Book Description
Without math, how would romance survive? Where would we be without pluses and minuses? Without public opinion and box office tallies? Without measuring cups, calorie counters, or computer technology? More than just a class you tried to avoid, math defines modern life. Around the home, business applications, even theoretical physics…. Everyone uses it, just do the math. Math is too complicated. Math is too hard. Not anymore. The Handy Math Answer Book eliminates the instant headache and helps the many math- challenged among us better understand and enjoy the magic of numbers. You can count on it. From modern-day challenges such as balancing a checkbook, following the stock market, buying a home, and figuring out credit card finance charges to appreciating historical developments like the use of algebra by Mesopotamian mathematicians, The Handy Math Answer Book addresses more than 1,000 questions relating to mathematics. Handy Math provides a complete overview, beginning with the early history—Pythagoras and "the music of the spheres," Archimedes and his “Eureka!” moment in the bathtub, and how some of the first calendars were invented. Catch yourself falling for the gravity of Newton and winding your way around modern-day string theory. Refresh yourself on the basics and fundamentals of algebra, calculus, geometry (including why the word derived from “earth measuring”), and trigonometry. Organized in sixteen chapters that cluster similar topics in an easily accessible format, Handy Math provides clear and concise explanations to paradoxes, theories, fundamentals of geometry, and other branches of mathematics, plus the numbers we see daily in statistics, financial and market reports, weather forecasts, real estate evaluations, games, and measurements of all kinds. Handy Math’s straightforward language is supported by more than 200 charts, graphs, illustrations, and photographs.
Book Description
Commandeer the family armchair and prepare for an incredibly cheap yet oddly fulfilling world tour with The Handy Geography Answer Book. Handy Geography answers 1,000 common and intriguing questions about the natural features of the world and the ever-changing mark humans make on our planet. It provides answers to such questions as, Who owns the oceans? Which state has the most lakes? Who was the explorer honored as the Grand Imperial Eunuch (funny how these things never translate directly) by the Emperor of China? And how did a lake kill more than 2,000 people? Was revenge the motive? With up-to-date maps and information on nations and states, Handy Geography is the source to turn to when having the "Name That African Country" contest at the water cooler. And kids saddled with geography homework or who just want to know more about the world have a great source to turn to, because it's written by a real geography teacher, only he's not boring. Really. Skillfully combining entertainment and information, Handy Geography covers common trivia questions---highest, tallest, deepest, hottest, shortest, longest, oldest, newest, and, of course, most improved. It also explores the impact of terrain on the location of countries and cities and geography's influence on language, religion, architecture, migration, and population. Feel the excitement.
Customer Reviews:
The Handiest of Handy Books.......2007-02-24
I'll tell you one thing for sure, this here book is handy. Matthew Rosenberg's "The Handy Geography Answer Book," gets near daily use in our household. Let me tell you why. Some people think "bathroom readers" are socially on the borderline of being trailer park chic. I for one disagree.
We use "The Handy Geography Answer Book," for all sorts of purposes around our house but most of the time it sits on top of the throne de porcelain as an entertaining and engaging piece of text. It comes in handy then as iffin' it wasn't there...one would spend a good deal of one's day just sitting and staring at a gold macrame moonlight gold shimmer bathroom wall (hey...I didn't paint the bathroom mind you...that was the wife's doings). So every time I ups and decides to drop a load off at Uncle Sam's if you know what I mean, I read Rosenberg's Geography book. And boy howdy, it sure makes the time pass fast.
Here's some tasty tidbits from the book de la commode garnishment. What is the smoggiest city in the world? I'll just tell you it sure ain't Boise, Idaho. I ain't provided you the answers here mind you...that'd be considered spoiling the punch line. These here's just teasers. If you want to know the answers...well you'll just have to up and buy it on Amazon your own darn self. I tell you. You won't be sorry you did it neither. You'll find some entertaining moments as you are downloading a file (if you know what I mean). What is the highest point east of the Mississippi? Well who knows and who cares? It's east of the Mississippi for heaven's sake. Who'd want to visit there much less leave in those god forsaken parts? What is the Forbidden City? This answer's kinda surprising to me as I always thunk it was Las Vegas out there in the desert in Nevada ways. Around these parts (or at least my domicile) it's always been called the forbidden city. Well at least by the missus you see. After that infamous 1987 business trip, any future visits to that there neon palace of a place have been strictly forbidden for yours truly.
