The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2010,   ISBN:9781600571237

Customer Rating: 

Last year I complained LOUDLY that the 2009 World Almanac was missing some very useful information on zip codes, area codes, U.S. metropolitan area population rankings and town populations by state. I am pleased to report that the 2010 World Almanac reinstated all of the missing information. Thank you, World Almanac Books.

Zip codes and area codes are once again provided by town, where they used to be, of considerable interest and use to this Almanac user. Largest metropolitan areas ranked by population are included again, as are U.S. population for Places Of 10,000 Or More by state, all with 2008 estimates based on 2000 census data. The metro populations also include 1990 census data.

As expected, the full 2008 presidential election returns are provided by county and the section on Noted Personalities Entertainers of the Present & the Past remains a fun read for our celebrity-infatuated country. Alas, no listing for Jon & Kate but young women might like to know that Robert Pattinson has been added.

My only gripe in the 2010 World Almanac is that the section on state and county populations has been omitted. It is not enough for me to reduce the rating a full star, but it is enough to be a little annoying. It would be nice to have it back, please.

Since I want to end on a positive note, let me say that it never ceases to amaze me what a massive undertaking it is to update and publish this book, presenting such vast amounts of data in such a usable, understandable form. All that effort, the fact-checking and the proofing make this publication the annual treasure that it is.

Customer Rating: 

The World Almanac has been published since the nineteenth century, and for good reason--it is a great reference book. Perhaps the most fascinating parts of the almanac are the sports section, the meteorological data, and the county-by-county presidential election returns. There is also statistical data for major U.S. cities, for each state in the Union, and for each nation in the world. Also included are factoids and data for all kinds of categories such as the economy, entertainment personalities, vital statistics, education, religion, astronomy, and much, much more. One could spend a long time just browsing in the almanac.