Gr 6–8—The fifth and final set in this comprehensive survey covers 69 countries and 15 dependencies or culturally distinct entities. Each of the content volumes opens with broad regional overviews of geography, climate, and cultural history that give way to articles covering five to more than a dozen entities within the area, independent or otherwise, such as Antarctica, Pitcairn Island, and St. Helena. Each article offers a systematic profile of history (through 2009 or in some cases mid-2010), government, "cultural expression" (e.g., arts, holidays, cuisine, literary landmarks), economy, and daily life—backed up with legibly designed statistical tables, small but sharp color photos, maps, and boxed side observations. Along with a general index, the final volume includes dozens of additional statistical tables with helpful analytical commentary, lists of current print and Web resources, and six specialized indexes. Well suited to area and culture studies (if not quick reference), this set and its previously published companions together offer an expanded alternative, where print materials still reign supreme, to George Kurian's Encyclopedia of the World's Nations and Cultures (Facts On File, 2006) or The Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (Gale, 2006). Though the many comparable online resources are just as comprehensive and much more easily updated, completists will want this resource to fill out their collections.—John Peters, formerly at New York Public Library
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