who want fast access to data, facts, dates, and schedules from including this volume to their desktop reference set.

This is an excellent resource for a short description of a very wide variety of subjects that one sometimes is curious about. In addition it makes an interesting book to page through as there is information about subjects that almost anyone will find interesting and it will broaden a persons general knowledge.

If you like seaching for information FROM A BOOK (like me), THEN YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS BOOK. If not, BUY ONE NOW!!! I have the previous 3 editions (they are all well worn... the 4TH edition will soon be as well). It is beyond interesting as well as informative. Just open this book - any page and you will be hooked. Ever wonder what different symbols and signs mean? How to write a form letter,or need a directory for useful addresses, phone #'s? THIS IS THE ONE BOOK THAT CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTION (FOR ME, EVERY QUESTION) YOU WILL EVER NEED AND WANT TO KNOW.

IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO READ - THIS IS ONE BOOK YOU WILL GO TO AGAIN AND AGAIN.

This book is a staple text to keep around the house. So much handy information, and interesting information. If you ever found yourself in the social challenge of finding something to talk about, randomly open this book and it will give you several interesting topics on two pages!
Great book for crossword puzzlers too.
Sure, you can google, but interacting with a book is so rich and dynamic.

I find this a very useful reference book, even in the days of the internet. There are 6 major divisions, 26 subdivisions, and too-numerous-to-count sub-subdivisions. Under The Physical World, you can find many topics under Times and Dates, Weights and Measures, The Biological World, The Physical Sciences, and Inventions and Scientific Discoveries. It's a good book to consult for quick information, it has a good index, and it's a great book for browsing.

I hope the 4th edition is better than the 3rd. On page 876, they list the 50 states but only 48 are listed. They left out Wyoming & West Virginia. On page 1037, they mispelled Korean; it was spelled Koren.

It is a book typical for any public entity.It confirm my opinion
library is for librarians not for regular public.
The idea behind is simple book have to be suitable for kids under 12.Sure plenty of pages for sport.
When I visited New York public library and ask for New York phone
books the answer was simple - we dont have it.
But they sure have desk reference.