what are reference books

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What are reference books (or reference sources)?

Reference (or background) sources: what they are and when to use them.

Use reference books (also called reference or background sources, or resources ) to get quick specific facts or information or an overview of a subject.

Some examples of reference sources are: dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, almanacs, directories, atlases, and handbooks. These can be online or in print.

Print reference books

Print reference books are often shelved alongside other books on the same subjects in the Library stacks, or in Reference Collections near Library service desks.

Many -- but not all -- can be borrowed.

Online reference sources (background information)

For 24-hour access to reference resources on any subject and from any location, see  Background reference sources .

For discipline-specific resources , search by subject via  the Library's  research guides , then click on the "Background information" or "Facts and data" tab for recommendations from our subject expert librarians.

Book/Ebook References

Use the same formats for both print books and ebooks. For ebooks, the format, platform, or device (e.g., Kindle) is not included in the reference.

This page contains reference examples for books, including the following:

• Whole authored book
• Whole edited book
• Republished book, with editor
• Book published with new foreword by another author
• Several volumes of a multivolume work

1. Whole authored book

Jackson, L. M. (2019). The psychology of prejudice: From attitudes to social action (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000168-000

Sapolsky, R. M. (2017). Behave: The biology of humans at our best and worst . Penguin Books.

Svendsen, S., & Løber, L. (2020). The big picture/Academic writing: The one-hour guide (3rd digital ed.). Hans Reitzel Forlag. https://thebigpicture-academicwriting.digi.hansreitzel.dk/

• Parenthetical citations : (Jackson, 2019; Sapolsky, 2017; Svendsen & Løber, 2020)
• Narrative citations : Jackson (2019), Sapolsky (2017), and Svendsen and Løber (2020)
• Provide the author, year of publication, title, and publisher of the book. Use the same format for both print books and ebooks.
• Use the copyright date shown on the book’s copyright page as the year of publication in the reference, even if the copyright date is different than the release date.
• Include any edition information in parentheses after the title, without italics.
• If the book includes a DOI, include the DOI in the reference after the publisher name.
• Do not include the publisher location.
• If the ebook without a DOI has a stable URL that will resolve for readers, include the URL of the book in the reference (as in the Svendsen and Løber example, which is from the iBog database, where ebooks are referred to as “internetbooks”). Do not include the name of the database in the reference.
• If the ebook is from an academic research database and has no DOI or stable URL, end the book reference after the publisher name. Do not include the name of the database in the reference. The reference in this case is the same as for a print book.

2. Whole edited book

Hygum, E., & Pedersen, P. M. (Eds.). (2010). Early childhood education: Values and practices in Denmark . Hans Reitzels Forlag. https://earlychildhoodeducation.digi.hansreitzel.dk/

Kesharwani, P. (Ed.). (2020). Nanotechnology based approaches for tuberculosis treatment . Academic Press.

Torino, G. C., Rivera, D. P., Capodilupo, C. M., Nadal, K. L., & Sue, D. W. (Eds.). (2019). Microaggression theory: Influence and implications . John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119466642

• Parenthetical citations : (Hygum & Pedersen, 2010; Kesharwani, 2020; Torino et al., 2019)
• Narrative citations : Hygum and Pedersen (2010), Kesharwani (2020), and Torino et al. (2019)
• Use the abbreviation “(Ed.)” for one editor and the abbreviation “(Eds.)” for multiple editors after the editor names, followed by a period. In the case of multiple editors, include the role once, after all the names.
• If the ebook without a DOI has a stable URL that will resolve for readers, include the URL of the book in the reference (as in the Hygum and Pedersen example, which is from the iBog database). Do not include the name of the database in the reference.

3. Republished book, with editor

Watson, J. B., & Rayner, R. (2013). Conditioned emotional reactions: The case of Little Albert (D. Webb, Ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. http://a.co/06Se6Na (Original work published 1920)

• Parenthetical citation : (Watson & Rayner, 1920/2013)
• Narrative citation : Watson and Rayner (1920/2013)
• The book by Watson and Rayner was originally published in 1920. It was edited by Webb and republished in 2013.
• Sometimes an authored book also credits an editor on the cover. In this case, include the editor in parentheses without italics after the book title.
• Provide the year of the republication in the main date element of the reference. Provide the year of original publication at the end of the reference in parentheses after the words “Original work published.”
• Both publication years appear in the in-text citation, separated with a slash, with the earlier year first.

4. Book published with new foreword by another author

Kübler-Ross, E. (with Byock, I.). (2014). On death & dying: What the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy & their own families (50th anniversary ed.). Scribner. (Original work published 1969)

• Parenthetical citation : (Kübler-Ross, 1969/2014)
• Narrative citation : Kübler-Ross (1969/2014)
• Use this format when a person other than the original author has added a new part to the work, such as a foreword or introduction.
• Provide the author of the whole book in the main author element of the reference. Then provide the name of the person who wrote the foreword, introduction, or other new part, in parentheses, after the word “with.” In the example, Byock wrote a new foreword to the book by Kübler-Ross.
• When citing the main book, include only the name of the book author in the in-text citation.
• Parenthetical citation of foreword : Workers in the medical community should “listen to the people who need our help and respond with all the knowledge and skill we can bring to bear” (Kübler-Ross, 1969/2014, foreword by Byock, p. xv).
• Narrative citation of foreword : Byock stated that Kübler-Ross’s (1969/2014) work “challenged the authoritarian decorum and puritanism of the day” (p. xii).

5. Several volumes of a multivolume work

Harris, K. R., Graham, S., & Urdan T. (Eds.). (2012). APA educational psychology handbook (Vols. 1–3). American Psychological Association.

• Parenthetical citation : (Harris et al., 2012)
• Narrative citation : Harris et al. (2012)
• Provide the name(s) of the editor(s)-in-chief as the editors of the work, even if the volume editors are different.

Book/ebook references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.2 and the Concise Guide Section 10.2

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• How to cite a book in APA Style

How to Cite a Book in APA Style | Format & Examples

Published on November 14, 2019 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 17, 2024.

A book citation in APA Style always includes the author’s name, the publication year, the book title, and the publisher. Use the interactive tool to see examples, or try the free APA Citation Generator to create your citations automatically.

Cite a book in APA Style now:

Table of contents, basic book citation format, ebooks and online books, citing a chapter from an edited book, multivolume books, where to find the information for an apa book citation, frequently asked questions about apa style citations.

The in-text citation for a book includes the author’s last name, the year, and (if relevant) a page number.

In the reference list , start with the author’s last name and initials, followed by the year. The book title is written in sentence case (only capitalize the first word and any proper nouns ). Include any other contributors (e.g. editors and translators) and the edition if specified (e.g. “2nd ed.”).

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A citation of an ebook (i.e. a book accessed on an e-reader) or a book viewed online (e.g. on Google Books or in PDF form ) includes the DOI where available. If there is no DOI, link to the page where you viewed the book, or where the ebook can be purchased or accessed.

Since ebooks sometimes do not include page numbers, APA recommends using other methods of identifying a specific passage in your in-text citations—for example, a chapter or section title, or a paragraph number.

When citing a particular chapter from a book containing texts by various authors (e.g. a collection of essays), begin the citation with the author of the chapter and mention the book’s editor(s) later in the reference. A page range identifies the chapter’s location in the book.

Some books come in multiple volumes. You may want to cite the entire book if you’ve used multiple volumes, or just a single volume if that was all you used.

Citing a single volume

When citing from one volume of a multivolume book, the format varies slightly depending on whether each volume has a title or just a number.

If the volume has a specific title, this should be written as part of the title in your reference list entry.

Eliot, T. S. (2015). The poems of T. S. Eliot: Vol. 1. Collected and uncollected poems (C. Ricks & J. McCue, Eds.). Faber & Faber.

If the volume is only numbered, not titled, the volume number is not italicized and appears in parentheses after the title.

Dylan, B. (2005). Chronicles (Vol. 1) . Simon & Schuster.

Citing a multivolume book as a whole

When citing the whole book, mention the volumes in parentheses after the title. Individual volume titles are not included even if they do exist.

Eliot, T. S. (2015). The poems of T. S. Eliot (Vols. 1–2) (C. Ricks & J. McCue, Eds.). Faber & Faber.

All the information you need to cite a book can usually be found on the title and copyright pages.

The APA reference list entry for the book above would look like this:

Butler, C. (2002). Postmodernism: A very short introduction . Oxford University Press.

When a book’s chapters are written by different authors, you should cite the specific chapter you are referring to.

When all the chapters are written by the same author (or group of authors), you should usually cite the entire book, but some styles include exceptions to this.

• In APA Style , single-author books should always be cited as a whole, even if you only quote or paraphrase from one chapter.
• In MLA Style , if a single-author book is a collection of stand-alone works (e.g. short stories ), you should cite the individual work.
• In Chicago Style , you may choose to cite a single chapter of a single-author book if you feel it is more appropriate than citing the whole book.

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (meaning “and others”) is used to shorten APA in-text citations with three or more authors . Here’s how it works:

Only include the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.”, a comma and the year of publication, for example (Taylor et al., 2018).

In the 7th edition of the APA manual, no location information is required for publishers. The 6th edition previously required you to include the city and state where the publisher was located, but this is no longer the case.

If you’re citing from an edition other than the first (e.g. a 2nd edition or revised edition), the edition appears in the reference, abbreviated in parentheses after the book’s title (e.g. 2nd ed. or Rev. ed.).

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Caulfield, J. (2024, January 17). How to Cite a Book in APA Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/book/

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Harvard Referencing / Harvard Referencing Style Examples / How to reference books in Harvard style 

How to reference books in Harvard style 

Harvard–style referencing is one of the various methods of citation available out there. Citing your sources is important, so that due credit is given to the original creators of any content, and you do not end up indulging in plagiarism.

Books are one of the most widely used sources of information. This article will help you understand how to cite books properly using Harvard style.

In-text citations for books

Books may be referenced in your work either through in-text citation or in the reference list. An in-text citation is when you refer to an original or source material in the body of your text. Every in-text citation has a corresponding reference in a work’s reference list.

Every reference provides additional information about a source that was cited in your work (via an in-text citation). It gives the readers of your work all the information they need in order to find the cited material.

The structure of a reference varies a little, depending on the source type. A reference structure will be given for each type of book below.

In-text citation structure is consistent across all source types. They all are based on the following:

In-text citation structure:

Author (Year published)

(Author, Year published)

In-text citation example:

In her book, Kiran Desai (2006) deals with themes of exile and nation…

Exile is shown to be intrinsically tied to nationality (Desai, 2006)…

Every in-text citation for a book follows the structure above. More information about in-text citations for more than one author is given at the end of this guide.

Printed/Physical book references

Reference structure:.

Author or editor surname, Initial(s). (Year published) Title italicized. edn. Place of publication: Publisher name.