But don't just take my word for it. What are you waiting for? Go get this here book from Amazon. Place it on top of your shi eittter and go to town. If your guest think it's a little too "trash" if you know what I mean...well screw 'em...they probably shouldn't be visiting your house anywho with that kind of uppity attitude. ...mmw
Excellent resource for students in the National Geo Bee.......2006-03-12
Easy to read, will keep a student's interest, relevant material. Most of Rosenberg's books are ideal for Geo Bee competitors. I've coached Geo Bee teams for five years now, and I always recommend this book to students and parents. Good as a teacher's resource too.
**Be careful about buying used copies of this book. Two of my students used this option to save a few bucks, thinking they were getting to version pictured (red cover) and ended up with 1998 versions of the book, which has outdated population and other relevant info (yellow cover).
I learned more from this book.........2005-11-30
then 4 years of high school, college and graduate school put together in a fun and concise way...
loved it..
Great Info, Great Format, Fun to Read!!!!! Enjoy!!!.......2004-08-31
I can't say enough good things about this book. I'm not a Geography Bee competitor like some of the reviewers here. I'm just a guy who loves trivia and I had a great time reading this book.
There is a newer Hardcover which was just released by B&N. It's the same content by and large, just a few editorial corrections.
The quality of printing is still somewhat low. But the price point of the book is a lot less. For those who love trivia, this book is priced right! Go looking for it.
That being said, this book is great because it has a lot of information and it's organized well. The question format is great because it helps you digest the info. "What is the Longest River?" is easier to swallow than, "The Nile is over 4100 miles long." All the same info is in there, it's just presented really well.
One other small criticism I have of this book is that unlike many other trivia books this one doesn't list line by line sources for it's info. That can sometimes be important. Granted, the vast majority of Geography trivia is static so this is not too big of an issue.
All in all, this is a great read. Enjoy!
This book is really helpful for Geography Bee hopefuls.......2003-05-26
I give this book a 5-star rating because it really kept me intrigued. On a campout, i stayed up and continued reading it by moonlight. If you are a person looking for assistance in the National Geography Book, this is an excellent book. A whole bunch of questions appeared on my written state qualification exam (which i passed). Questions that helped included "What is Pinyin?" "What is Manifest Destiny" "What are the horse latitudes?". A lot of the questions appeared at the state bee, but, unfortunately, i didn't get any of them! But still, this is a must have and therefore gets my 5-star rating!
Product Description
Gives answers to just about every question a child can ask a parent. Great resource book for Mom, Dad or even a teacher.
Book Description
Who would have guessed that physics would become the hottest topic on Broadway? Handy Physics is just the book for anyone trying to get a handle on what is a difficult but extremely trendy science and is sure to help readers become more socially successful. What, really, does E=MC2 mean? More fun than a slide rule, Handy Physics tackles the big issues: Gravity. Magnetism. Matter. Sound. Light. And the smaller topics, like why do cats always land on their feet? Why don't birds or squirrels on power lines get electrocuted? Only Handy Physics combines elementary theory with heartwarming tales of small animals. For everyone who ever wondered how a light bulb works, The Handy Physics Answer Book examines more than 825 basic questions about physics and physicists, ranging from everyday life applications to the latest explorations in subatomic physics. The Handy Physics Answer Book disposes with the mathematical explanations and deep coma often associated with physics and instead takes a more conceptual approach – written in everyday English by yet another teacher. Other great stuff includes a list of the Nobel Prize winners in physics and suggestions for further reading. Ideal for students, science readers, theatergoers, and anyone reckoning with the essential questions about the universe we dwell within, Handy Physics is a friendly guide to the most significant scientific theories and discoveries of our time. And, we promise, no chalkboards.
Customer Reviews:
Embarrassing Errors.......2007-07-04
This book is good for a young kid who wants to understand basic physics. However, this book contains some embarrassing errors. In the nuclear weapons section, the authors describes the first atomic bomb (the one that was detonated over Hiroshima) as "Fat Man" and the 2nd atomic bomb (another one that was dropped to Nagasaki) as "Little Boy." The author got it wrong. The truth is the 1st atomic bomb was "Little Boy" and the 2nd one "Fat Man."
