Firefly's World of Facts - Hardcover

Ash, Russell

4.43

14 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554074991 ISBN 13: 9781554074990

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2009

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Thoroughly revised and updated for 2010!

Here are thousands of the most up-to-date facts on a world of topics -- answers that address almost every subject on earth. Every page is illustrated with photographs, illustrations, maps or charts, and every corner of the book is packed with the newest lists and rankings, the unexpected and the astonishing.

Firefly's World of Facts is extensively updated and covers a rich diversity of topics arranged by subject, including the natural world and life sciences; science and technology; world cultures, countries and beliefs; language, literature and education; art, music and entertainment; and much more.

The book has been improved to include new sections and better ways of presenting the facts, including:

New and updated sections for topics experiencing exciting developments
The latest important discoveries
Significant revisions to the computers and the Internet sections
New sections that keep in time with changing interests, e.g., weird pets, genealogy
Technology in 21st-century life
Changes in the world of work
New forms of energy, reducing your carbon footprint
Social networking.

Readers of all ages will be fascinated by the abundance of facts in this remarkable and up-to-date reference.

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About the Author:

Russell Ash has written or contributed to more than 100 reference books.

Introduction

This new edition of Firefly's World of Facts has been updated from cover to cover. Inside, you will find thousands of amazing facts and hundred of exciting pictures. Keep up-to-date with the most recent world record-breakers, cutting-edge scientific and medical breakthroughs and gadgets and gizmo from the latest e-readers to the cleverest robots.

Facts and figures

Firefly's World of Facts is divided into 20 sections -- Planet Earth, People, World History and space to name but a few. It includes information on a huge range of subjects, with data from authoritative sources and specialists on every subject under the sun -- and beyond. Among the countless new entries are features on the world's tallest building and the biggest ship, miraculous rescues and grisly torture methods, child soldiers and child film stars, the smallest mobile phone and the smallest snake, animal heroes and toilets in space as well important anniversaries coming up in 2010.

Inside information

Detailed lists and charts show global comparisons, while special features and fact disks provide fast information, revealing everything from the countries with the most computers to the highest-earning animated films, from the greatest achievers to the most popular social networking websites. You will also discover an array of oddities, including a time-eating clock with no hands, a lord whose carriage was pulled by zebras, a flying friar and people who dine in mid-air!

A section on countries gives essential information, including population, capital city and currency for every country in the world, as well as the flag of each one.

Timelines on subjects such as communications, astronomy, war and inventions give a see-at-a-glance overview and pinpoint important milestone up to the present day.

Useful maps, tables and formulae include conversions, mathematical symbols and scales, from Beaufort (weather) to Richter (earthquakes).

Other features

Web link boxes suggest useful websites to help you explore subjects further. See also boxes guide you to information on a particular subject elsewhere in the book. There is an extensive index at the back of the book, as well as a list of sources.

Whitaker's World Website

You can write to me with comments, suggestions and corrections at the publisher's address on page four.

Russell Ash

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