* “edn.” is the edition number, if applicable.

Reference list example:

Desai, K. (2006) The Inheritance of Loss. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press.

E-book references

The method for referencing an e-book is the same as that of a printed book, except that additional information about a book’s DOI, URL and date accessed are included, if available.

Author or editor surname, Initial(s). (Year published) Title italicised. Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Example reference:

Fetter, F.A. (1904) The principles of economics: With applications to practical problems. Available at: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/40077/40077-h/40077-h.htm (Accessed: 23 September 2020).

Audiobook references

An audiobook reference gives all of the same information as an e-book reference, but also includes the name of the narrator.

Author or editor surname, Initial(s). (Year published or released) Title italicised. Narrated by narrator surname, Initial(s). (if needed). Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Wilkerson, I. (2020) Caste: The origins of our discontents. Narrated by Miles, R. Available at: https://audiobookstore.com/audiobooks/caste.aspx (Accessed: 23 September 2020).

References to chapters/sections of edited books

Usually, you only have to cite a particular chapter or section of a book in one of two scenarios:

• The section/chapter author is different from the book’s main author. For example, this is often the case with a book foreword.
• In an anthology or collection where the works of many authors are in a single book. There is also often an editor for these types of works.

If you’re using a book with only one author, you reference the whole book.

Surname of the chapter/section’s author, Initial(s). (Year published) ‘Title of the chapter section’, in Surname of editor, Initial(s). (ed.) Book title italicized. Place of publication: Publisher name, pp. 00-00.

Farmer, V. L. (1996) ‘Mass media: Images, mobilization and communalism’, in Ludden, D.E. (ed.) Contesting the nation: religion, community, and the politics of democracy in India. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, pp. 98-115.

Multi-volume works

The method for referencing multi-volume works in the reference list is:

• Name of the author or editor
• Publication year (in round brackets)
• Title (in italics)
• Volumes (in round brackets)
• Place of publication: Publisher

Author or editor surname, Initial(s). (Year published) Book title italicized (no. of vols.). Place of publication: Publisher name.

David, D. et al. (2009) The Longman Anthology of World Literature (6 vols). London: Pearson Education.

Book with two authors

This book (Mostov and Ivekovic, 2006) emphasizes the role of…

Mostov, J. and Ivekovic, R. (2004) From gender to nation. New Delhi: Zubaan.

Book with three authors

In the case of three authors, the first two authors’ last names will appear separated by a comma, with the third author’s name appearing after ‘and’, followed by the publication year separated by a comma. All of these will appear within round brackets in the case of in-text citations.

(Smith, Jones and Davies, 2014)

To include the same example in the reference list, the same format will be followed as in the method for citing two–author texts. This time, the first two authors’ names should be separated by a comma, followed by the last author’s name separated by ‘and’.

Greig, A., Taylor, J. and MacKay, T. (2013) Doing research with children: A practical guide. London: Sage.

Book with four or more authors

If a book has more than three authors, then, for in-text citation where the author’s name occurs in the flow of the text, the last name of the first author is given followed by the term ”et al.”, with only a space in between. This is followed by the year of publication in round brackets.

In cases where the author name is not mentioned in the flow of the text, the in-text citation will consist of the first author’s last name followed by ”et al.” and year of publication, all within round brackets.

In-text citation examples:

Zauner et al. (2018) found that…

Mathematical tools are important (Zauner et al., 2018).

For a reference list citation of a book with more than three authors, you may list the first author followed by ”et al.”, or list the names of all the authors, depending on the requirements of your institution.

Reference list examples:

Zauner, S. et al. (2018) Administrative theory: An innovative approach to organization. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Zauner, S., Marschall, S., Pieter, V. and Bivalkar, P. (2018) Administrative theory: An innovative approach to organization. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Published October 29, 2020.

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Harvard Formatting

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• Referencing Books in Harvard Style | Templates & Examples

Referencing Books in Harvard Style | Templates & Examples

Published on 12 May 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 7 November 2022.

To reference a book in Harvard style , you need an in-text citation and a corresponding entry in your reference list or bibliography .

A basic book reference looks like this:

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Table of contents

Edition or volume of a book, edited or translated book, book chapter, dictionary or encyclopedia, frequently asked questions about harvard referencing.

If the book you’re citing is a second or later edition (i.e. when the edition is stated on the title page or cover), specify this in your reference. Abbreviate ‘edition’ to ‘edn’ or ‘revised edition’ to ‘rev ed’.

When referencing a book published in multiple volumes, include the total number of volumes in your reference.

If you’re just referencing one volume, omit the total number but include the number and subtitle of the particular volume you’re referencing as part of the title.

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If a book specifies an editor and/or translator, this information should be included in the reference.

When a book has an editor in addition to the main author, the editor’s name is included later in the reference.

When the editor is the main author (i.e. when it’s their name on the cover), their name comes first. Use “ed.” for a single editor and “eds.” if there are multiple editors.

If you use a specific chapter or work from an edited collection, follow the format for referencing a book chapter instead.

When you reference a book that has been translated from another language, include the original language and the translator’s name.

Unlike other names, the translator’s name is not inverted: the initial comes first.

If a book contains chapters or works by various different authors, such as a collection of essays or an anthology of short stories, reference the specific chapter or work, followed by details of the book.

The chapter title appears in quotation marks, while the book title is italicized. At the end of the reference, specify the page range on which the chapter appears.

If a book is entirely written by one author, always reference the whole book, even if you only discuss one chapter.

Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference works very often don’t list specific authors. In these cases, they are cited and referenced using their titles in the author position:

Where a reference work does have an author, it can be referenced like a normal book. Where different sections of a reference work are attributed to different authors, they can be referenced like chapters in an edited book.

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When an ebook is presented like a printed book, with page numbers and publication details included, you can reference it in the same format as you would the print version.

Otherwise, the ebook format differs slightly: I nclude a link to where you found or purchased it online instead of publisher information. This link is generally just to the store or database you used, not the specific book.

In addition, in-text citations will have to use something other than page numbers when necessary, such as a percentage or location number. Use whatever marker is available on your device.

A Harvard in-text citation should appear in brackets every time you quote, paraphrase, or refer to information from a source.

The citation can appear immediately after the quotation or paraphrase, or at the end of the sentence. If you’re quoting, place the citation outside of the quotation marks but before any other punctuation like a comma or full stop.

In Harvard style , when you quote directly from a source that includes page numbers, your in-text citation must include a page number. For example: (Smith, 2014, p. 33).

You can also include page numbers to point the reader towards a passage that you paraphrased . If you refer to the general ideas or findings of the source as a whole, you don’t need to include a page number.

In Harvard referencing, up to three author names are included in an in-text citation or reference list entry. When there are four or more authors, include only the first, followed by ‘ et al. ’

In Harvard style referencing , to distinguish between two sources by the same author that were published in the same year, you add a different letter after the year for each source:

• (Smith, 2019a)
• (Smith, 2019b)

Add ‘a’ to the first one you cite, ‘b’ to the second, and so on. Do the same in your bibliography or reference list .

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Caulfield, J. (2022, November 07). Referencing Books in Harvard Style | Templates & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 2 July 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/harvard-book-reference/

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Reference Sources in the Social Sciences and Humanities

What is a reference source, what reference source should i use, connect from off-campus.

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Reference materials provide well-researched information—for example, facts, definitions, histories, overviews of a topic, statistics—on a large subject area (e.g., sociology or dance) or for a type of data (e.g., biographies or directories). They pack lots of information into one easy-to-find place, and support student research in a number of ways:

• Quick access to simple, reliable, factual information in sources such as dictionaries, polls, and biographies.
• General overviews and introductions to fields and terms you may not be familiar with in sources such as encyclopedias and topical guidebooks.
• Referral to additional information sources that offer more detail or lead to journal articles and other kinds of materials, such as subject-specific indexes and encyclopedias.

Many reference works are available online and are accessible through links from the Library Catalog and from subject or course guides, but many valuable reference resources are still available only in print. Because print-only reference books are in high demand, they are kept in the separate, non-circulating Reference collection in most UCLA libraries.

To unlock the content of the Library's extensive reference collections, try searching the source below.

A good place to start, but note that it is an index to over 15 million articles in 11,000 subject encyclopedias and handbooks, both print and online and does not provide full-text articles. Instead, it will connect you to our catalog so you know where to find the appropriate encyclopedia, dictionary or other reference work. You will be linked to UCLA's holdings for any entries you find.

UCLA students, faculty, and staff can access these sites from off-campus using either the  UCLA VPN Client   or  Bruin Online Proxy Server . If you need help setting up your computer, contact the UCLA IT Support Center at  (310) 267-4357  or  [email protected]  . They answer the phone 24/7 and are very helpful.

NOTE:  All  campus wireless networks   ( eduroam, UCLA_WIFI  or  UCLA_WEB ) provide access to online subscription content. If you are using a Mac, you may need to use  Chrome  or  Firefox , not  Safari , to read some of the pdf material.

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What are reference books and reference sources?

Reference books and reference sources are not meant to be read cover to cover. They are used to locate specific facts and background information. 

Examples of reference books or reference sources include dictionaries and encyclopedias; however, there are many kinds of reference works in a library collection, as this table illustrates.

Note: This list of reference works by type is not exhaustive. Please use LibrarySearch to discover others types and formats. 

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Reference Sources: Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Handbooks, and More!

Explanation, bibliographies, biographies, chronologies / timelines, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, handbooks / manuals.

• Subject Specific Reference Sources

This page contains definitions of and examples of different types of reference sources including almanacs, atlases, bibliographies, biographies, chronologies, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, handbooks, and indexes.

Almanacs are not usually used for extensive research , but are good for looking up specific facts, statistics, tables and lists about people, places, events, countries, organizations, zip codes, and popular culture such as sports and entertainment. Generally, almanacs cover a broad period of time, while Yearbooks, which contain similar information, only cover a given year.

Atlases contain an organized group of pictorial or illustrated political, cultural, physical, road, and/or thematic maps. Atlases may be organized around a specific subject, theme, or geographic area. 

Bibliographies compile comprehensive lists of resources that share one or more common attributes about a particular subject, person, geographical area, etc. Some bibliographies also briefly describe the resources that are listed. One should consult a bibliography when they want citations that will guide them to specific resources.

Biographies contain information about people, both living and deceased - they can contain brief summaries of data about individuals, contain lists of citations of resources about a person, or be full length books detailing the life of one particular person. Biographies may cover general important figures, or may be organized thematically/geographically, etc. One would use a biography to look up facts or detailed information about a person or group of people.

Chronologies and timelines summarize the advancement of an event or happening by supplying brief milestones in the progression of the event. The summaries will be presented day-by-day, year-by-year, or by another chronological breakdown.