I wonder how many kids who read this book later somehow found the author's mistake.
I just hope that other sections don't contain errors.
This is one of the most helpful science books that I have ever read!.......2005-09-15
I am a high school student interested in pursuing physics as a career. Since I participate in many clubs and classes regarding science, I find myself needing to do a lot of studying. However, after reading this book, I realized that I had been able to cover enough information to impress my team mates and keep my A in physics! This book covers everything: from motion and forces to sound, history to light, modern physics to magnetism, and heat to electricity. It is easy to read and written as though it is a friend who is simply informing you, not a genius who's lecturing you! Perfect for the beginning student interested in learning about the world around them, or even the intermediate or advanced one who is looking for some interesting facts and a handy reference guide. I recommend this book 100%!
General Physics Questions & Answers.......2005-05-08
This book has the answers to many questions that you or your family may have about physics. Even if you do not have a specific question, just reading the book is both fun and educational. For example:
Why is the Earth magnetized?
What is the tallest building in the world?
What do AM and FM mean and how do they differ?
What is the longest bridge in the world?
How does the human eye see?
OK for Children.......2003-06-18
This book might serve the need of elementary school children, but anyone with an introduction to physics will find the book to be of little use. There are hundreds of short (one paragraph) responses to all sorts of questions, some of them not much related to physics. At times the author wants to predict the future: What does the future hold for fusion? At times the author answers a question other than the one asked: Why do monkeys have tails? (The response is on the physical function of tails.)
Also there is little order to the text other than broad chapter headings. So if you have a question, the book provides little help in finding the answer.
Overall, a weak piece of bathroom reading.
Handy. Physics. Answers........2002-05-23
What do Newton, Einstein, and "a typical kindergartner have in common? Aside from playing with their food and bad hair, they demonstrate a unique ability to ask deceptively simple questions..."
If you are wondering how cosmic inflation theory works, read cosmologist George Smoot's "Wrinkles in Time." If you are wondering about the weakness of perturbation theories or the strength of superstring theory, read theoretical physicist Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe." If you want to know what quantum tunneling is, look it up in physicist John Gribbins' "Q is for Quantum." But --
If your "how does that work" questions are less abstract, perhaps like: why is the doorknob opposite the hinges on a door (?) or why is the sky blue (?) or -- for something slightly more advanced -- how might an electron be pushed as close as possible to light-speed (?), then pick up a copy of Gundersen's "Handy Physics Answer Book." A wonderful resource, the book is exactly what the title suggests. Interesting `everyday' questions are posed, the kind of questions a young child might ask, but which most adults would struggle to answer. The answers follow, always in clear and concise language. It will be money well spent, Gundersen, a high school physics teacher, covers a lot of ground, and answers a lot of questions.
Book Description
Well written at a level that is enjoyable to everyone. I highly recommend this book to any lay reader, weather watcher or atmospheric professional. – The Weather Doctor. Everyone has something to say about the weather. Former NASA researcher and professional meteorologist Dr. Walter A. Lyons and his Handy Weather Answer Book® just have more to say than most. As one reader nearly exclaimed, Weather has never been more exciting. Where else can you find the answer to the existential question: Do mobile homes attract tornadoes? Find the answer in the chapter aptly named, Tornadoes, 25 pages on hot and bothered air. From cloud formations to rainbow development, Handy Weather takes on the controversial climate issues of the day and provides the weather aficionado as well as the more casual enthusiast with a cornucopia of weather facts and trivia, a good thing given the title and intent. More than 1,000 questions are expertly and clearly answered by Dr. Walt as he covers the greenhouse effect and global warming, smog and acid rain, earthquakes and volcanoes, thunder and lightning, forecasting and careers in meteorology, thunderstorms and winter blasts, weather's effect on the human body, droughts and flash floods, hurricanes and tropical storms, and much, much more, plus fascinating weather-related phenomena like El Niño, Aurora Borealis, and St. Elmo's Fire. A great book for a rainy day.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2005-02-08
There are very few weather books oriented to people older than 12. This is one that is and has a lot of good information. It is in a question and answer format, but is informative and very quick to read. Definitely recommended for all your questions related to weather.
