Library Journal Review

A publication inspired by the 19th-century historian Thomas Carlyle, the Statesman's Yearbook-once dubbed "an English institution"-has published annually without interruption since 1864. The 150th edition of this authoritative work on countries throughout the world includes several revisions: updated biographical and economic information, maps of 19th-century North America and Europe from the first volume, and enlarged historical introductions to each section, among other updates. As in previous versions, the vast majority of this hefty volume consists of alphabetically arranged entries on 194 countries, with pieces including economic, political, social, demographic, religious, and cultural information. A particularly invaluable feature is the descriptive subchapters that incorporate this same content for the states, provinces, or other geographic divisions of many countries-all 50 U.S. states, Canadian and South African provinces, and Indian states, to name just a few. Print and online citations at the end of each entry further enhance the title's reference value. Online access is available through a separate site license. VERDICT Although the World Almanac and CIA World Factbook serve as excellent sources for country information, this remains the preeminent and most comprehensive ready-reference source for current material about countries worldwide. Highly recommended.-Donald Altschiller, Boston Univ. Lib. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.