Standard dictionaries give an alphabetical list of words and their definitions, but there are several useful variations also classified as dictionaries. Thesauri contain synonyms and antonyms (opposites) but usually don't define the words.  There are also dialect and slang dictionaries, dictionaries of abbreviations and acronyms, dictionaries of quotations, and picture dictionaries. Dictionaries can be unabridged (general) or can be thematically organized in some way.

Directories contain an organized list of people and/or organizations, and help one to find information such as addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, etc. for the organizations or people included within the scope of that directory.

• Writers Directory by Gale Cengage Learning Staff (Editor) Publication Date: 2017-06-02 eBook

Encyclopedias contain full coverage of information about an area of knowledge. They can be general or can cover a specific subject, and contain alphabetically organized entries with varying detail. These are great starting points for fact-finding, getting background topic information, learning of key events and individuals, or starting a research project. Below is a major general encyclopedia.  See Best Practices on this guides Home page to pinpoint valuable subject-specific encyclopedias.

• Britannica ACADEMIC This link opens in a new window Encyclopedia Britannica online includes topic overviews, biographies, word and concept definitions, a world atlas, historical timelines, quotations, illustrations, photos, videos, links to relevant articles and websites, primary sources, and the World Data Analyst.

A handbook contains facts about a specific subject or instructions that can be used to accomplish something. A handbook can come in several forms, such as a manual for completing tasks, or a guidebook providing information about a subject, region, etc. (such as a travel guidebook). Handbooks are often designed for quick consultation and easy portability.

Indexes are compilations on information, generally arranged either alphabetically or numerically, that indicate the location of related information either within or outside of the same resource.

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Inf 6120 - access to information.

• INF 6120 Course Guide
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A reference book is often defined as "a book designed by the arrangement and treatment of its subject matter to be consulted for definite items of information rather than to be read consecutively," and a reference collection as a "collection of reference books and other materials in a library, useful for supplying authoritative information or identifying sources, kept together for convenience in providing information service, and generally not allowed to circulate." ( ALA Glossary… 1998 ) 

This page contains definitions of and examples of different types of reference sources including:.

Almanacs and Yearbooks

Bibliographies, biographies, chronologies and timelines, dictionaries and thesauri, directories, encyclopedias, handbooks and manuals.

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Almanacs are usually published annually.  Though they are not usually used for extensive research, they contain specific facts, statistics, tables and lists about people, places, events, countries, organizations, zip codes, and popular culture such as sports and entertainment. Generally, almanacs cover a broad period of time.   Yearbooks contain similar information, but cover just a given year.

Examples include:.

Atlases contain an organized group of pictorial or illustrated political, cultural, physical, road, and/or thematic maps. Atlases may be organized around a specific subject, theme, or geographic area.

Specialty Map Resource:

Directories contain an organized list of people and/or organizations, and help one to find information such as addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, etc. for the organizations or people included within the scope of that directory. 

Indexes are compilations on information, generally arranged either alphabetically or numerically, that indicate the location of related information either within or outside of the same resource.

Learn more about Indexes and Abstracts.

Chronologies and timelines summarize the advancement of an event or happening by supplying brief milestones in the progression of the event. the summaries will be presented day-by-day, year-by-year, or by another chronological breakdown. .

 A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary that includes brief descriptive, geographical, historical, and/or statistical information on specific places. Occasionally, a gazetteer may focus on a specific subject area.

Standard dictionaries give an alphabetical list of words and their definitions, but there are several useful variations also classified as dictionaries. Thesauri contain synonyms and antonyms (opposites) but usually don't define the words.  There are also dialect and slang dictionaries, dictionaries of abbreviations and acronyms, dictionaries of quotations, and picture dictionaries. Dictionaries can be unabridged (general) or can be thematically organized in some way.

Encyclopedias contain full coverage of information about an area of knowledge. They can be general or can cover a specific subject, and contain alphabetically organized entries with varying detail. These are great starting points for fact-finding, getting background topic information, learning of key events and individuals, or starting a research project.

Bibliographies compile comprehensive lists of resources that share one or more common attributes about a particular subject, person, geographical area, etc. Some bibliographies also briefly describe the resources that are listed. One should consult a bibliography when they want citations that will guide them to specific resources.

Biographies contain information about people, both living and deceased - they can contain brief summaries of data about individuals, contain lists of citations of resources about a person, or be full length books detailing the life of one particular person. Biographies may cover general important figures, or may be organized thematically/geographically, etc. One would use a biography to look up facts or detailed information about a person or group of people. 

A handbook contains facts about a specific subject or instructions that can be used to accomplish something. A handbook can come in several forms, such as a manual for completing tasks, or a guidebook providing information about a subject, region, etc. (such as a travel guidebook). Handbooks are often designed for quick consultation and easy portability. 

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100 Best Reference Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best reference books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The Elements of Style

William Jr. Strunk | 5.00

Tobi Lütke [My] most frequently gifted book is [this book] because I like good writing. (Source)

Bill Nye This is my guide. I accept that I’ll never write anything as good as the introductory essay by [the author]. It’s brilliant. (Source)

Jennifer Rock If you are interested in writing and communication, start with reading and understanding the technical aspects of the craft: The Elements of Style. On Writing Well. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor E. Frankl, William J. Winslade, et al. | 4.72

Tony Robbins Another book that I’ve read dozens of times. It taught me that if you change the meaning, you change everything. Meaning equals emotion, and emotion equals life. (Source)

Jimmy Fallon I read it while spending ten days in the ICU of Bellevue hospital trying to reattach my finger from a ring avulsion accident in my kitchen. It talks about the meaning of life, and I believe you come out a better person from reading it. (Source)

Dustin Moskovitz [Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

A Memoir of the Craft

Stephen King | 4.71

Mark Manson I read a bunch of books on writing before I wrote my first book and the two that stuck with me were Stephen King’s book and “On Writing Well” by Zinsser (which is a bit on the technical side). (Source)

Benjamin Spall [Question: What five books would you recommend to youngsters interested in your professional path?] On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft by Stephen King, [...] (Source)

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Stephen R. Covey | 4.68

Dustin Moskovitz [I] was surprised at how familiar the topics felt. (Source)

Dave Ramsey [Dave Ramsey recommended this book on his website.] (Source)

Kishore Biyani Immensely helpful and influential during my early years, it explained some of the basic mindsets required to succeed in any profession. (Source)

Holy Bible: KJV Standard Size Thumb Index Edition

Burgundy (King James Bible)

Christian Art Publishers | 4.64

The Silky-Soft Flexcover Edition...

The Silky-Soft Flexcover Edition features a lovely floral design printed on a unique silky-textured material produced as an imitation leather, with the screen-printed design seemingly woven right in. There is an attached ribbon page marker and beautifully printed page-edges.

Printed on high-quality cream Bible paper with a standard black text size of 8.65 point. 1404 Pages.

Walter Isaacson Everybody, of course, should be familiar with [this book], which is a way of being taught through both parables and tales of people and their values. (Source)

Wim Hof [Wim Hof said this is one of his most-recommended books.] (Source)

Kevin Kelly Probably the most amazing thing you haven’t read yet. (Source)

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Dale Carnegie | 4.61

Dustin Moskovitz Seek to be understood. (Source)

Scott Adams [Scott Adams recommends this book on his "Persuasion Reading List."] (Source)

Daymond John I love all the Dale Carnegie books. (Source)

Getting Things Done

The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

David Allen, James Fallows | 4.57

Dustin Moskovitz Put first things first. (Source)

Tony Hsieh Getting Things Done by David Allen. He recently spoke at our Zappos all-hands meeting and gave me a signed copy of his book. (Source)

Eric Rose When I'm flat-out stressed about the volume and complexity of my work, I open this book and find immediate ways to gain a sense of control. That's really a critical need for decision making. David made me what I am today: headstrong and proud of it. (Source)

The Art of War

Sun Tzu | 4.55

Reid Hoffman Reid read Carl von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu as a boy, which informed his strategic thinking. (Source)

Neil deGrasse Tyson Which books should be read by every single intelligent person on planet? [...] The Art of War (Sun Tsu) [to learn that the act of killing fellow humans can be raised to an art]. If you read all of the above works you will glean profound insight into most of what has driven the history of the western world. (Source)

Evan Spiegel After meeting Mark Zuckerberg, [Evan Spiegel] immediately bought every [Snapchat] employee a copy of 'The Art Of War'. (Source)

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Marie Kondō | 4.54

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed...

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house "spark joy" (and which don't), this international best seller featuring Tokyo's newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home - and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

David Heinemeier Hansson On a lighter note, I finished The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. It’s a short book, but it still manages to repeat itself a lot. And yet the core patterns it covers are as effective as they are simple. I’ve been on a decluttering kick at home and feel so much better because of it. It was also the kickstarter for the conversation... (Source)

Benjamin Spall The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo [...] I started reading on vacation. I interviewed Marie for my own book and while the translation is somewhat quirky in places, her book is worth the hype. (Source)

Annie Loves Covfefe @Benny29143790 @Thereal_ssteele Oh how I love Kondo cleaning. Her first book is fantastic too!! (Source)

Eats, Shoots & Leaves

The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

Lynne Truss | 4.53

Don't have time to read the top Reference books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

• Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
• Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
• Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

The Chicago Manual of Style

University of Chicago Press Staff | 4.49

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Kahneman | 4.48

Barack Obama A few months ago, Mr. Obama read “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions — quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. (Source)

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Marc Andreessen Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? (Source)

How to Read a Book

The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren | 4.43

Sergey Brin had “How to Read a Book” by Mortimer J. Adler as one of his most recommended books. (Source)

Ben Chestnut I also love How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler. I’m teaching its tips to my children while they’re young, so they can consume books much faster and have more fun reading. (Source)

Kevin Systrom [The author's] thesis is that the most important part of reading a book is to actually read the table of contents and familiarize yourself with the major structure of the book. (Source)

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck | 4.40

Tony Robbins [Tony Robbins recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Bill Gates One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because it’s solutions-oriented. In the book’s final chapter, Dweck describes the workshop she and her colleagues have developed to shift students from a fixed to a growth mindset. These workshops demonstrate that ‘just learning about the growth mindset can cause a big shift in the way people think about themselves and their lives. (Source)

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

Merriam-Webster | 4.39

Mark Nichol In the United States, it is considered, among publishing companies, to be the dictionary of record. (Source)

On Food and Cooking

The Science and Lore of the Kitchen

Harold McGee | 4.38

Rose Levy Beranbaum He explains how cooking works and gives you the freedom to create your own things, to know when things go wrong. (Source)

Yotam Ottolenghi McGee is very clear and to the point. Despite the fact that he is quite technical, it’s never boring. (Source)

Chris Young My career starts with [this book] in many ways. There wouldn’t be any of this modern cooking movement without [this book], I don’t think. (Source)