Fun read when you are under the 'weather'! ;-).......2002-04-28
"The Handy Weather Answer Book" by Dr. Walter Lyons is a must-read for anyone interested in something that binds us all, weather, or course!
Meteorology was a part of my geology curriculum at the university level. However, there is information provided in this book that you're not likely to get in an institution of higher learning, such as: "Who is likely to be killed by severe weather-related events?"; "Has ice ever reached the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River?"; "What is a hypercane?"; "What is a glory?"; "Is human breath destroying the pyramids?"; "What do lake breezes have to do with spiders?"; "What is the driest continent?" (this one surprised me!)
The book is filled with trivia questions, but it is also filled with information that might even help save your life as you'll be better prepared with your newfound knowledge.
The craftsmanship of the book is average as far as paperbacks are concerned as it is somewhat flimsy with average paper and printing. However, the information easily outweighs the physical quality. It's a great book for all ages. Very simple to understand and it gets straight to the point. Excellent read!
Great for beginners!.......2001-12-28
Lyon's books presents readers with a simple, readable format with comprehensive and concise answers to every type of weather-related question available. Great for the beginner weather [person]. The more experienced weather watcher may want to find a more detailed explaination for some answers, though. Lyon's section on sprites is a great plus as it contains much information which is not surprising as he is an expert on sprites. Recommended.
A must-have for the weather fan.......2001-07-22
"The Handy Weather Answer Book" is a great weather read and reference guide. The entire book is written in question-answer format, and it's very good if you want to find a quick, simple, and easy-to-read answer. It gives specific definitions of commonly used weather terms and also some other terms that are not heard as often. There is also a very detailed index so it's fairly simple to find the question you're looking for. The book is divided into sections, such as "Tornadoes" and "Hurricanes", etc. This book is great to boost an interest in Meteorology. I'd definitely recommend it!
compelling read.......2000-04-01
This book grabs you from the first word and doesn't let go! Weather has never been more exciting! No matter who you are, layman or climatologist, this is reading entertainment.
Customer Reviews:
Incredible amount of breadth, really good degree of depth.......2003-09-08
This book has some of everything and I mean in terms of all sorts of insects and all sorts of aspects of their lives. It talks to the different orders of insects, fosilized insects, their bodies, inside and out, diversity, mating, metomorphosis, caring for offspring, escaping from predators, etc etc. The text is set up such that a question is posed (e.g. How fast can insects run?) and then there is an anwer (e.g. One of the fastest running insects is the American cockroach.......which has been clocked at running at a rate of about 32 inches per second or 1.8 miles per hour......) Lots of really fun infomation and it just seems to cover everything - some parts are more technical that others. Great pictures/photographs as well.
All your bug questions answered.......2000-09-29
I really enjoyed this book. It has a very wide scope, and is broken down into these sections: 1)bug basics 2)bugs that are not insects 3)fossilized insects 4)insect bodies; the outside 5)insect bodies; the inside 6)insect diversity 6)growth and metamorphosis 7)finding a mate & mating 8)caring for offspring 9)insect behavior 10)social insects 11)eaters of insects 12)escaping from predators 13)beneficial insects 14)insects that people eat 15)pest insects 16)contolling pests 17)the downside of insecticides 18)more interesting insect info I discovered many answers to questions I had wondered about for years: "do insects feel pain?" "how is the silkworm cocoon coverted to silk fiber?" "how do insects survive the winter?" "is there any concrete evidence that large eyespots frighten birds?" "do people eat insect products other than honey?" "are centipedes venomous?"...and many more. The answers range in length from a few sentences to half a page, just enough to satisfy your curiosity. There are also some good, close-up color photographs.
An Encyclopedia Of Bug Trivia.......2000-04-28
After listening to Dr. Waldbauer's interview on Public Radio I was captured by his passion for the interesting world of bug trivia, and bought the book. A compendium of bug facts and fables, presented in a format that allows you to read the book from cover to cover as well as use it as a quick reference guide. Both educational and entertaining, it answers questions that range from "how does a spider spin a web?" to "how do mosquitoes locate their victims?". Also includes a very useful index and exhaustive references.
