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Choice
School Library Journal
Midwest Book Review
Book News, Inc.
Reference Books Bulletin
Review from: Choice, January 2002
A "comprehensive, one-volume reference
on the 20th century," this compilation is well balanced in its treatment
of people and events around the world. Most useful is the work's thorough
content yet simple organization, centered around the concepts of "who,"
"what," "where," and "when." "People of the Century" provides detailed yet
concise biographies of 900 of the most influential people of the world.
"Events and Ideas of the Century" offers an alphabetical listing of more
than 300 selected events, movements, trends, and concepts that defined the
20th century. "Nations of the World" records brief historical sketches of
every nation of the world. One of the most valuable sections is "A
Chronology of the Century," a year-by-year time line of important world
events, 1900-99. Though Facts combines the features of a
chronology, encyclopedia, and almanac, it stands as a welcome addition to
ready reference or social science reference collections. Highly
recommended.
Reviewed by: B. L. Robinson-Jones,
Chicago Public Library
Review
from: School Library Journal, August 2002
Gr 9 Up-If you think you have
enough century books, think again. This volume, its depth demonstrated by
its 97-page index, is packed with information. Separate sections include
events and ideas, people, nations, and a wonderful gazetteer. It's hard to
imagine a more succinct and inclusive presentation. In the worldwide
chronology, there are listings under each year for arts and entertainment,
ideas, the military, politics, science and technology, society, and
sports. People from all walks of life and nationalities are
represented-scientists, entertainers, philosophers, athletes, politicians,
composers, anthropologists, poets, photographers, and many more. The
entries range from a one- line definition to several pages. For each
country, basic facts, historical background, and a list of 20th-century
leaders are provided. A number of tables and lists are interspersed
throughout, providing snapshots of data and change. Despite the numerous
similar titles published recently, this one stands alone in its global
focus and efficient organization
Review
from: Midwest Book Review
Reviewed by: James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Facts About The 20th Century is a
single-volume reference that combines elements of a chronology,
encyclopedia, and almanac. Ranging from the trivial to the essential, and
from local to global information, this is a "user friendly" and
accessible record of all countries' history in the 20th century and the
worldwide events destined to shape the future.
With 1,020 pages organized around the focus
of "who, what, where, and when," Facts About The 20th Century
covers everything from Nobel Prize winners to World War II. Enhanced
with a comprehensive subject index, Facts About The 20th Century is
very highly recommended for both school and community library world
history reference collections.
Review
from: Book News, Inc.
Four chapters contain entries that, together, attempt to sum up the entire
history of the world during the 20th century. Beginning with a year-by-year
chronology listing major events (categorized under the topic headings of arts
and entertainment, ideas, military, politics, science and technology, society,
and sports), the volume moves to alphabetical compendiums of major events and
movements, and biographical entries on major figures in the aforementioned
categories. Finally, each country of the world is listed by its current name
and demographic and historical data are presented.
Review
from: Reference Books Bulletin
Part of Wilson's Facts About series,
this volume "combining the features of a chronology, encyclopedia,
and almanac" is aimed at a general audience. Four main chapters cover
the "who, what, where, and when" of the years 1900-1999.
Chapter one, "Chronology of the
Century," is a year-by-year time line of world events from 1900 to
1999. Entries for each year are divided into seven topic headings (e.g.,
"Arts and Entertainment," "Politics"), and items are
further categorized by country. Supplemental lists include Nobel Prize
winners from 1901 to 1999 and a chart of the years and locations of the
Olympic games.
Chapter two, "Events and Ideas
of the Century," is an alphabetical (Abdication crisis to Zionism)
survey that briefly defines more than "300 selected events,
movements, trends, and concepts that defined the century." Chapter
three, "Who: People A-Z," offers 900 short biographies of
noteworthy individuals. Birth and death dates are provided, as are
nationality and profession or occupation, followed by a brief summary of
the individual's accomplishments. Chapter four, "Nations of the
World," contains the "where" of the twentieth century. More
than 190 countries are treated in brief histories that range from two
paragraphs (St. Lucia) to more than four pages (U.S.). Each entry includes
a chronology of leaders, geographical location, official name (if
applicable), capital, area in square miles, population, languages, type of
government, religions, monetary unit (pre-Euro), and main exports.
Additional features include tables,
a "Historical Gazetteer," a bibliography, and an index. The
gazetteer "shows at a glance how the world of 1900 was transformed
into the world of 2000." Name changes of countries or territories are
noted, as are unions of countries and their gain or loss of independence.
Facts about the Twentieth Century is
a compact, browsable work with extensive coverage and an appropriate
addition to most library collections.
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