Bird By Bird

Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Anne Lamott | 4.38

Susan Cain I love [this book]. Such a good book. (Source)

Timothy Ferriss Bird by Bird is one of my absolute favorite books, and I gift it to everybody, which I should probably also give to startup founders, quite frankly. A lot of the lessons are the same. But you can get to your destination, even though you can only see 20 feet in front of you. (Source)

Ryan Holiday It was wonderful to read these two provocative books of essays by two incredibly wise and compassionate women. [...] Anne Lamott’s book is ostensibly about the art of writing, but really it too is about life and how to tackle the problems, temptations and opportunities life throws at us. Both will make you think and both made me a better person this year. (Source)

On Writing Well

The Classic Guide To Writing Nonfiction

William Zinsser | 4.38

Tim O'Reilly On Writing Well, by William Zinsser. I wouldn't say this book influenced me, since my principles of writing were established long before I read it. However, it does capture many things that I believe about effective writing. (Source)

Derek Sivers Great blunt advice about writing better non-fiction. So inspiring. (Source)

Joy of Cooking

Irma S. Rombauer | 4.37

Edith Hamilton | 4.35

Alan Kay A few more books like this, and by the time I got to first grade I had been ruined for the 'single book - single truth' ideas of school and church. (Source)

The Body Keeps the Score

Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Bessel van der Kolk M.D. | 4.34

Matthew Green Reading The Body Keeps the Score was a eureka moment for me. (Source)

A Brief History of Time

Stephen Hawking | 4.32

Richard Branson Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. (Source)

Dan Hooper Everybody knows Hawking’s greatest contributions: understanding that black holes radiate light and other particles, that they contain entropy and all these things that no one imagined before him. Hawking and Roger Penrose also worked out the Big Bang singularity, the very moment of creation. To hear him describe some of these things with his own word choices, his own phrasing—not to mention his... (Source)

Adam Hart-Davis When Stephen Hawking wrote A Brief History of Time..his publisher told him that every equation he left in would halve the number of readers (Source)

The Hero With a Thousand Faces

Joseph Campbell | 4.31

The first popular work to combine the spiritual and psychological insights of modern psychoanalysis with the archetypes of world mythology, the book creates a roadmap for navigating the frustrating path of contemporary life. Examining heroic myths in the light of modern psychology, it considers not only the patterns and stages of mythology but also its relevance to our lives today--and to the life of any person seeking a fully realized existence. Myth, according to Campbell, is the projection of a culture's dreams onto a large screen; Campbell's book, like Star Wars , the...

The first popular work to combine the spiritual and psychological insights of modern psychoanalysis with the archetypes of world mythology, the book creates a roadmap for navigating the frustrating path of contemporary life. Examining heroic myths in the light of modern psychology, it considers not only the patterns and stages of mythology but also its relevance to our lives today--and to the life of any person seeking a fully realized existence. Myth, according to Campbell, is the projection of a culture's dreams onto a large screen; Campbell's book, like Star Wars , the film it helped inspire, is an exploration of the big-picture moments from the stage that is our world. It is a must-have resource for both experienced students of mythology and the explorer just beginning to approach myth as a source of knowledge.

Ray Dalio The book I’d give [every graduating senior in college or high school] would be [...] Joseph Campbell’s 'Hero of a Thousand Faces'. It's little bit dense but it’s so rich, so it’s a good one. (Source)

Darren Aronofsky [I'm] totally part of his cult. Because I believe in that hero’s journey. (Source)

Kyle Russell Book 28 Lesson: Embedded in human psychology (and the resulting symbolism we find compelling) is a wish for our struggles to be meaningful, for our suffering to have value, for our effort to pay off for ourselves and those we love - and to then be recognized for it. https://t.co/lWgr4k7d8Y (Source)

Muhammad A. S. Abdel Haleem | 4.30

Ayaan Hirsi Ali The Koran is supposed to be the words of God and the Hadith are the sayings and deeds of the prophet. The Koran has the basic commands; the Hadith or the Sunna, is a sort of manual. It is supposed to be a guideline of how to understand the Koran, because people say that it’s not explicit enough. The Hadith is a compilation of six volumes and they are called the Sahith Sitta – Sitta just means six... (Source)

Naeem Ul Haque The judiciary must not forget that far far above our constitution is the ultimate book of principles and that is the wholly Quran. Every judge in the country must keep a copy of Quran with translation on his/ her desk so that the judge can realise that the Law of God is Supreme. (Source)

Ahmad Thomson When I accepted Islam I’d done it on the basis of meeting Shaykh Abdalqadir and the people around him, and I realised that I knew nothing about it really. So obviously one of the first things was to learn the basics – and I thought I’d better read the Qur’an because that’s the book of the Muslims! At the time I had the Arberry translation which is accurate, and which in some measure conveys the... (Source)

The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Susan Cain | 4.30

Simon Sinek eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',164,'0','1'])); Leaders needn’t be the loudest. Leadership is not about theater. It’s not about dominance. It is about putting the lives of others before any other priority. In Quiet, Cain affirms to a good many of us who are introverts by nature that we needn’t try to be extroverts if we want to lead.... (Source)

Jason Fried A good book I’d recommend is “Quiet” by Susan Cain. (Source)

James Altucher Probably half the world is introverts. Maybe more. It’s not an easy life to live. I sometimes have that feeling in a room full of people, “uh-oh. I just shut down. I can’t talk anymore and there’s a lock on my mouth and this crowd threw away the key.” Do you ever get that feeling? Please? I hope you do. Let’s try to lock eyes at the party. “Quiet” shows the reader how to unlock the secret powers... (Source)

A Short History of Nearly Everything

Bill Bryson | 4.29

Amanda Palmer [Amanda Palmer recommended this book in the book "Tools of Titans".] (Source)

Fabrice Grinda I have lots of books to recommend, but they are not related to my career path. The only one that is remotely related is Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. That said here are books I would recommend. (Source)

David Goldberg What I really liked about A Short History of Nearly Everything is that it gives an excellent account of a lot of the personalities and the interconnectedness of important discoveries in cosmology and elsewhere. He does such a great job of bringing together our understanding of cosmology, evolution, paleontology, and geology in a very, very fluid way. (Source)

The 4-Hour Workweek

Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

Timothy Ferriss, Ray Porter | 4.29

Eric Weinstein [Eric Weinstein recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

Tim Draper With this kind of time management and focus on the important things in life, people should be able to get 15 times as much done in a normal work week. (Source)

Marvin Liao SUCH a hard question to answer because there are so MANY favorite books of mine. For Business, i'd say either 80/20 Principle (Koch) or 4 Hour Work Week (Ferriss) for the principles it teaches on how to optimize work & life. (Source)

Never Split the Difference

Chris Voss, Tahl Raz | 4.28

Daniel Pink Emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence without sacrificing deal-making power. From the pen of a former hostage negotiator—someone who couldn’t take no for an answer—which makes it fascinating reading. But it’s also eminently practical. In these pages, you will find the techniques for getting the deal you want. (Source)

Adam Grant eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_6',164,'0','1'])); This book blew my mind. It’s a riveting read, full of instantly actionable advice—not just for high-stakes negotiations, but also for handling everyday conflicts at work and at home. (Source)

Thomas Glover | 4.26

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

Joseph Gibaldi | 4.26

The Power of Now

A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Eckhart Tolle | 4.25

Roxana Bitoleanu [One of the books that had the biggest impact on ] The power of now, as time is a limited resource and we should spend it as wonderfully as possible. (Source)

Darrah Brustein Others include The Power Of Now which is powerful reminder that all we have is the present and helps give you meaningful ways to live in it, not in the past or the future. (Source)

Valeria Mercado @Ye_Ali The best book (Source)

The Emotion Thesaurus

A Writer's Guide to Character Expression

Becca Puglisi | 4.24

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association(r)

American Psychological Association | 4.24

In addition to providing clear guidance on grammar, the mechanics of writing, and APA style, the Publication Manual offers an authoritative and easy-to-use reference and citation system and comprehensive...

In addition to providing clear guidance on grammar, the mechanics of writing, and APA style, the Publication Manual offers an authoritative and easy-to-use reference and citation system and comprehensive coverage of the treatment of numbers, metrication, statistical and mathematical data, tables, and figures for use in writing, reports, or presentations.

The new edition has been revised and updated to include:

Writers, scholars, and professionals will also find:

New and experienced readers alike will find the 5th Edition a complete resource for writing, presenting, or publishing with clarity and persuasiveness.

Approximately 400 pages

A Story of Justice and Redemption

1, 160 | 4.23

Chris Sacca Proud that @crystale and I could help fund the making of a film about one of our heroes, Bryan Stevenson. If you’ve read the book, then you know how powerful this film is. #JustMercy https://t.co/vNfXK4Imwr (Source)

Howard Schultz Perhaps one of the most powerful and important stories of our time. (Source)

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Thomas C. Foster | 4.23

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may...

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations

Chicago Style for Students and Researchers

Kate L. Turabian | 4.23

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Rebecca Skloot | 4.22

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia — a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo — to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family — past and present — is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family—especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother’s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance?

Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

Carl Zimmer Yes. This is a fascinating book on so many different levels. It is really compelling as the story of the author trying to uncover the history of the woman from whom all these cells came. (Source)

A.J. Jacobs Great writer. (Source)

Roget's International Thesaurus

Barbara Ann Kipfer | 4.20

Angela Duckworth | 4.19

Benjamin Spall [Question: What five books would you recommend to youngsters interested in your professional path?] [...] Grit by Angela Duckworth (Source)

Bogdan Lucaciu Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - it was frustrating to read: “Where was this book 20 years ago!?” (Source)

Stephen Lew When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, Stephen mentioned Grit. (Source)

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho | 4.19

Daniel Ek It was fascinating to talk to [the author] about how this book came to be such a hit—he never backed down, and he allowed people to read it for free in order to then boost sales—much like how Spotify’s freemium model was perceived in the early days. (Source)

Eric Ripert Speaks of everyone having an ultimate goal in life, but most of us are too afraid to pursue it. The encouragement to fulfill your dreams is very inspirational! (Source)

Brené Brown There's a great quote in [this book]: When you're on the right path the universe conspires to help you! (Source)

The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls | 4.16

A People's History of the United States

Howard Zinn | 4.15

Lisa Ling I credit this book with propelling me to dig deeper, and to not always believe the narrative. (Source)

Alex Honnold Totally changed the way I look at politics. (Source)

Player's Handbook (Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition)

Wizards RPG Team | 4.15

Catechism of the Catholic Church

U.S. Catholic Church | 4.15

Tao Te Ching

By Lao Tzu - Illustrated

Lao Tse | 4.15

Tim O'Reilly The Way of Life According to Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching), translated by Witter Bynner. My personal religious philosophy, stressing the rightness of what is, if only we can accept it. Most people who know me have heard me quote from this book. "Seeing as how nothing is outside the vast, wide-meshed net of heaven, who is there to say just how it is cast?" (Source)

Naval Ravikant In the philosophy side, I’ve been rereading the Tao Te Ching. (Source)

Jack Dorsey Q: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading! (Source)

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations

John Bartlett | 4.14

How to Cook Everything

Simple Recipes for Great Food

Mark Bittman, Alan Witschonke | 4.13

Great Food Made Simple

Here's the breakthrough one-stop cooking reference for today's generation of cooks! Nationally known cooking authority Mark Bittman shows you how to prepare great food for all occasions using simple techniques, fresh ingredients, and basic kitchen equipment. Just as important, How to Cook Everything takes a relaxed, straightforward approach to cooking, so you can enjoy yourself in the kitchen and still achieve outstanding results.