Customer Reviews:
Great for all purposes dealing to do with any issues with..........2002-01-15
Great for all purposes dealing with space! It makes learning about our solar system fun, and is great for all ages to understand complicated related issues of space and other objects in our solar system!
A good start..........2000-12-06
This book is a decent intoductory reference about space, its exploration, and some of the people who have influenced our understanding thereof.
Information is organized by general topic (The Universe, objects outside our solar system, the solar system itself, space exploration, etc.); each topic is then divided alphabetically by subtopic (Pulsars, Quasars, Red Giants; Jupiter, Saturn, etc.). These subtopics are then treated to a series of questions and their answers. In effect, the book is an extended FAQ similar to those found for various topics on the web. I find this to be an interesting approach to the printed format.
However, I have found the book to be unclear at times and unneccessarily sketchy (perhaps "too concise" would be more fair) about many details. I frequently want more information than is provided when using the book to clarify a term or concept. For example, the section on Red Giants lists an entry which is titled in such a way as to imply that it will explain the mechanism by which Red Giants vary in their cycle of brightness. Instead, the entry explains the life course of the Red Giant phase of a star's life without information on why it varies in a yearly cycle from bright to dim. In fact, the variability mechanism of a Red Giant is *never* explained by the book, despite this information being present for other Variable Star types.
Compared the length of the book, the amount of information inside is limited. In fact, if the text was not printed in such a large typeface, I imagine the book would become a small volume, and could possibly be modified into a candidate for a "pocket" book. The large page format is not used for a wealth of diagrams, either, as the book is lacking in explanatory illustration, something one might expect in a reference work. In effect, the book feels physically "inflated" to me, perhaps in the interest of seeming meatier. In all honesty, I might have been less inclined to purchase it if it had been a small volume, so this approach seems to have worked; however, if it were a small or pocket edition, I might have been more satisfied with the amount of content.
Finally, as one reviewer has already mentioned, the book is not well edited, with typos and grammatical errors throughout. The entire project, in fact, feels a tad rushed, as if more content and thorough editing were eschewed in an effort to get to market.
All in all, I found the book to be a good start *on a more complete volume.* In other words, I would have liked to see more development of the content in a more complete work. Nonetheless, it is a decent addition to my reference library, especially at the price, although it often leaves me wanting more.
Should be called "The Invaluable Space Answer Book".......2000-07-13
I bought this book at the Aerospace Museum in the Smithsonian in Washington. It is a fun book to refer to now and again.
The format of the book is question/answer. The chapter topics include: the universe, galaxies and stars, our solar system, the Earth and its moon, observation and measurement, observation facilities, space exploration agencies and tools, technology in space, and humans in space.
I especially enjoyed brushing up on my knowledge of space exploration. This book covers all the major space programs up through the International Space Station. The section on the universe is also equally interesting. The book reviews basic laws and the scientists behind them.
This book is very educational. It is useful for brushing up on basic knowledge for adults, and it would make a great gift for those just learning about science and space exploration. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Good Book, Good Price !.......1999-12-25
I enjoy this book. I wish I bought on Amazon.com. I bought it at the Discovery Channel Store and it is GREAT! It answers every question I have or will have about space. It goes in depth. I wish it had weblinks, color pictures, hardcover, and an editor. This book has typos and you can tell. Look at 'G' in the Index.
Exellent beginners book.......1999-10-04
An informative, well written book covering the most frequently asked questions about space.
Product Description
This updated edition of the bestselling Handy Science Answer Book tackles doezens of new sci-tech topics, as well as your old favorites-from the inner workings of the human body to outer space, and from mathematics and computers to cars, boats, planes, and trains.
Handy Science's clear-cut, straightforward style makes answers fun and easy to understand. With more than 100 illustrations and dozens of tables and graphs, it's a friendly resource for browsers, scanners and serious sojourners in teh realms of science and technology.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of Fun and Good Learning Book.......2007-06-08
This is a great fact and info book for my 14 year old grandson, the age when this sort of material is hot for boys or girls.