The C Programming Language

Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie | 4.13

As we said in the first preface to the first edition, C "wears well as one's experience with it grows." With a decade more experience, we still feel that way. We hope that this book will help you to learn C and use it well.

Animal Farm

George Orwell and Christopher Hitchens | 4.12

Whitney Cummings [Whitney Cummings recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Vlad Tenev When I was in sixth grade I remember being very upset by the ending of [this book]. (Source)

Sol Orwell Question: What books had the biggest impact on you? Perhaps changed the way you see things or dramatically changed your career path. Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 (though Huxley's Brave New World is a better reflection of today's society). (Source)

The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary

Ambrose Bierce, David E. Schultz, S. T. Joshi | 4.12

1,000 Places to See Before You Die

Revised Second Edition

Patricia Schultz | 4.12

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

Adrian Room, John Buchanan-Brown, Terry Pratchett | 4.12

New International Version

Zondervan | 4.11

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley | 4.10

Yuval Noah Harari The most prophetic book of the 20th century. Today many people would easily mistake it for a utopia. (Source)

Ellen Wayland-Smith It is a hilarious, and also very prescient, parody of utopias. Huxley goes back to the idea that coming together and forming a community of common interests is a great idea – it’s the basis of civil society. At the same time, when communities of common interests are taken to utopian degrees the self starts to dissolve into the larger community, you lose privacy and interiority; that becomes... (Source)

John Quiggin The lesson I draw from this is that the purpose of utopia is not so much as an achieved state, as to give people the freedom to pursue their own projects. That freedom requires that people are free of the fear of unemployment, or of financial disaster through poor healthcare. They should be free to have access to the kind of resources they need for their education and we should maintain and... (Source)

Gray's Anatomy

Henry Gray | 4.10

Introduction To Algorithms

Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, et al. | 4.09

Understanding Comics

The Invisible Art

Scott McCloud | 4.09

Austin Kleon Unsolicited, but here’s my advice for visual thinkers (and others) who want to be better writers: [...] Cartoonists, because their work demands work from two disciplines (writing/art, poetry/design, words/pictures), are highly instructive when it comes to visual people learning to write, writers learning to make art, etc. (Check out Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics for more.) (Source)

Will Brooker Understanding Comics is a book about how comics work, told in comic form. It’s very accessible, it’s for the general reader and is about comics in general, not just superhero comics. It explores areas like pacing and editing – how motion can be created through static panels on a page, and how arranging those panels in different ways, or drawing in different styles, or combining text and image,... (Source)

The Associated Press Stylebook 2020

and Briefing on Media Law

The Associated Press | 4.09

What to Expect When You're Expecting

Heidi Murkoff | 4.09

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Peter Boxall, Peter Ackroyd | 4.09

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking

Samin Nosrat | 4.09

Ben Silbermann I enjoy cooking, and this book taught me a lot of the basics of flavor and cooking technique. (Source)

Cameron Strang @bobgoff Cohen read non-stop and finished the book in 4 days. He said Love Does for Kids is his favorite book ever! We’ve talked about so many of the stories and lessons. Now his teacher asked if she could borrow it to read the book to the class. He’s SO proud. Bob, for real, thank you!! (Source)

Yashar Ali Something incredible happened last week As Iran was silencing an entire nation by shutting off the internet, a great book by an Iranian author @CiaoSamin went to #1 on the NYT bestsellers list for the 1st time Her book was published nearly 3 years ago! https://t.co/1RAzmgxvEf https://t.co/1ztY4BTTk6 (Source)

The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection

Or, the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life

Charles Darwin, Robin Field | 4.09

Neil deGrasse Tyson Which books should be read by every single intelligent person on planet? [...] On the Origin of Species (Darwin) [to learn of our kinship with all other life on Earth]. If you read all of the above works you will glean profound insight into most of what has driven the history of the western world. (Source)

Mark Kurlansky It is one of the most important books written, and I always urge people to read it. (Source)

Darren Aronofsky [Darren Aronofsky recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

The Atlas of Middle-Earth

Karen Wynn Fonstad | 4.09

Talking to Strangers

What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.08

Ryan Holiday I'll put here what I emailed Malcolm when I finished the book: "Just finished your new book in one sitting yesterday. So good. You are at the height of your powers and remain an inspiration to all of us trying to master an un-masterable profession." It's a little less practical or self-improvement oriented than his previous books, but far more thought provoking. (Source)

Nilofer Merchant An interesting analysis/ essay re Gladwell’s latest book —&gt; https://t.co/5Ey1maNRyI (Source)

The Sibley Guide to Birds

David Allen Sibley | 4.08

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Eric Carle | 4.07

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited

A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

Steve Krug | 4.07

Chris Goward Here are some of the books that have been very impactful for me, or taught me a new way of thinking: [...] Don't Make Me Think. (Source)

Nicolae Andronic I’m a technical guy. I studied the IT field and did software development for a long time until I discovered the business world. So the path for me is to slowly adapt from the clear, technical world, to the fuzzy, way more complex, business world. All the books that I recommend help this transition. “Don’t Make Me Think” - Steve Krug: for seeing software with the eyes of the user. (Source)

Nick Ganju About usability and making software and user interfaces that are friendly to people. (Source)

The Dictionary of Imaginary Places

The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic

Alberto Manguel, Gianni Guadalupi, Graham Greenfield, James Cook | 4.07

Writing Down the Bones

Freeing the Writer Within

Natalie Goldberg | 4.07

Brie Code @gamesandbowties Oh I love that book! And am intrigued by mystic poetry and would love to see it on Twitter 😇 (Source)

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)

Scott Cunningham | 4.06

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Betty Edwards | 4.06

Adam Robinson [One of five books that confirm] there is far, far more in our unconscious mind than is dreamt of in our philosophy. (Source)

Me and White Supremacy

Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor

Layla Saad, Robin DiAngelo | 4.05

Lucianne Walkowicz Bonus round for my fellow white people: pre-order Layla F. Saad's #MeandWhiteSupremacy workbook! It comes out soon, and one of the best things you can do for someone's book is PREORDER IT (don't wait until it hits the shelves). Also, you need it: https://t.co/Gyw5N8ePvq (Source)

The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha

New Revised Standard Version

Michael Coogan, Marc Brettler, Carol Newsom, Pheme Perkins | 4.05

Timothy Beal I teach biblical studies at a secular university and I use this version a lot. It’s the standard critical edition for academic study, but many people use it for personal reasons. It uses the New Revised Standard Version translation, which I think is among the best. (Source)

Roger Thurow Feed the hungry is a central command of all religions great and small. But the question is, if that’s the case, and it is, how have we come into the 21st century with one billion chronically hungry people? (Source)

Felipe Fernández-Armesto Chapters 7 to 12 of the Book of Daniel constitute, in my opinion, the first genuinely global history ever written. (Source)

Systematic Theology

An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

Wayne Grudem | 4.05

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

Edward R. Tufte | 4.05

Michael Okuda Edward Tufte's classic book, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information is a fascinating, surprisingly readable treatise for anyone interested in infographics. When I hired artists for the Star Trek graphics dept, I sometimes asked them to read it.https://t.co/cK4GQqBDxp (Source)

A Dictionary of Modern English Usage

H. W. Fowler, Sir Ernest Gowers | 4.04

The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary

Merriam-Webster | 4.04

Garner's Modern American Usage

Bryan A. Garner | 4.04

Mark Nichol This book is the closest thing Americans have to a national authority. (Source)

Bulfinch's Mythology

Thomas Bulfinch, Alberto Manguel | 4.04

Andrei Codrescu I was amazed by the beauty of the language, and the storyteller’s unrelenting fascination with the stories he has collected. (Source)

Lord of the Flies

out of 5 stars5,34 | 4.04

Scott Belsky [Scott Belsky recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Chigozie Obioma William Golding imbues some of these children with wisdom that would read, in the hands of a lesser author, as implausibly knowing (Source)

Disco Donnie @JoshRHernandez1 I love the book “Lord of the Flies” so just started watching The Society (Source)

Atlas Obscura

An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders

Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, Ella Morton | 4.03

Adam Savage Atlas Obscura. Go to the site. Buy the book. Seriously great content. My favorite way to travel (this endorsement based only in love) @atlasobscura https://t.co/zLMm126yXD (Source)

David Plotz I'm here to solve your holiday gift buying problems! Today we release the Second Edition of the No. 1 bestselling Atlas Obscura book, with 100 new wondrous places, 12 city guides, a foldout map. It's gorgeous and fun and an amazing gift. https://t.co/ids7kNjImW https://t.co/95ULoJOKJg (Source)

Mastering the Art of French Cooking

Julia Child | 4.03

Madhur Jaffrey Well, you take it off the hob and you mix in more milk or whatever it is. You mix something cold in or put in cubes of ice and then slowly put it back. You have to cool it quickly and then put it back. You might need to put another egg in and start again. (Source)

Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book

Better Homes and Gardens | 4.03

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas | 4.02

Bianca Belair For #BlackHistoryMonth  I will be sharing some of my favorite books by Black Authors 7th Book: The Hate U Give By: Angie Thomas @angiecthomas The movie was really great, but it just hits different when you read the book! https://t.co/rxMH5Uu6JN (Source)

R. J. Palacio | 4.02

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey | 4.02

Bianca Belair For #BlackHistoryMonth I will be sharing some of my favorite books by Black Authors 5th Book: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings By: Maya Angelou Another autobiography classic that will be hard to not find on any must- read book list! https://t.co/mGRG76lLRn (Source)

Julia Enthoven I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is beautifully written, and I really enjoy the voice of the protagonist and think it’s sad and fascinating to read about her time in history. (Source)

Little Blue Truck

Alice Schertle | 4.02

Prescription for Nutritional Healing

Phyllis A. Balch CNC | 4.02

A History of Western Philosophy

Bertrand Russell | 4.02

Sam Harris Just a great example of how English should be written and just a great voice to have in your head as a result. (Source)

Peter Atkins It reviews how people have really grappled in a seemingly very intelligent way with very deep questions. (Source)

The Bad Seed

Jory John | 4.02

Susan Gelman I love this book. I have to confess that in high school I had the lead in a play that we put on of The Bad Seed. I was the evil girl. So I’ve been thinking about this one for a long time. It’s really essentialism personified. What makes it essentialism is that this girl, who outwardly seems very sweet and innocent, in actuality is bad to the core. So there’s this appearance/reality distinction... (Source)

The Zombie Survival Guide

Complete Protection from the Living Dead

Max Brooks | 4.01

A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America

Roger Tory Peterson Institute | 4.01

The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

James Strong | 4.01

501 Spanish Verbs

Fully Conjugated in All the Tenses in a New Easy-To-Learn Format Alphabetically Arranged

Christopher Kendris | 4.00

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers

How to Edit Yourself Into Print

Renni Browne, Dave King | 4.00

Alina Varlanuta My professional path – copywriting – somehow intertwines with my unprofessional (hahaha) path – writing so I would recommend reading literature for both. Somehow reading and writing are two ways of doing the same thing: storytelling (even when you read you tell yourself a story in your own voice, bringing your personal emotion and empathy to the story you’re reading). The only difference is that... (Source)

Thomas J Glover and Richard A Young | 4.00

The Catcher in the Rye

J. D. Salinger | 4.00

Bill Gates One of my favorite books ever. (Source)

Woody Allen It was such a relief from the other books I was reading at the time, which all had a quality of homework to them. (Source)

Chigozie Obioma He sees everybody as phony because they take life too seriously. (Source)

Design Patterns

Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software

Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, et al. | 4.00

Each pattern describes the circumstances in which it is applicable, when it can be applied in view of other design constraints, and the consequences and trade-offs of using the pattern within a larger design. All patterns are compiled from real systems and are based on real-world examples. Each pattern also includes code that demonstrates how it may be implemented in object-oriented programming languages like C++ or Smalltalk.

The Complete Works

William Shakespeare | 4.00

The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth

Robert Foster | 4.00

Reference Books

Introduction: Reference books are indispensable resources in research , learning, and acquiring knowledge across diverse subjects. These specialized publications, from dictionaries and encyclopedias to atlases and handbooks, provide quick access to specific information and authoritative references. The importance of reference books lies in their ability to offer concise and reliable information on a wide range of topics. They provide definitions, explanations, facts, statistics, and background information essential for understanding complex concepts or answering specific questions. Reference books are valuable tools for students, researchers, professionals, and anyone seeking accurate and credible information in a convenient and accessible format. By offering a wealth of information in a condensed and easily navigable manner, reference books are an invaluable resource for expanding knowledge, supporting academic pursuits, and facilitating efficient information retrieval.

1.1 What is Reference Books?

Reference books, also known as reference works or resources, are authoritative and specialized publications designed to provide quick access to specific information on a wide range of subjects. They are valuable tools for researchers, students, professionals, and individuals seeking accurate and concise information. Reference books come in various formats, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, directories, handbooks, and almanacs, each catering to different information needs. These books are typically organized to facilitate easy navigation and retrieval of information, allowing users to quickly find definitions, facts, statistics, explanations, or background information on a particular topic. They are intended to be consulted selectively rather than read cover-to-cover, making them indispensable resources for gathering information efficiently and enhancing knowledge in various fields.

1.2 Types and Classes of Reference Book.

All the reference books are classified into two broad groups: General and Special Reference Books.

General Reference Books:

• Dictionaries: Provide definitions, spellings, pronunciations, and sometimes etymologies of words. They can be general dictionaries or specialized dictionaries for specific fields.
• Encyclopedias: Comprehensive references that cover a wide range of topics, providing detailed information and background on subjects from various fields.
• Handbooks: Concise guides that offer practical information, instructions, or guidelines on specific topics, such as reference handbooks for writing, grammar, or scientific procedures.
• Atlases: Contain maps, charts, and geographical information, including physical maps, political maps, thematic maps, and other cartographic resources.
• Gazetteers: Provide detailed geographical information, such as place names, locations, and descriptions, often accompanied by statistical data.

Specialized or Subject Reference Books:

• Indexes: Alphabetical or systematic lists that help locate specific information in books, journals, or other sources by referencing relevant pages or sections.
• Abstracts: Summaries of articles, research papers, or other publications that provide a concise overview of the main points or findings.
• Bibliographies: Lists of sources, books, articles, or other materials related to a particular subject, author, or topic. They help researchers identify relevant works for further study.
• Directories: Provide contact information, addresses, and descriptions of organizations, institutions, businesses, individuals, or other entities within a specific field or geographical area.
• Subject-Specific Reference Books: These include reference materials dedicated to specific subjects or disciplines, such as literary companions, art catalogs, historical chronicles, scientific handbooks, or legal dictionaries.

Each of these types of reference books serves a specific purpose, providing users with easy access to information, aiding research, and supporting knowledge acquisition in various domains. They play a crucial role in guiding individuals to relevant resources and facilitating efficient information retrieval.

1.3 Varieties of Reference Books, their purpose and Functions

Reference books come in various forms, each serving a specific purpose and function in providing information. Let’s explore some of the common types of reference books in detail:

• Dictionaries: Dictionaries are comprehensive word references that provide definitions, spellings, pronunciations, and often etymologies of words. They serve as linguistic resources, aiding in vocabulary development, language comprehension, and communication. Dictionaries can be general-purpose or specialized for specific fields such as medicine, law, or technology.
• Encyclopedias: Encyclopedias offer extensive coverage of various subjects, providing in-depth information and background knowledge. They are valuable references for gaining an overview of a topic, exploring key concepts, and understanding historical, scientific, cultural, or social contexts. Encyclopedias can be general or specialized encyclopedias focused on specific disciplines or areas of study.
• Handbooks: Handbooks are concise guides that offer practical information, instructions, or guidelines on specific topics. They provide quick access to a specific field’s essential facts, procedures, techniques, or rules. Handbooks are used in medicine, engineering, law, or research methodologies, assisting professionals and practitioners daily.
• Atlases: Atlases are reference books that contain maps, charts, and geographical information. They visually represent physical features, political boundaries, thematic data, and other spatial information. Atlases help users explore and understand the geography of specific regions, countries, or the world.
• Gazetteers: Gazetteers focus on geographical information, providing details about place names, locations, and descriptions. They often include additional data like population statistics, historical facts, and landmarks. Gazetteers are useful for researchers, travelers, and those interested in exploring specific regions or studying the geographical aspects of a location.
• Thesauruses: Thesauruses are reference books that provide synonyms, antonyms, and related words for expanding vocabulary and finding alternative expressions. They aid in enriching language use, enhancing writing skills, and improving communication by suggesting different words with similar or opposite meanings.
• Almanacs: Almanacs are annual reference books that provide various information, including calendars, astronomical data, weather forecasts, statistical data, and historical facts. They are handy references for general knowledge, trivia, and current events.
• Bibliographies: Bibliographies are lists of books, articles, or other sources related to a particular subject, author, or topic. They help researchers and scholars identify relevant publications for further study and provide a comprehensive overview of existing literature in a specific field.
• Indexes: Indexes are alphabetical or systematic lists that facilitate locating specific information within books, journals, or other sources. They provide references to page numbers, sections, or entries where relevant information can be found. Indexes aid in efficient information retrieval, saving time and effort in locating specific details within extensive texts.
• Directories: Directories contain contact information, addresses, and descriptions of organizations, institutions, businesses, individuals, or other entities within a specific field, region, or profession. They are valuable resources for finding contact details, identifying experts, or exploring specific industries or sectors.

1.4 Why Reference Books Are Used For?

Reference books are used for various purposes because they provide quick access to specific information and reliable references. Here are some common reasons why reference books are used:

• Information Retrieval: Reference books offer a convenient and efficient way to retrieve information on a specific topic. Instead of searching through lengthy texts, users can consult dictionaries, encyclopedias, or indexes to quickly find definitions, explanations, facts, or references related to their query.
• Background Knowledge: Reference books provide background information and overviews of various subjects. They offer introductory explanations, historical context, and key concepts, enabling users to develop a foundational understanding of a topic before diving deeper into more specialized sources.
• Research and Study: Reference books serve as valuable resources for research and study purposes. They provide authoritative information, data, and references to support academic research, writing papers, preparing presentations, or studying for exams. Bibliographies and indexes help researchers identify relevant sources for further exploration.
• Vocabulary Expansion: Thesauruses and dictionaries are commonly used to expand vocabulary and find synonyms, antonyms, or alternative expressions. They aid in language development, writing, and communication by suggesting different word choices and enhancing linguistic skills.
• Fact-checking and Verification: Reference books are trusted sources for fact-checking and verification. They provide accurate and reliable information, helping users verify claims, settle debates, or confirm details before using them in their work or discussions.
• Language and Writing Support: Reference books such as grammar guides, style manuals, and writing handbooks offer guidance on language usage, writing conventions, and grammar rules. They serve as references for writers, editors, and language learners, improving writing skills and ensuring accurate language usage.
• Geographical and Cartographic Information: Atlases and gazetteers provide maps, geographical information, and place descriptions. They are used for exploring regions, understanding spatial relationships, planning trips, or conducting geographical research.
• Contact Information and Directory Services: Directories provide contact details, addresses, and descriptions of organizations, businesses, or individuals. They are used for networking, finding experts, locating services, or connecting with specific professionals or industries.
• Trivia and General Knowledge: Almanacs, yearbooks, and reference books with miscellaneous information are often consulted for general knowledge, trivia, or staying updated on current events. They provide interesting facts, statistical data, historical information, and other tidbits of information.

Reference books offer a wealth of information, guidance, and references, making them essential tools for students, researchers, professionals, and individuals seeking accurate and reliable information in a convenient and accessible format.

1.5 Role of Reference Tools in Library Service.

Reference tools are vital in library services, serving as invaluable resources for librarians and patrons. These tools aid in accessing information quickly and accurately, providing assistance in research reference services, and enhancing the overall library experience. Reference tools such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, indexes, and subject guides assist users in finding definitions background information, locating relevant sources, and answering inquiries. Librarians rely on these tools to offer reliable guidance, verify facts, support research activities, and provide accurate and authoritative information to patrons. Reference tools also contribute to collection development, language support, reader advisory, and promoting information literacy. Their role in library services is instrumental in empowering users to navigate the vast sea of information, promoting lifelong learning, and ensuring the library remains a valuable source of knowledge and assistance.

Reference Article:

• Padhi, P. (1992). Development of reference tools in oriya from 19th century A D a technical study. Utkal University, India. Retrieved from: http://hdl.handle.net/10603/189283

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Understanding the reference interview: the significance of the reference interview, difference between information service and reference service, reference librarian overview : what is a reference librarian, online reference service, virtual reference service, reference service of library and its types.