Book Description
What a fun and educational way to explore the wonders of the world of science, the world in which we live. – National Science Teachers Association. Handy Science collects 1,400 or so of the most commonly asked and interesting questions and answers them in distinct Visible Ink style–succinct, fun, and educational. Children and adults alike will enjoy uncovering some of life's greatest mysteries, such as: How does a fax machine work? and Is Chicago the windiest city? There are questions for everyone. Bachelors can find out how diamonds are weighed. Motorists can learn which color of car is safest. Fishermen will learn how to tell the difference between male and female lobsters. Parents will soon know that children are not the leading cause of stress. Buffalo residents will smile when they realize the record snowfall in the U.S. was clear across the country. We even have who invented the alarm clock in here. (We just don't have the why.) And there are many more topics covering everything under (and including) the sun to keep readers turning pages for hours on end. Straightforward writing, more than 100 photographs, and dozens of graphs and tables make the reading fun and the answers easy to understand. The Handy Science Answer Book®, Centennial Edition, is a great reference that keeps all levels of scientists, including dad, from answering a question with, Because.
Customer Reviews:
A fun book, but needs some corrections.......2007-09-27
I own the The Handy Science Answer Book: Centennial Edition (Thoroughly Revised And Greatly Expanded). I agree that it is well put together and easy to understand. But they need to correct some errors, some may be argueable but some are way off. As I went through the book and started coming across one error after another, I decided to go back and document them. So here is what I found.
P.06 Does water running down a drain rotate in a...
***The Coriolis effect isn't strong enough to influence something as small as a toilet boil. Water flows the same way in both hemispheres. However, depending on the plumbing, it can flow clockwise or counter-clockwise.
P.22 Which elements are liquid at room temperature?
***They forgot to add Francium
P.24 Which elements have the highest and lowest boiling points?
***Tungsten has the highest boiling point, not Rhenium. They are close though.
P.171 Is glass a solid or a liquid
***Old window panes are thicker at the bottom because they used to spin them to make them flat, not because the glass is slowly flowing. Also, the waves in glass can be caused by acid in rain.
P.321 What is the most popular state insect?
***California isn't nicknamed the Beehive State, you're thinking of Utah. I live there. California was the first to adopt a state insect though, which is the dog-faced butterfly.
P.394 Why do various parts of the body fall asleep?
***The cause is not poor blood flow, it's from crimping your nerves. If it was from blood flow, your limbs would be purple.
P.398 What is the purpose of goose-bumps?
***Goose-bumps are vestigial. They are pretty much useless without body hair. The effect of them on animals with fur can be to raise the hair on their neck to make them look more intimidating and to lift up there fur a bit to trap in air to keep themselves warm, you'll notice that quite a few animals puff themselves up a bit like this in the cold.
P.406 What are the primary sensation of taste?
***The tongue taste map is a myth. This myth originated from the misinterpretation of a PhD thesis written in German by Hanig and published in Philosophische Studien in 1901.
I also found mistakes on some information listed about the gravity of the planets. Some just could be old information, but one, I think Pluto, had a decimal put in the wrong place.
Physical Sciences.......2007-05-07
Great physical science facts for the average person endeavoring to grasp concise concepts.
Jam Packed With Cool Facts!.......2003-08-30
This book is jam packed full of very interesting facts that make this book perfect for all ages!
For readers of all ages.......2003-01-10
Originally compiled by the Science and Technology Department of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and now in a thoroughly revised and substantially expanded "Centennial Edition" collaboratively edited by James E. Bobick and Naomi E. Balaban, The Handy Science Answer Book is an impressive, 660-page compendium of easy-to-understand definitions and explanations, and is packed from cover to cover with answers to common questions and puzzles relating to a wide variety of scientific and technological fields. From how fiber-optic cable works, to why the Hindenburg exploded, to the average weight of the human brain, to why golf balls have dimples, to how many bees are there in a bee colony, to why leaves change color in the fall, The Handy Science Answer Book entries are arranged in seventeen broad categories and is very highly recommended for family, school, and community library collections as an outstanding, "user friendly", educational, enlightened and enlightening science reference resource for readers of all ages.