Please reference book should be given full definition for more understanding

Pingback: Apa Perbedaan Antara Buku Teks dan Buku Referensi

Very nice knowledge about reference book. Here is Sajad Rathore Librarian from Pakistan

Very good, thanks for the update. I hope to be there for MLIS in India

Very good for the update and I wish to be there for my MLIS in India

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Reference List: Books

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

The following contains a list of the most commonly cited print book sources. E-books are described on our "Electronic Sources" page . For a complete list of how to cite print sources, please refer to the 7 th edition of the APA Publication Manual. 

Note: If available, APA 7 requires a DOI for all works that have one — whether print or digital. If a print work does not have a DOI do not include it in the reference citation.

Basic Format for Books

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle . Publisher Name. DOI (if available)

Stoneman, R. (2008). Alexander the Great: A life in legend . Yale University Press.

Edited Book, No Author

Editor, E. E. (Ed.). (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle . Publisher. DOI (if available)

Leitch, M. G., & Rushton, C. J. (Eds.). (2019).  A new companion to Malory . D. S. Brewer.

Edited Book with an Author or Authors

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (E. Editor, Ed.). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Malory, T. (2017). Le morte darthur (P. J. C. Field, Ed.). D. S. Brewer. (Original work published 1469-70)

A Translation

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (T. Translator, Trans.). Publisher. (Original work published YEAR) DOI (if available)

Plato (1989). Symposium (A. Nehamas & P. Woodruff, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company. (Original work published ca. 385-378 BCE)

Note : When you cite a republished work, like the one above, in your text, it should appear with both dates: Plato (385-378/1989)

Edition Other Than the First

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (# edition). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Belcher, W. (2019). Writing your journal article in twelve weeks: A guide to academic publishing success (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press.

Article or Chapter in an Edited Book

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (pp. pages of chapter). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Note : When you list the pages of the chapter or essay in parentheses after the book title, use "pp." before the numbers: (pp. 1-21). This abbreviation, however, does not appear before the page numbers in periodical references. List any edition number in the same set of parentheses as the page numbers, separated by a comma: (2nd ed., pp. 66-72).

Armstrong, D. (2019). Malory and character. In M. G. Leitch & C. J. Rushton (Eds.), A new companion to Malory  (pp. 144-163). D. S. Brewer.

Multivolume Work

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (Vol. #) . Publisher. DOI (if available)

David, A., & Simpson, J. (Eds.). (2006). The Norton anthology of English literature: The Middle Ages (8 th ed.,Vol. A). W. W. Norton and Company.

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Definition of reference book

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“Reference book.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reference%20book. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.

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Your current subscription allows you to be actively logged in on up to three (3) devices simultaneously. click on continue below to log out of other sessions and log in on this device., the best reference books of the year.

Though reference works are generally thought to be purely informational, no book is free from its author’s point of view. Many of the titles this year demonstrate that reference can take a stand.

Though reference works are generally thought to be purely informational, no book is free from its author’s point of view. Many of the titles this year demonstrate that reference can take a stand. Racism in American Films and ­ Misogyny in American Culture argue that oppressive attitudes are embedded in our society, while offering superb research and coverage. In compiling the list, my committee of LJ reviewers and I also considered the bias of industry gatekeepers. Who is left out when it comes to "best of" lists? To make our compilation more inclusive, we were pleased to feature Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada , a stunning work that highlights Native perspectives, as well as Black Power Encyclopedia , whose primary source excerpts give voice to the major players in the movement. We’re also happy to present a list that speaks to many of the questions that your patrons will be asking in both the short and long term. Our political situation is dire—how did we get here? Direct readers to Atlas of the 2016 Elections . Why is "fake news" such an epidemic? The Encyclopedia of Misinformation has some answers. Yet there are whimsy and joy in the mix, too—from everything you ever wanted to know about tractors to an encyclopedia of hip-hop to several odes to maps. And don’t miss our roundup of best databases and best free websites and apps. —Mahnaz Dar

ARTS & LITERATURE

Mustich, James. 1,000 Books To Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List. Workman. 960p. illus. index. ISBN 9781523504459. $35; ebk. ISBN 9781523505128. Bibliophiles with ever-growing “to be read” piles will find this bucket list of books a worthy challenge. Pithy profiles get to the heart of a rich variety of works: children’s literature, suspense, sf, and romance keep company with memoirs, graphic novels, and more. Mustich, founder of the book catalog A Common Reader , endears himself to those conducting readers’ advisory, too, with further reading and read-alikes for each title, as well as detailed indexing. ( LJ 8/18)

St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture. Gale Cengage. 579p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781410380814. $285. No single work can tell the entire story of hip-hop, but this encyclopedia, the first on the topic in more than a decade, comes close. From Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 hit “Rapper’s Delight” to the deaths of legends Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur to recent reality shows such as Love and Hip Hop , it’s all here. With color photos and extensive indexing and cross-­referencing, this dazzling tome chronicles the evolution of a pivotal musical genre.

Wilhide, Elizabeth. The Complete Pattern Directory: 1500 Designs from All Ages and Cultures. Black Dog & Leventhal. 672p. illus. index. ISBN 9780316418232. $45. Magnificent color illustrations depict 1,500 patterns in five categories (flora, fauna, geometric, pictorial, and abstract). Wilhide ( Plain Simple Useful ; The Essential House Book ) explores key designers such as William Morris, Sonia Delaunay, and Charles and Ray Eames; identifies motifs of period styles; and notes the influence of women. Indexes allow users to search by date, designer, and country. Essential for artists, designers, and art historians.  

BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

Ramge, Thomas & Jan Schwochow. The Global Economy as You’ve Never Seen It: 99 Ingenious Infographics That Put It All Together. Experiment. 216p. maps. index. ISBN 9781615195176. $35. Using infographics to brilliant effect, Ramge (technology correspondent, brand eins ) and Schwochow (founder, CEO, ­Infographics Group) have produced an informative atlas-like work that explains the international economy. Everything about this book is splendid, from the ingenious table of contents to coverage of a wide range of topics: manufacturing, sustainability, Karl Marx, and more. An incredibly comprehensible volume on a potentially intimidating subject. ( LJ 11/15/18)

GENERAL REFERENCE

Klancher, Lee. Tractor: The Heartland Innovation, Ground-Breaking Machines, Midnight Schemes, Secret Garages, and Farmyard Geniuses That Mechanized Agriculture. Octane. 240p. illus. index. ISBN 9781937747954. $29.95. Whether patrons have an interest in tractors or not, photographer and journalist Klancher’s brisk writing and careful research will captivate them as he presents this reference on tractor history, innovation, key machines, and notable designers. Photos from the Library of Congress and local historical societies share space with line drawings and eye-popping color images. Entries on “Old Reliable,” “Big Bud,” and “The Blue Beast” lead to a conceptual design for a driverless auto­guided tractor. Stories of breakthroughs, failures, and chicanery are sprinkled throughout. A gem for rural and urban libraries.

Sorgatz, Rex. The Encyclopedia of Misinformation: A Compendium of Imitations, Spoofs, Delusions, Simulations, Counterfeits, Impostors, Illusions, Confabulations, Skullduggery, Frauds, Pseudoscience, Propaganda, Hoaxes, Flimflam, Pranks, Hornswoggle, Conspiracies & Miscellaneous Fakery. Abrams. 256p. illus. by Lorenzo Petrantoni. ISBN 9781419729119. $19.99; ebk. ISBN 9781683352341. Writer and designer Sorgatz provides an amusing tour of misinformation. Many topics will be recognizable to anyone familiar with pop culture, including Area 51, the deep state, flat earth theory, and the moon landing hoax. This unique compilation clearly shows that “fake news” in its many forms—deception, propaganda, hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and more—has long been a part of the human condition. ( LJ 7/18)

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Medical Symptoms: A Visual Guide; The Easy Way To Identify Medical Problems. DK. 256p. illus. index. ISBN 9781465459145. pap. $19.95. Gorgeously intricate illustrations enrich this highly detailed three-part anatomy atlas. The volume ties common symptoms to specific body parts and defines potential issues such as gallstones and heart attack. Superb organization distinguishes this work—readers can search by general symptom, by organ, or by specific system or ­disorder. ( LJ 4/1/18)

Akbarnia, Ladan & others. The Islamic World: A History in Objects. Thames & Hudson. 272p. photos. bibliog. ISBN 9780500480403. $39.95. Cultural artifacts including ceramics, textiles, and metalwork trace Islam from 750 to today, in this deep dive into the Islamic world from West Africa to Southeast Asia. Vibrant photos depict architectural decoration, jewelry, calligraphy, musical instruments, coins, illustrated manuscripts, and modern and contemporary art. A glossary and bibliography; background on pre-Islamic history and religious beliefs and practices; and context for recent artwork make this ideal for even those with little knowledge on the topic.

Battles That Changed History. DK. 256p. maps. illus. index. ISBN 9781465473844. $30. From Marathon to Iwo Jima, from the expected (Agincourt, Stalingrad) to the less familiar (Hansando, Ain Jalut), this compilation of photos, artwork, maps, battle plans, and armor, among others, briefly covers smaller engagements and “in detail” looks at larger conflicts. Even those uninterested in the study of war will be riveted by the examples here of human ingenuity, courage, waste, and folly. (Xpress Reviews, 1/25/19)

Jones, Dan & Marina Amaral. The Color of Time: A New History of the World; 1850–1960. Pegasus. 432p. photos. index. ISBN 9781643130545. $39.95. The subtitle barely exaggerates: this is history in a new light. Artist Amaral has ­subtly colorized 200 historical photographs, while historian and journalist Jones ( Magna Carta ; The Templars ) provides informative context for each. Suddenly these scenes—some familiar, others obscure—look, well, like reality. Literally bringing history out of the shadows, this work will change readers’ perceptions of the past.

Secrets, Leaks & Scandals. 2 vols. Salem. (Defining Documents in American History). 800p. ed. by Michael Shally-Jensen. photos. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781682176986. $295. Primary sources reveal misrepresentation, betrayal, corruption, and other ethical failures from 1797 to 2018. The 70-plus documents, compiled by editor and author Shally-Jensen, illluminate the Chennault Affair, Watergate, My Lai, Wikileaks, and more. Context and analysis elucidate documents (sometimes abridged). Tension between security and transparency continues as examining these intriguing cases clarifies risks and costs.

Vile, John R. The American Flag: An Encyclopedia of the Stars and Stripes in U.S. History, Culture, and Law. ABC-CLIO. 398p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781440857881. $94 ; ebk. ISBN 9781440857898. Vile (dean, political science, Univ. Honors Coll., Middle Tennessee State Univ.) masterfully explains the ubiquity and importance of the flag in our culture and daily lives. Tackling everything from flag etiquette to artistic depictions of the flag in poems, speeches, and music, this accumulation of fascinating facts illuminates many of our traditions. Anyone with an interest in U.S. history, patriotic symbols, or the study of flags will be mesmerized. ( LJ 2/19)

LAW & POLITICS

Hatred of America’s Presidents: Personal Attacks on the White House from Washington to Trump. ABC-CLIO. 420p. ed. by Lori Cox Han. index. ISBN 9781440854361. $94 ; ebk. ISBN 9781440854378. This thrilling study proves that opposition politics is not a recent phenomenon. Personal enemies, political adversaries, damaging scandals, extreme partisanship, and scathing attacks—no president is spared. Editor Han (political science, Chapman Univ.) weaves together topics such as the role of media, political psychology, and counterstrategies in this entertaining study of the darker side of the U.S. presidency. ( LJ 9/1/18)

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Crime, Media, and Popular Culture. 3 vols. Oxford Univ. 2,232p. ed. by Nicole Rafter & Michelle Brown. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780190494674. $595. Relying on empirical studies and historical reviews of crime-related subjects throughout history, Rafter (emerita, Sch. of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Northeastern Univ.) and Brown (sociology, Univ. of Tennessee) ask, “Which comes first: the media or the crime?” The editors examine the effects of the media on criminology and of criminology on the media. This scholarly treatment of a popular topic will appeal to a wide range of readers. ( LJ 5/1/18)

Encyclopedia of Women in World Religions: Faith and Culture Across History. ABC-CLIO. 863p. ed. by Susan de-Gaia. photos. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781440848490. $198 ; ebk. ISBN 9781440848506. With this timely encyclopedia, editor de-Gaia (philosophy & religion, Central Michigan Univ.) fills in the gaps concerning the long-overlooked input of women to the religions of the world. The work also serves as an antidote to the misogyny common in most world religions. A diverse range of scholars have contributed, including academics, religious leaders, and museum directors. A comprehensive and overdue addition to the topic. ( LJ 3/19)

Bainbridge, David. Stripped Bare: The Art of Animal Anatomy. Princeton Univ. 256p. illus. index. ISBN 9780691181424. $29.95. Art, science, and intellectual history—this book explores how humans have conceptualized and represented vertebrates from antiquity to today. Bainbridge (univ. clinical veterinary anatomist, Univ. of Cambridge) includes a variety of images; all, whether black and white or full color, are stunning. The earliest examples (an Etruscan sheep’s liver, a New Mexico petroglyph) are just as revelatory as today’s computer-aided imagery. Commentary examines the aesthetic, cultural, intellectual, and philosophical contexts.

Barnes-Svarney, Patricia & Thomas E. Svarney. The Handy Forensic Science Answer Book: Reading Clues at the Crime Scene, Crime Lab and in Court. Visible Ink. 400p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781578596218. pap. $21.95; ebk. ISBN 9781578596812. Focusing on the science behind criminology, this user-friendly title from these married authors ( The Handy Anatomy Answer Book ; The Handy Nutrition Answer Book ) is loaded with fun facts. Well-phrased questions are followed by succinct answers that explain the history of forensic science, controversies, media portrayals, and more. ( LJ 9/15/18)

Engel, Michael S. Innumerable Insects: The Story of the Most Diverse and Myriad Animals on Earth. Sterling. 232p. illus. index. ISBN 9781454923237. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781454933526. The Smithsonian Institution estimates that for every human on the planet, there are about 200 million insects. Engel, a research affiliate at the American Museum of Natural History, here examines the identification and classification of insects, along with habitat, behaviors, and life cycles. Breathtaking images chosen from the museum’s rare book collections highlight diversity and specialized adaptations. Short bios of notable scientists and insect illustrators are interspersed with small and larger-than-life renderings of beetles, bed bugs, and butterflies. ( LJ Winter 2018)

Howell, Catherine Herbert. The Splendor of Birds: Art and Photographs from National Geographic. National Geographic. 512p. illus. index. ISBN 9781426219672. $75. Commemorating the Year of the Bird (2018) and marking the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States, this book from Howell ( National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America ) boasts stunning photographs and drawings from the archives of National Geographic over the past 130 years. Many of the images were captured in remote locations under risky conditions. As much a work of art as a look at science and nature, this guide raises awareness of the numerous challenges faced by birds and celebrates the beauty of the avian world and its relationship with humanity. ( LJ Winter 2018)  

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Black Power Encyclopedia: From “Black Is Beautiful” to Urban Uprisings.  2 vols. Greenwood. 917p. ed. by Akinyele Umoja & others. photos. index. ISBN 9781440840067. $189; ebk. ISBN 9781440840074. Addressing the major personalities, events, organizations, ideologies, themes, trends, and impacts of Black Power, Umoja (African American studies, Georgia State Univ.), Karin L. Stanford (political science & Africana studies, California State Univ., Northridge), and historian Jasmin A. Young provide an in-depth look at one of the most controversial, influential, and fascinating movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Excerpts from multiple primary sources lend authenticity, authority, and gravitas. Indispensable for anyone with an interest in African American studies, American cultural studies, or the study of race. ( LJ 11/1/18)

Dolan, Deborah. A Research Guide to Psychology: Print and Electronic Sources. Rowman & Littlefield. 200p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781442276017. $100. This eagerly awaited, comprehensive research how-to updates the similarly titled 1982 Raymond G. McInnis guide, with parts relevant or adaptable to other disciplines. Dolan (library svcs. & subject specialist for psychology, Hofstra Univ.) explores many topics: research problems and solutions, journal articles and annuals, directories and organizations, style guides, and more. The strictly academic focus bypasses popular literature, speaking instead to faculty and undergraduates, clinicians, and policymakers.

The Encyclopedia of Racism in American Films. Rowman & Littlefield. (National Cinema). 824p. ed. by Salvador Jimenez Murguía. photos. index. ISBN 9781442269057. $121; ebk. ISBN 9781442269064. Murguía (sociology, Akita Intl. Univ., Japan) nimbly blends history, sociology, and film studies in this compilation of movies that unpack racism ( Get Out ; Dear White People ) or perpetuate racist attitudes, either explicitly ( The Birth of a Nation ) or implicitly ( Driving Miss Daisy ; Forrest Gump ). Along the way, readers get a crash course in identifying racist tropes such as the white savior or the magical Negro. Crucial for those examining the film canon through a critical lens. ( LJ 8/18)

The Handbook of Research on Black Males: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Multidisciplinary. Michigan State Univ. 688p. ed. by Theodore Ransaw & others. photos. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781611862973. $74.95; ebk. ISBN 9781628953411. With this challenging but much-needed book, Ransaw (African American & African studies, Michigan State Univ), C.P. Gause (educational leadership & counseling, Southeast Missouri State), and Richard Majors (Univ. of Colorado–Colorado Springs) emphatically advance studies on the black male experience in America. Intended to serve as a starting point for discussion, the work looks back at history; explores topics such as health, education, and the criminal and social justice systems; and identifies future initiatives and programs for developing a basic framework to improve the lives of black men. Thought provoking and vital. ( LJ 3/19)

Misogyny in American Culture: Causes, Trends, and Solutions. 2 vols. Greenwood. 870p. ed. by Letizia Guglielmo. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781440853814. $198; ebk. ISBN 9781440853821.  Defining misogyny as the silencing of women’s voices and the restriction of women’s autonomy via hatred, bias, and discrimination, editor Guglielmo (English, interdisciplinary studies, coordinator, Gender and Women’s Studies Program, Kennesaw State Univ.) examines advertising, beauty and fashion, marriage, science, health, the entertainment industry, and politics, among many more subjects. The relevant, accessible, and balanced articles demonstrate that it is possible to present hot-button topics in an evenhanded manner. ( LJ 12/18)

Revolting New York: How 400 Years of Riot, Rebellion, Uprising, and Revolution Shaped a City. Univ. of Georgia. 368p. ed. by Neil Smith & Don Mitchell. photos. maps. notes. index. ISBN 9780820352817. $94.95; ebk. ISBN 9780820352824. Editors Smith (formerly, geography and anthropology, Graduate Ctr., CUNY; deceased) and Mitchell (emeritus, geography, Syracuse Univ.) reveal how a long history of civil unrest has shaped New York City and its geography as much as, if not more than, politics, economic growth, or urban development. The writing is first-rate, with ample illustrations and many contemporary and historical images. Consisting of 19 chapters of events and movements arranged chronologically, the volume concludes with a short afterword on more recent demonstrations such as Occupy Wall Street. Fast paced and fascinating, like the city it profiles. ( LJ 4/15/18)

TRAVEL & ATLASES

Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. 4 vols. Canadian Geographic. 322p. maps. photos. ISBN 9780986751622. $99. This set represents a moving and beautiful record of the culture, oppression, and persistence of Canada’s Native peoples. Besides a general volume (with excellent information on languages), three large-format works cover First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples via history, socio­cultural traditions, writing, maps, cultural expression, education, economics, research, health, housing, environment, and geopolitics. Vibrant color photos show artifacts, sites, and individuals. A forward-looking focus on justice, education of the non-Indigenous, first-person accounts, and Indigenous perspectives make this title groundbreaking. (Xpress Reviews, 1/25/19)

Mason, Betsy & Greg Miller. All over the Map: A Cartographic Odyssey. National Geographic. 320p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 9781426219726. $50. Those who pick up this most unusual atlas will find secret military maps of Japan captured by U.S. forces after World War II, “olfactory snapshots of cities,” and, for Game of Thrones fans, a map of ­Westeros. More than that, though, readers will be awed at the power of maps—and perhaps come away with a desire to follow in journalists and novice cartographers Mason’s and Miller’s footsteps. ( LJ Winter 2018)

Ultimate Eats: The World’s Top 500 Food Experiences...Ranked. Lonely Planet. 318p. photos. index. ISBN 9781787014220. $30. In this attractive and imaginative guide, the writers, bloggers, and other staffers of Lonely Planet rank the top 500 global culinary experiences. Each entry is selected for taste, cultural importance, and ambience. Among the delicious highlights are dim sum in Hong Kong, doro wat in Ethiopia, caviar in Moscow, and ­beignets in New Orleans. A must for travelers, foodies, or anyone looking to probe the rich variety of world cuisines. ( LJ Winter 2018)

  Mahnaz Dar (MD) is Reference & Professional Reading Editor, LJ & School Library Journal ; Maggie Knapp (MK) is a Librarian, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX; Patricia Lothrop (PL) retired from teaching at St. George’s School, Newport, RI; Dave Pugl (DP) is a Librarian, Ela Area Public Library, Lake Zurich, IL; Laurie Selwyn (LS) formerly worked at the Grayson County Law Library, Sherman, TX; and Rob Tench (RT) is a Librarian, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

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