Book Description
In these politically charged times, interest in the political process is peaking. Enormous decisions must be made at a time when the world seems to be teetering on the edge of chaos. The Handy Politics Answer Book dares to ask the tough questions (not like the ones reporters lob at incumbents) and answers every one thoroughly and clearly (without the usual political side-stepping and spin tactics). Fifteen chapters explore politics from our founding fathers to current trends, from our branches of government to how they work together (or don't), from noteworthy people and officials to major events. Handy Politics is just the book wannabe politicians (and everyone else) can consult to obtain a solid understanding on such things as "Why were Medicare and Medicaid created?" "What are civil liberties?" "What is due process of law?" "What is NAFTA?" "What is the United Nations?" Then there are the questions you always wanted to know, like, "What is considered the dirtiest presidential campaign on record?" And, "If the president has a job description, what is it?" Great questions for parties, but everyone knows you're not supposed to talk politics at social gatherings. That's why this book exists.
Customer Reviews:
Just what I was looking for.......2006-11-13
I wanted to find a basic government information book along the lines of the "Complete Idiot's Guides" or "for Dummies" books. This definitely falls in that category. The information ranges from basic need-to-know facts about how the U.S. government works to interesting bits of trivia (e.g. who was the first African American Supreme Court justice?).
I'm not sure if mine is the same edition as this one (mine has a brown cover, but I'm pretty sure it's from 2002). Due to the controversial political arena in the past 4 years the book could definitely use some updating, but since politics are inherently controversial it would be difficult to keep up unless it was updated once or more per year.
I had a difficult time deciding whether to give 3 or 4 stars. I decided on 4 because I think people should definitely read this book in order to learn the basics about the government. I found it very useful during election time because the political mumbo-jumbo started making more sense. But these were the items I found issue with:
~There are multiple proofreading errors, on the order of 2 or 3 per page at least. If it was just one typo here and there I wouldn't have a problem with it, but I found the frequent mistakes distracting.
~While the book tries to be impartial, every once in a while it leans to the conservative side. It is subtle, such as giving mild praise to President Bush's handling of the terrorism war and mild rebukes to President Clinton's affair. Whatever the author's personal feelings on these issues, they should have presented only the facts and not opinions.
~The book should be reorganized slightly, starting with explaining the branches of government before describing policies (such as foreign policy, economic policy, etc.).
Overall this book is certainly worth reading, and I recommend it to anyone who wants basic information about how our government works. Every registered voter should understand these basics.
Seems thorough, interesting, and useful.......2004-01-16
I only browsed through this book in the bookstore, purchasing it now, but since there are no other reviews I thought my impressions might be helpful.
The book is just what it says - a politics answer book in Q&A format, divided into several related sections, making it relatively easy to get info on a particular topic. It seems to cover the subject thoroughly, both in breadth (covers important pols, issues, ideas, domestic and international, key historical people ideas and documents...) and in depth, the answers a general a few paragraphs (though some are longer where necessary) - enough to give you what you need without rambling.
At the title implies, it would be more useful as a reference book, although it was interesting enough that one could browse through it or even read cover to cover. I was impressed, I've been looking for a book like this to refer to for political science courses, more than just a political dictionary.
Books:
- The Human Experiment: Two Years and Twenty Minutes Inside Biosphere 2
- The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
- The Last Colony
- The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space
- The Military Revolution: Military Innovation and the Rise of the West, 1500-1800
- The Placebo Chronicles: Strange But True Tales From the Doctors' Lounge
- The Power of Your Other Hand : A Course in Channeling the Inner Wisdom of the Right Brain
- The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
- The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
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- The Art of Mindful Living: How to Bring Love, Compassion and Inner Peace into Your Daily Life
- Something Rising
- Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East
- Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Building a Business Team That Wins: The Invisible Code of Hon
- National Electrical Code 2005 Handbook
- Statics and Strength of Materials
- Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems: Biological-Physical Interactions in the Oceans
- Making Big Money in 1600: The Life and Times of Isma'Il Abu Taqiyya, Egyptian Merchant
- A Fighter from Way Back: The Mexican War Diary of Lt. Daniel Harvey Hill, 4th Artillary, USA
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
The Handy Physics Answer Book (Handy Answer Books)
The Handy Biology Answer Book (Handy Answer Books)
The Handy Science Answer Book (Handy Answer Books)
The Handy Geology Answer Book (Handy Answer Books)
The Handy Weather Answer Book (Handy Answer Books)
